Uganda Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Uganda's military spending was 1.56% in 2025, ranked 78th globally. This represents a 17.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1961–2025.
Overview
Uganda's military spending stood at 1.56% in 2025, a decline of +0.32% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.56% by 2025. Uganda ranked 78th globally.
Uganda’s military outlays have risen from a modest 0.02 percent of gross domestic product in 1961, the lowest point in the 65‑year series, to 1.56 percent in 2025, placing the country 78th in the world. The sharpest escalation occurred in the early 1970s, when spending peaked at 4.06 percent of GDP in 1972, reflecting the intense domestic turmoil and regional conflicts of that era. Since the 1990s, the share has fluctuated but remained well below the 1970s high, stabilising around the mid‑single‑digit range in recent years. Uganda’s 2025 level matches that of Italy and is closely aligned with Senegal’s 1.56 percent, indicating a convergence with middle‑income peers rather than the lower spending of many Sub‑Saharan neighbours. If fiscal priorities shift toward broader social investment and external security assistance diminishes, the upward trajectory could moderate, potentially bringing the share nearer to the regional average in the next decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.22% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.39% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.56% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.56% | −0.32% | #78 |
| 2024 | 1.88% | +0.07% | #81 |
| 2023 | 1.81% | −0.04% | #90 |
| 2022 | 1.85% | −0.49% | #102 |
| 2021 | 2.34% | −0.13% | #120 |
| 2020 | 2.47% | +0.75% | #121 |
| 2019 | 1.72% | +0.57% | #92 |
| 2018 | 1.15% | +0.11% | #52 |
| 2017 | 1.04% | +0.04% | #45 |
| 2016 | 1.00% | +0.02% | #41 |
| 2015 | 0.99% | +0.06% | #37 |
| 2014 | 0.92% | −0.01% | #32 |
| 2013 | 0.94% | −0.24% | #35 |
| 2012 | 1.18% | −1.36% | #60 |
| 2011 | 2.54% | +0.08% | #116 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Uganda matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Uganda's military spending was 1.56% in 2025. Ranked 78th globally. This represents a 17.3% decrease from the previous year.
Uganda's military spending peaked at 4.06% in 1972.
The lowest military spending in Uganda was 0.02% in 1961.
Uganda ranks 78th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Uganda's military spending is projected to reach 1.56% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Uganda in 2025 was 1.56%. This ranks 78th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_uganda_military-spending,
title = {Uganda Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/uganda/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}