Serbia Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Serbia's military spending was 2.42% in 2025, ranked 39th globally. This represents a 6.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Serbia's military spending stood at 2.42% in 2025, a decline of +0.17% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.42% by 2025. Serbia ranked 39th globally.
Serbia's military spending has fluctuated significantly over the past three decades. At its peak in 2000, military expenditure reached $4.60 billion, surpassing many of its regional peers, including Namibia, which ranks just above it globally. However, since then, Serbia's military spending has experienced a notable decline, hitting an all-time low of $1.70 billion in 2015. This downward trend is not unique to Serbia, as many countries in the region have also scaled back their military expenditure. As of 2025, Serbia's military spending stands at $2.42 billion, ranking 39th globally. While this level of spending is still higher than that of some of its regional peers, such as Guinea, which ranks 40th, it remains a fraction of what it was at its peak. A sustained increase in regional tensions or a renewed focus on national security could potentially alter this trajectory and lead to an uptick in military spending in the years to come.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.44% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.43% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.42% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.42% | −0.17% | #39 |
| 2024 | 2.60% | +0.39% | #116 |
| 2023 | 2.21% | +0.04% | #107 |
| 2022 | 2.17% | −0.56% | #113 |
| 2021 | 2.73% | +0.43% | #128 |
| 2020 | 2.30% | +0.11% | #118 |
| 2019 | 2.18% | +0.17% | #116 |
| 2018 | 2.02% | +0.26% | #114 |
| 2017 | 1.75% | −0.10% | #98 |
| 2016 | 1.86% | +0.16% | #101 |
| 2015 | 1.70% | −0.17% | #92 |
| 2014 | 1.87% | +0.02% | #101 |
| 2013 | 1.85% | −0.07% | #102 |
| 2012 | 1.92% | −0.01% | #106 |
| 2011 | 1.93% | −0.08% | #101 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Serbia matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2011. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Serbia's military spending was 2.42% in 2025. Ranked 39th globally. This represents a 6.6% decrease from the previous year.
Serbia's military spending peaked at 4.60% in 2000.
The lowest military spending in Serbia was 1.70% in 2015.
Serbia ranks 39th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Serbia's military spending is projected to reach 2.42% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Serbia in 2025 was 2.42%. This ranks 39th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_serbia_military-spending,
title = {Serbia Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/serbia/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}