United Kingdom Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
United Kingdom's military spending was 2.28% in 2025, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
United Kingdom's military spending stood at 2.28% in 2025, a decline of +0.00% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.28% by 2025. United Kingdom ranked 45th globally.
The United Kingdom’s military expenditure has fallen markedly from an all‑time peak of 7.09 % of GDP in 1960 to a trough of 1.94 % in 2018, before rising modestly to 2.28 % in 2025, ranking it 45th globally. This decline reflects a long‑term shift toward a smaller defence budget relative to the size of the economy, punctuated by a brief post‑Cold‑War contraction and a recent modest upturn driven by heightened geopolitical tensions. Over the 66‑year series, the United Kingdom’s spending now sits close to that of Hungary (2.29 %) and Niger (2.27 %), illustrating its position near the middle of the global distribution rather than among the traditionally high‑spending NATO allies. The upward movement since 2018 suggests a re‑orientation toward greater defence investment, yet the trajectory will depend on fiscal constraints, strategic priorities and the evolution of security threats, which could either accelerate or temper future spending growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.36% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.32% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.28% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.28% | −0.00% | #45 |
| 2024 | 2.28% | +0.05% | #106 |
| 2023 | 2.23% | +0.17% | #108 |
| 2022 | 2.06% | −0.02% | #109 |
| 2021 | 2.07% | −0.09% | #109 |
| 2020 | 2.16% | +0.18% | #109 |
| 2019 | 1.99% | +0.04% | #108 |
| 2018 | 1.94% | −0.01% | #107 |
| 2017 | 1.95% | −0.03% | #109 |
| 2016 | 1.98% | −0.06% | #108 |
| 2015 | 2.05% | −0.14% | #110 |
| 2014 | 2.18% | −0.11% | #114 |
| 2013 | 2.29% | −0.13% | #117 |
| 2012 | 2.42% | −0.08% | #118 |
| 2011 | 2.50% | −0.07% | #114 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
United Kingdom matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1985. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
United Kingdom's military spending was 2.28% in 2025. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
United Kingdom's military spending peaked at 7.09% in 1960.
The lowest military spending in United Kingdom was 1.94% in 2018.
United Kingdom ranks 45th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
United Kingdom's military spending is projected to reach 2.28% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of United Kingdom in 2025 was 2.28%. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_united-kingdom_military-spending,
title = {United Kingdom Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/united-kingdom/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}