Timor-Leste Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Timor-Leste's military spending was 2.91% in 2025, ranked 27th globally. This represents a 9.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2005–2025.
Overview
Timor-Leste's military spending stood at 2.91% in 2025, a rise of +0.25% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.91% by 2025. Timor-Leste ranked 27th globally.
Timor‑Leste’s military expenditure has shown marked volatility over the 21‑year series, rising from 1.78 percent of GDP in 2005 to a historic high of 5.02 percent in 2009 before falling to a trough of 1.08 percent in 2021, and then climbing again to 2.91 percent in 2025, ranking it 27th globally. The sharp increase in the late 2000s coincided with heightened security concerns following the country’s independence and the consolidation of its armed forces, while the post‑2020 decline reflected fiscal tightening amid the pandemic’s economic shock. By 2025 the level of spending is comparable to that of peers such as Colombia (3.00 percent) and Brunei Darussalam (3.10 percent), suggesting a moderate alignment with regional averages despite the nation’s small defense budget. Continued economic growth and external security partnerships could sustain the recent upward trajectory, whereas a resurgence of fiscal constraints or shifts in geopolitical risk might reverse it.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 3.58% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.25% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.91% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.91% | +0.25% | #27 |
| 2024 | 2.66% | +0.01% | #117 |
| 2023 | 2.65% | +1.27% | #119 |
| 2022 | 1.38% | +0.30% | #69 |
| 2021 | 1.08% | −0.70% | #43 |
| 2020 | 1.78% | +0.09% | #90 |
| 2019 | 1.69% | +0.37% | #90 |
| 2018 | 1.32% | −0.28% | #69 |
| 2017 | 1.61% | +0.01% | #90 |
| 2016 | 1.60% | −0.73% | #92 |
| 2015 | 2.32% | +0.28% | #115 |
| 2014 | 2.05% | −0.22% | #111 |
| 2013 | 2.27% | −0.61% | #115 |
| 2012 | 2.88% | +0.91% | #123 |
| 2011 | 1.97% | −1.02% | #102 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Timor-Leste matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Timor-Leste's military spending was 2.91% in 2025. Ranked 27th globally. This represents a 9.3% increase from the previous year.
Timor-Leste's military spending peaked at 5.02% in 2009.
The lowest military spending in Timor-Leste was 1.08% in 2021.
Timor-Leste ranks 27th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Timor-Leste's military spending is projected to reach 2.91% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Timor-Leste in 2025 was 2.91%. This ranks 27th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_timor-leste_military-spending,
title = {Timor-Leste Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/timor-leste/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}