Military spending as a share of GDP in Italy
Italy: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.1% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
1.1%
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
104th
of 172 countries
All-time high
8.2%
in 1936
All-time low
0.2%
in 1819
Years of data
204
1816–2019
Military spending as a share of GDP in Italy, 1816–2019
Source: Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2019, military spending as a share of gdp in Italy stood at 1.1%.
That represents a change of up 9.3% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Italy peaked at 8.2% in 1936 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1819.
That places Italy 104th out of 172 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending as a share of GDP in Italy, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 0.2% | — |
| 1817 | 0.2% | -10.3% |
| 1818 | 0.2% | -2.7% |
| 1819 | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| 1820 | 0.2% | +11.7% |
| 1821 | 0.2% | +20.5% |
| 1822 | 0.2% | -4.0% |
| 1823 | 0.2% | +9.0% |
| 1824 | 0.3% | +5.9% |
| 1825 | 0.3% | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 0.3% | +4.1% |
| 1827 | 0.3% | -3.1% |
| 1828 | 0.3% | +9.5% |
| 1829 | 0.3% | +9.8% |
| 1830 | 0.3% | +1.4% |
| 1831 | 0.4% | +20.2% |
| 1832 | 0.4% | -2.2% |
| 1833 | 0.4% | -3.9% |
| 1834 | 0.3% | -9.3% |
| 1835 | 0.3% | +1.6% |
| 1836 | 0.3% | -9.9% |
| 1837 | 0.3% | +3.6% |
| 1838 | 0.3% | -2.0% |
| 1839 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 1840 | 0.4% | +12.9% |
| 1841 | 0.3% | -6.0% |
| 1842 | 0.3% | -4.1% |
| 1843 | 0.4% | +9.5% |
| 1844 | 0.4% | -1.6% |
| 1845 | 0.4% | +5.4% |
| 1846 | 0.4% | -1.7% |
| 1847 | 0.4% | -3.6% |
| 1848 | 1.1% | +203.5% |
| 1849 | 0.7% | -35.5% |
| 1850 | 0.5% | -21.5% |
| 1851 | 0.5% | -7.5% |
| 1852 | 0.5% | -3.4% |
| 1853 | 0.5% | -4.0% |
| 1854 | 0.4% | -5.0% |
| 1855 | 0.6% | +33.8% |
| 1856 | 0.5% | -7.2% |
| 1857 | 0.5% | -15.4% |
| 1858 | 0.5% | -2.2% |
| 1859 | 1.4% | +199.2% |
| 1860 | 2.6% | +90.8% |
| 1861 | 2.9% | +13.1% |
| 1862 | 3.0% | +3.9% |
| 1863 | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| 1864 | 2.9% | -0.5% |
| 1865 | 2.2% | -26.2% |
| 1866 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 1867 | 1.7% | -25.4% |
| 1868 | 1.5% | -9.4% |
| 1869 | 1.4% | -7.0% |
| 1870 | 1.3% | -10.9% |
| 1871 | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 1872 | 1.3% | -1.6% |
| 1873 | 1.4% | +15.5% |
| 1874 | 1.3% | -9.5% |
| 1875 | 1.4% | +6.7% |
| 1876 | 1.6% | +13.6% |
| 1877 | 1.4% | -10.8% |
| 1878 | 1.5% | +6.4% |
| 1879 | 1.5% | -0.6% |
| 1880 | 1.4% | -4.4% |
| 1881 | 1.5% | +6.9% |
| 1882 | 1.6% | +5.5% |
| 1883 | 1.8% | +10.7% |
| 1884 | 2.0% | +11.6% |
| 1885 | 1.9% | -2.8% |
| 1886 | 2.1% | +7.9% |
| 1887 | 2.1% | -1.6% |
| 1888 | 2.4% | +18.4% |
| 1889 | 2.4% | -3.0% |
| 1890 | 2.5% | +5.3% |
| 1891 | 2.1% | -16.1% |
| 1892 | 2.0% | -2.0% |
| 1893 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 1894 | 2.0% | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 2.1% | +7.6% |
| 1896 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 1897 | 2.0% | -3.0% |
| 1898 | 2.0% | -0.4% |
| 1899 | 1.9% | -5.9% |
| 1900 | 2.0% | +6.6% |
| 1901 | 1.8% | -12.1% |
| 1902 | 1.8% | -0.6% |
| 1903 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 1904 | 1.7% | -2.2% |
| 1905 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 1.7% | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1.7% | -0.3% |
| 1908 | 1.8% | +5.2% |
| 1909 | 1.9% | +9.6% |
| 1910 | 1.9% | -2.7% |
| 1911 | 2.5% | +33.0% |
| 1912 | 2.8% | +10.5% |
| 1913 | 2.9% | +5.2% |
| 1914 | 2.0% | -32.1% |
| 1915 | 1.7% | -16.4% |
| 1916 | 2.3% | +40.7% |
| 1917 | 2.4% | +4.9% |
| 1918 | 3.0% | +24.5% |
| 1919 | 2.8% | -7.6% |
| 1920 | 2.6% | -7.1% |
| 1921 | 3.4% | +29.7% |
| 1922 | 3.1% | -8.8% |
| 1923 | 2.1% | -32.4% |
| 1924 | 1.7% | -20.9% |
| 1925 | 1.6% | -2.9% |
| 1926 | 1.7% | +8.1% |
| 1927 | 2.0% | +13.9% |
| 1928 | 2.2% | +9.7% |
| 1929 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| 1930 | 2.3% | +4.9% |
| 1931 | 2.4% | +6.9% |
| 1932 | 2.6% | +9.2% |
| 1933 | 2.8% | +5.3% |
| 1934 | 3.6% | +28.7% |
| 1935 | 4.1% | +15.0% |
| 1936 | 8.2% | +98.7% |
| 1937 | 7.7% | -6.6% |
| 1938 | 6.7% | -12.3% |
| 1939 | 6.0% | -10.4% |
| 1940 | 4.2% | -29.4% |
| 1941 | 3.7% | -12.0% |
| 1942 | 3.3% | -12.6% |
| 1943 | 2.9% | -10.4% |
| 1944 | 2.7% | -7.3% |
| 1945 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 1946 | 1.9% | -28.4% |
| 1947 | 1.7% | -9.7% |
| 1948 | 2.0% | +15.3% |
| 1949 | 2.3% | +18.7% |
| 1950 | 2.2% | -6.6% |
| 1951 | 2.2% | -0.3% |
| 1952 | 2.4% | +10.6% |
| 1953 | 2.1% | -11.4% |
| 1954 | 2.1% | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 1.9% | -9.0% |
| 1956 | 2.0% | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 1.9% | -6.4% |
| 1958 | 1.9% | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 1.6% | -12.9% |
| 1960 | 1.5% | -5.7% |
| 1961 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 1.6% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 1.7% | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | +4.7% |
| 1965 | 1.8% | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 1.6% | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | -12.5% |
| 1970 | 1.4% | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 1.5% | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 1.6% | +12.0% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -7.6% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | -12.2% |
| 1975 | 1.2% | -11.9% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | +7.0% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | -8.1% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | +11.7% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +8.2% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -6.4% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.2% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -19.2% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | +9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.4% | 1.4% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.3% | 1.6% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.6% | 2.3% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.7% | 1.7% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More economy & growth data for Italy
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.8337 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 4,849 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 6.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2264 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 9,805 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.2004 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 8,677 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.7915 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Italy?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Italy was 1.1% in 2019, according to Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 1936.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1819.
- How does Italy rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Italy ranks 104th out of 172 countries with data for 2019.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 204 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Military spending measured as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).