Thailand Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Thailand's military spending was 0.95% in 2025, ranked 113th globally. This represents a 11.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Thailand's military spending stood at 0.95% in 2025, a decline of +0.13% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.95% by 2025. Thailand ranked 113th globally.
Thailand’s military spending as a share of gross domestic product has fallen sharply over the 66‑year span covered by the World Bank data, moving from a high of 2.47 % in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 4.38 % in 1979, before reaching a historic low of 0.95 % in 2006 that persists in the latest 2025 estimate. The 2025 figure of 0.95 % places Thailand at rank 113 globally and ties it with Austria (0.95 %) while slightly below Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago (both 0.96 %). The decline reflects a broader regional shift toward lower defence burdens after the Cold War, as well as Thailand’s gradual reallocation of fiscal resources toward social and infrastructure programmes. Although the share of GDP devoted to the armed forces has stabilized at the trough level for nearly two decades, any resurgence in regional security tensions or domestic political instability could reverse the downward trajectory, while continued economic growth and fiscal consolidation are likely to keep the ratio near its current low point.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.74% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.85% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.95% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.95% | −0.13% | #113 |
| 2024 | 1.08% | −0.05% | #45 |
| 2023 | 1.13% | −0.11% | #41 |
| 2022 | 1.24% | −0.18% | #54 |
| 2021 | 1.42% | −0.04% | #71 |
| 2020 | 1.46% | +0.13% | #72 |
| 2019 | 1.33% | +0.00% | #68 |
| 2018 | 1.33% | −0.01% | #70 |
| 2017 | 1.34% | +0.01% | #71 |
| 2016 | 1.33% | −0.01% | #70 |
| 2015 | 1.34% | −0.04% | #77 |
| 2014 | 1.38% | +0.03% | #80 |
| 2013 | 1.35% | −0.04% | #74 |
| 2012 | 1.39% | −0.00% | #74 |
| 2011 | 1.39% | −0.13% | #73 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Thailand matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Thailand's military spending was 0.95% in 2025. Ranked 113th globally. This represents a 11.9% decrease from the previous year.
Thailand's military spending peaked at 4.38% in 1979.
The lowest military spending in Thailand was 0.95% in 2006.
Thailand ranks 113th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Thailand's military spending is projected to reach 0.95% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Thailand in 2025 was 0.95%. This ranks 113th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_thailand_military-spending,
title = {Thailand Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/thailand/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}