Military spending as a share of GDP in Russian Federation
Russian Federation: Military spending as a share of GDP was 2.1% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
2.1%
Change on year
up 15.3%
World rank
40th
of 172 countries
All-time high
47.2%
in 1917
All-time low
1.3%
in 1818
Years of data
204
1816–2019
Military spending as a share of GDP in Russian Federation, 1816–2019
Source: Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending as a share of gdp in Russian Federation is 2.1%, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 15.3% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Russian Federation peaked at 47.2% in 1917 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1818.
Russian Federation ranks 40th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending as a share of GDP in Russian Federation, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 1.6% | — |
| 1817 | 1.4% | -14.3% |
| 1818 | 1.3% | -9.2% |
| 1819 | 1.4% | +6.7% |
| 1820 | 1.5% | +10.7% |
| 1821 | 1.8% | +19.4% |
| 1822 | 1.6% | -10.7% |
| 1823 | 1.8% | +8.7% |
| 1824 | 1.8% | +1.6% |
| 1825 | 1.7% | -6.8% |
| 1826 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 1827 | 1.7% | +0.7% |
| 1828 | 1.6% | -7.0% |
| 1829 | 1.8% | +11.3% |
| 1830 | 1.7% | -4.1% |
| 1831 | 1.9% | +15.1% |
| 1832 | 2.2% | +12.1% |
| 1833 | 2.1% | -3.8% |
| 1834 | 2.1% | -1.0% |
| 1835 | 2.2% | +6.9% |
| 1836 | 2.0% | -8.6% |
| 1837 | 2.1% | +5.3% |
| 1838 | 2.0% | -4.5% |
| 1839 | 2.4% | +15.7% |
| 1840 | 3.2% | +34.2% |
| 1841 | 3.0% | -6.1% |
| 1842 | 3.1% | +4.1% |
| 1843 | 3.1% | +2.0% |
| 1844 | 3.2% | +1.5% |
| 1845 | 3.2% | +1.2% |
| 1846 | 3.3% | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 3.1% | -5.6% |
| 1848 | 4.2% | +36.6% |
| 1849 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 1850 | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| 1851 | 3.8% | -6.8% |
| 1852 | 3.5% | -9.5% |
| 1853 | 4.1% | +18.3% |
| 1854 | 6.1% | +49.0% |
| 1855 | 7.4% | +21.4% |
| 1856 | 4.9% | -33.5% |
| 1857 | 3.7% | -24.1% |
| 1858 | 3.5% | -6.1% |
| 1859 | 3.6% | +3.7% |
| 1860 | 3.5% | -2.4% |
| 1861 | 3.1% | -11.5% |
| 1862 | 2.7% | -12.8% |
| 1863 | 4.2% | +53.3% |
| 1864 | 3.8% | -8.1% |
| 1865 | 2.6% | -32.4% |
| 1866 | 2.4% | -7.9% |
| 1867 | 2.2% | -6.5% |
| 1868 | 2.4% | +6.0% |
| 1869 | 2.3% | -2.1% |
| 1870 | 2.1% | -9.2% |
| 1871 | 2.2% | +5.9% |
| 1872 | 2.3% | +3.4% |
| 1873 | 2.7% | +14.8% |
| 1874 | 2.6% | -1.5% |
| 1875 | 2.9% | +9.4% |
| 1876 | 3.3% | +14.1% |
| 1877 | 7.1% | +118.6% |
| 1878 | 4.0% | -44.6% |
| 1879 | 3.3% | -15.6% |
| 1880 | 2.7% | -18.0% |
| 1881 | 2.6% | -4.5% |
| 1882 | 2.4% | -9.7% |
| 1883 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 1884 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 1885 | 2.1% | -7.9% |
| 1886 | 2.2% | +7.2% |
| 1887 | 2.0% | -11.8% |
| 1888 | 2.0% | +3.4% |
| 1889 | 2.4% | +15.8% |
| 1890 | 2.7% | +14.3% |
| 1891 | 2.5% | -7.1% |
| 1892 | 2.6% | +2.0% |
| 1893 | 2.4% | -7.3% |
| 1894 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 1895 | 2.5% | +7.9% |
| 1896 | 2.4% | -5.5% |
| 1897 | 2.5% | +3.5% |
| 1898 | 2.4% | -2.2% |
| 1899 | 2.4% | -1.2% |
| 1900 | 2.4% | +3.3% |
| 1901 | 2.4% | -3.0% |
| 1902 | 2.3% | -2.3% |
| 1903 | 2.2% | -6.3% |
| 1904 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 1905 | 7.3% | +240.9% |
| 1906 | 3.4% | -52.9% |
| 1907 | 3.0% | -12.6% |
| 1908 | 2.6% | -11.9% |
| 1909 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 1910 | 2.4% | -11.3% |
| 1911 | 2.5% | +4.3% |
| 1912 | 2.5% | +0.7% |
| 1913 | 3.1% | +25.4% |
| 1914 | 6.3% | +103.3% |
| 1915 | 40.9% | +549.7% |
| 1916 | 46.1% | +12.7% |
| 1917 | 47.2% | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 3.7% | -92.2% |
| 1919 | 24.0% | +548.1% |
| 1920 | 17.5% | -26.8% |
| 1921 | 22.3% | +26.9% |
| 1922 | 26.5% | +19.2% |
| 1923 | 13.3% | -49.8% |
| 1924 | 11.0% | -17.6% |
| 1925 | 12.7% | +15.5% |
| 1926 | 11.7% | -7.5% |
| 1927 | 11.4% | -2.7% |
| 1928 | 10.9% | -4.7% |
| 1929 | 15.2% | +39.5% |
| 1930 | 14.5% | -4.4% |
| 1931 | 13.1% | -9.6% |
| 1932 | 11.2% | -14.5% |
| 1933 | 10.0% | -10.6% |
| 1934 | 11.0% | +10.1% |
| 1935 | 10.3% | -6.3% |
| 1936 | 9.0% | -12.6% |
| 1937 | 8.8% | -2.5% |
| 1938 | 13.1% | +48.9% |
| 1939 | 12.3% | -6.3% |
| 1940 | 11.6% | -5.5% |
| 1941 | 12.5% | +7.8% |
| 1942 | 11.8% | -5.6% |
| 1943 | 11.8% | +0.3% |
| 1944 | 11.8% | -0.7% |
| 1945 | 12.5% | +6.6% |
| 1946 | 11.5% | -7.8% |
| 1947 | 12.1% | +4.6% |
| 1948 | 12.3% | +2.2% |
| 1949 | 14.3% | +15.7% |
| 1950 | 15.3% | +7.4% |
| 1951 | 19.7% | +28.4% |
| 1952 | 21.4% | +8.7% |
| 1953 | 20.8% | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 20.8% | -0.0% |
| 1955 | 18.9% | -9.4% |
| 1956 | 16.4% | -13.2% |
| 1957 | 14.2% | -13.5% |
| 1958 | 11.8% | -16.9% |
| 1959 | 14.1% | +19.5% |
| 1960 | 15.0% | +6.5% |
