Uruguay Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Uruguay's military spending was 2.27% in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 1.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1972–2025.
Overview
Uruguay's military spending stood at 2.27% in 2025, a decline of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.27% by 2025. Uruguay ranked 47th globally.
Uruguay’s military expenditure has hovered around 2 % of gross domestic product for the past five decades, reaching 2.27 % in 2025, which places the country 47th globally and ties it with Niger while remaining slightly below Bulgaria’s 2.22 % and the United Kingdom’s 2.28 % shares. After a pronounced surge to an all‑time high of 6.45 % of GDP in 1982, Uruguay entered a long‑term decline that culminated in a trough of 1.61 % in 2012, reflecting the broader post‑Cold‑War contraction in defence budgets across Latin America. Since that low point, spending has risen modestly but steadily, indicating a rebalancing of fiscal priorities rather than a renewed arms buildup. The upward trajectory suggests that, absent major security shocks or shifts in regional geopolitics, Uruguay’s defence outlays will likely remain confined to the low‑double‑digit share of GDP observed in the current decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.34% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.30% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.27% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.27% | −0.04% | #47 |
| 2024 | 2.31% | +0.19% | #109 |
| 2023 | 2.12% | +0.07% | #104 |
| 2022 | 2.04% | −0.22% | #107 |
| 2021 | 2.26% | +0.21% | #117 |
| 2020 | 2.06% | +0.05% | #106 |
| 2019 | 2.01% | −0.07% | #111 |
| 2018 | 2.08% | +0.17% | #116 |
| 2017 | 1.91% | +0.10% | #105 |
| 2016 | 1.81% | +0.04% | #99 |
| 2015 | 1.77% | +0.02% | #99 |
| 2014 | 1.74% | +0.05% | #93 |
| 2013 | 1.69% | +0.08% | #96 |
| 2012 | 1.61% | −0.11% | #87 |
| 2011 | 1.72% | −0.16% | #92 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Uruguay 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 →
Frequently Asked Questions
Uruguay's military spending was 2.27% in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 1.9% decrease from the previous year.
Uruguay's military spending peaked at 6.45% in 1982.
The lowest military spending in Uruguay was 1.61% in 2012.
Uruguay ranks 47th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Uruguay's military spending is projected to reach 2.27% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Uruguay in 2025 was 2.27%. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_uruguay_military-spending,
title = {Uruguay Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/uruguay/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}