Viet Nam Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Viet Nam's military spending was 1.81% in 2018, ranked 101st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 1987–2018.
Overview
Viet Nam's military spending stood at 1.81% in 2018, a rise of +0.00% from 2017. Viet Nam ranked 101st globally.
Vietnam’s military outlays have fallen markedly since the early 1990s, when spending peaked at 7.91 percent of gross domestic product in 1990, to a trough of 1.56 percent in 2011, before modestly rising to 1.81 percent in 2018, ranking 101st globally. Over the 24‑year series from 1987 to 2018, the average share remained well below the levels recorded by peer economies such as France (1.85 percent) and Romania (1.79 percent) in the same year, reflecting Vietnam’s historically restrained defence budget relative to many middle‑income nations. The decline from the 1990 peak coincided with the country’s post‑Doi Mới economic liberalisation, which redirected fiscal resources toward infrastructure and social development, while the 2011 low corresponded with a period of fiscal consolidation. The slight uptick to 1.81 percent in 2018 suggests a gradual rebalancing of priorities, and future shifts in regional security dynamics or domestic strategic objectives could accelerate a further rise in the defence‑to‑GDP ratio.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.81% | +0.00% | #101 |
| 2017 | 1.80% | −0.15% | #100 |
| 2016 | 1.95% | +0.04% | #105 |
| 2015 | 1.91% | +0.08% | #105 |
| 2014 | 1.82% | +0.08% | #99 |
| 2013 | 1.74% | +0.03% | #98 |
| 2012 | 1.72% | +0.16% | #98 |
| 2011 | 1.56% | −0.26% | #87 |
| 2010 | 1.82% | −0.45% | #92 |
| 2009 | 2.27% | +0.11% | #104 |
| 2008 | 2.16% | −0.15% | #105 |
| 2007 | 2.30% | +0.37% | #103 |
| 2006 | 1.94% | +0.16% | #96 |
| 2005 | 1.78% | −0.23% | #92 |
| 2004 | 2.01% | −0.11% | #97 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Viet Nam matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2020. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Viet Nam's military spending was 1.81% in 2018. Ranked 101st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Viet Nam's military spending peaked at 7.91% in 1990.
The lowest military spending in Viet Nam was 1.56% in 2011.
Viet Nam ranks 101st globally in military spending as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The military spending of Viet Nam in 2018 was 1.81%. This ranks 101st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_viet-nam_military-spending,
title = {Viet Nam Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/viet-nam/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}