Military spending as a share of GDP in Uganda
Uganda: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.5% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
1.5%
Change on year
up 36.9%
World rank
74th
of 172 countries
All-time high
4.8%
in 1980
All-time low
0.1%
in 1962
Years of data
58
1962–2019
Military spending as a share of GDP in Uganda, 1962–2019
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 Uganda is 1.5%, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.9% on the previous year and up 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Uganda peaked at 4.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1962.
Uganda ranks 74th of 172 countries on this measure, 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 0.1% | — |
| 1963 | 0.2% | +64.9% |
| 1964 | 0.6% | +194.0% |
| 1965 | 0.9% | +40.1% |
| 1966 | 1.6% | +77.1% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 1.8% | +8.7% |
| 1969 | 1.9% | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 1.9% | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 2.5% | +27.6% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | +90.6% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | -20.7% |
| 1974 | 3.5% | -6.3% |
| 1975 | 3.4% | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 3.3% | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 3.5% | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 3.8% | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 3.7% | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 4.8% | +31.5% |
| 1981 | 1.8% | -62.8% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.6% | -11.8% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | -22.4% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | +27.0% |
| 1987 | 1.9% | +20.9% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | -24.4% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | -12.2% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | +10.1% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | +18.7% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -14.3% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | +36.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.1% | 0.1% | 1.9% | 8 |
| 1970s | 3.4% | 1.9% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More economy & growth data for Uganda
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 6.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.2384 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 287.54 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 6.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 686.49 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 828,111 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 12.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4209 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Uganda?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Uganda was 1.5% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1962.
- How does Uganda rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Uganda ranks 74th out of 172 countries with data for 2019.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 58 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).