| 1961 | 17.6% | +17.7% |
| 1962 | 19.2% | +8.7% |
| 1963 | 18.1% | -5.4% |
| 1964 | 17.8% | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 17.5% | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 16.6% | -5.1% |
| 1967 | 16.6% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 16.5% | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 15.2% | -8.1% |
| 1970 | 16.1% | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 16.2% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 15.3% | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 13.3% | -12.7% |
| 1974 | 15.6% | +17.0% |
| 1975 | 15.4% | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 14.3% | -7.1% |
| 1977 | 15.3% | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 15.7% | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 15.7% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 15.0% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 13.2% | -12.5% |
| 1982 | 13.5% | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 14.3% | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 12.6% | -11.9% |
| 1986 | 16.5% | +31.0% |
| 1987 | 15.4% | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 13.0% | -15.3% |
| 1989 | 13.7% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 13.0% | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 13.8% | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 6.3% | -54.5% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | -36.8% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | +12.2% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -9.8% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -53.5% |
| 1999 | 2.9% | +47.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +33.4% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +11.1% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -21.6% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -36.6% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 1.8% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | +15.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 4 |
| 1820s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1830s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1840s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.5% | 3.5% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.9% | 2.2% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.2% | 2.1% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.0% | 2.1% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1910s | 17.9% | 2.4% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 1920s | 15.2% | 10.9% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 1930s | 11.3% | 8.8% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.2% | 11.5% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1950s | 17.3% | 11.8% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.0% | 15.0% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.3% | 13.3% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.1% | 12.6% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 1.9% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.7% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Russian Federation
- 37 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 2.1% compare
- 38 Mauritania 2.1% compare
- 39 Myanmar 2.1% compare
- 41 Taiwan, China 2.0% compare
- 42 Latvia 2.0% compare
- 43 Sri Lanka 2.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Russian Federation
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -4.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1687 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 3,011 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 3.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1551 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 2,768 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate -6.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 12.97 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Russian Federation?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Russian Federation was 2.1% 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 Russian Federation?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 1917.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Russian Federation?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1818.
- How does Russian Federation rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Russian Federation ranks 40th out of 172 countries with data for 2019.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Russian Federation?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russian Federation 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.
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About this data
Military spending measured as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).