Home Sri Lanka Government Military Spending

Sri Lanka Military Spending

Military expenditure as % of GDP  MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS

1.36% −0.06% (-4.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #88 Global Peak 5.86% (1995) Source World Bank

Sri Lanka Military Spending (1960–2025)

Overview

Sri Lanka's military spending stood at 1.36% in 2025, a decline of +0.06% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.36% by 2025. Sri Lanka ranked 88th globally.

Data & projection

Year Military Spending YoY change Rank
2027* trend 1.22% - -
2026* trend 1.29% - -
2025* trend 1.36% - -
2025 1.36% −0.06% #88
2024 1.43% −0.21% #62
2023 1.64% +0.30% #81
2022 1.34% −0.37% #64
2021 1.71% −0.03% #96
2020 1.74% −0.01% #87
2019 1.75% +0.02% #93
2018 1.73% −0.24% #96
2017 1.98% −0.00% #111
2016 1.98% −0.44% #107
2015 2.42% +0.00% #118
2014 2.41% +0.26% #122
2013 2.15% −0.00% #113
2012 2.16% −0.53% #111
2011 2.69% −0.02% #117
Show all years (1960-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +38.3% GDP growth 5.0% C/A balance 1.2%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Sri Lanka matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sri Lanka's military spending?

Sri Lanka's military spending was 1.36% in 2025. Ranked 88th globally. This represents a 4.5% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest military spending in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka's military spending peaked at 5.86% in 1995.

What was the lowest military spending in Sri Lanka?

The lowest military spending in Sri Lanka was 0.54% in 1982.

How does Sri Lanka rank in military spending?

Sri Lanka ranks 88th globally in military spending as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for military spending?

The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected military spending of Sri Lanka in 2025?

Sri Lanka's military spending is projected to reach 1.36% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the military spending of Sri Lanka in 2025?

The military spending of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 1.36%. This ranks 88th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Sri Lanka Military Spending. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/military-spending
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_military-spending, title = {Sri Lanka Military Spending}, url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/military-spending}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }