Türkiye Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Türkiye's military spending was 1.67% in 2025, ranked 72nd globally. This represents a 13.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Türkiye's military spending stood at 1.67% in 2025, a decline of +0.26% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.67% by 2025. Türkiye ranked 72nd globally.
Turkey’s military expenditure has shown a pronounced long‑term decline, falling from 3.53 % of GDP in 1960 to a historic low of 1.66 % in 2022 before a modest rise to 1.67 % in 2025, ranking it 72nd globally. The apex of spending occurred in 1975 when the share reached 5.12 % of GDP, a level that far exceeded the recent trough and reflected Cold‑War security concerns. Over the 66‑year span, the downward trajectory has been steeper than that of many peers; for example, Montenegro recorded a slightly higher share of 1.69 % in 2025, while China’s 1.66 % aligns closely with Turkey’s current level. The persistent reduction mirrors broader fiscal tightening and shifting defence priorities, yet the slight uptick after 2022 suggests a possible stabilization. Future changes in regional security dynamics or domestic budgetary pressures could alter this path, potentially prompting a renewed increase in the defence‑to‑GDP ratio.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.53% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.60% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.67% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.67% | −0.26% | #72 |
| 2024 | 1.92% | +0.20% | #87 |
| 2023 | 1.72% | +0.06% | #88 |
| 2022 | 1.66% | −0.20% | #95 |
| 2021 | 1.86% | −0.34% | #101 |
| 2020 | 2.20% | −0.49% | #113 |
| 2019 | 2.69% | +0.17% | #124 |
| 2018 | 2.52% | +0.47% | #126 |
| 2017 | 2.05% | −0.00% | #115 |
| 2016 | 2.05% | +0.24% | #111 |
| 2015 | 1.81% | −0.06% | #101 |
| 2014 | 1.87% | −0.05% | #102 |
| 2013 | 1.92% | −0.09% | #105 |
| 2012 | 2.01% | −0.02% | #107 |
| 2011 | 2.03% | −0.24% | #103 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Türkiye matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2020. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Türkiye's proposed budget signals a significant increase in future military expenditure, with defense procurement projected to rise 229% by 2027 and a total of $44.5 billion
Frequently Asked Questions
Türkiye's military spending was 1.67% in 2025. Ranked 72nd globally. This represents a 13.4% decrease from the previous year.
Türkiye's military spending peaked at 5.12% in 1975.
The lowest military spending in Türkiye was 1.66% in 2022.
Türkiye ranks 72nd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Türkiye's military spending is projected to reach 1.67% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Türkiye in 2025 was 1.67%. This ranks 72nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_turkiye_military-spending,
title = {Türkiye Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/turkiye/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}