Military spending as a share of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.7% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
1.7%
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
62nd
of 172 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 1944
All-time low
1.0%
in 1836
Years of data
204
1816–2019
Military spending as a share of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 1.7%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 29.0% in 1944 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1836.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62nd 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 2.2% | — |
| 1817 | 1.8% | -16.7% |
| 1818 | 1.8% | -2.7% |
| 1819 | 1.6% | -6.3% |
| 1820 | 1.6% | -3.5% |
| 1821 | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| 1822 | 1.5% | -6.4% |
| 1823 | 1.5% | +5.4% |
| 1824 | 1.6% | +2.2% |
| 1825 | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| 1826 | 1.6% | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 1.5% | -1.9% |
| 1828 | 1.5% | -3.6% |
| 1829 | 1.5% | -0.7% |
| 1830 | 1.3% | -8.3% |
| 1831 | 1.4% | +7.5% |
| 1832 | 1.4% | -3.8% |
| 1833 | 1.3% | -7.9% |
| 1834 | 1.1% | -11.4% |
| 1835 | 1.1% | -3.3% |
| 1836 | 1.0% | -9.2% |
| 1837 | 1.1% | +8.8% |
| 1838 | 1.1% | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 1.1% | +6.0% |
| 1840 | 1.3% | +14.0% |
| 1841 | 1.4% | +7.0% |
| 1842 | 1.4% | -2.0% |
| 1843 | 1.5% | +8.9% |
| 1844 | 1.4% | -3.3% |
| 1845 | 1.4% | -0.3% |
| 1846 | 1.6% | +8.4% |
| 1847 | 1.4% | -7.5% |
| 1848 | 1.7% | +17.8% |
| 1849 | 1.5% | -9.6% |
| 1850 | 1.4% | -10.3% |
| 1851 | 1.4% | -1.9% |
| 1852 | 1.2% | -13.2% |
| 1853 | 1.1% | -2.3% |
| 1854 | 7.5% | +555.1% |
| 1855 | 3.4% | -54.7% |
| 1856 | 3.0% | -12.8% |
| 1857 | 1.8% | -40.9% |
| 1858 | 2.0% | +12.7% |
| 1859 | 2.2% | +12.1% |
| 1860 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 1861 | 2.0% | -8.6% |
| 1862 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 1863 | 1.9% | -8.1% |
| 1864 | 1.9% | +3.7% |
| 1865 | 1.4% | -27.3% |
| 1866 | 1.4% | +1.3% |
| 1867 | 1.5% | +4.5% |
| 1868 | 1.6% | +6.1% |
| 1869 | 1.4% | -13.5% |
| 1870 | 1.1% | -20.9% |
| 1871 | 1.0% | -6.1% |
| 1872 | 1.0% | +1.1% |
| 1873 | 1.1% | +11.0% |
| 1874 | 1.1% | -4.9% |
| 1875 | 1.2% | +7.0% |
| 1876 | 1.2% | +4.1% |
| 1877 | 1.2% | -4.0% |
| 1878 | 1.2% | +7.7% |
| 1879 | 1.3% | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 1.1% | -16.3% |
| 1881 | 1.0% | -5.0% |
| 1882 | 1.2% | +16.1% |
| 1883 | 1.2% | -0.5% |
| 1884 | 1.3% | +9.0% |
| 1885 | 1.4% | +7.0% |
| 1886 | 1.4% | +3.0% |
| 1887 | 1.3% | -11.3% |
| 1888 | 1.3% | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 1.3% | +2.3% |
| 1890 | 1.4% | +7.4% |
| 1891 | 1.3% | -9.4% |
| 1892 | 1.4% | +7.4% |
| 1893 | 1.3% | -1.2% |
| 1894 | 1.4% | +5.3% |
| 1895 | 1.6% | +10.8% |
| 1896 | 1.5% | -0.8% |
| 1897 | 1.6% | +0.4% |
| 1898 | 1.6% | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 1.8% | +16.9% |
| 1900 | 3.8% | +109.3% |
| 1901 | 3.6% | -6.6% |
| 1902 | 3.1% | -15.0% |
| 1903 | 2.5% | -17.9% |
| 1904 | 2.2% | -11.4% |
| 1905 | 2.0% | -12.1% |
| 1906 | 1.9% | -4.0% |
| 1907 | 1.7% | -8.2% |
| 1908 | 1.7% | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 1.8% | +3.2% |
| 1910 | 1.8% | -0.3% |
| 1911 | 1.9% | +4.9% |
| 1912 | 1.8% | -6.3% |
| 1913 | 1.9% | +10.4% |
| 1914 | 7.8% | +302.1% |
| 1915 | 21.8% | +178.8% |
| 1916 | 26.2% | +19.9% |
| 1917 | 28.4% | +8.7% |
| 1918 | 21.3% | -25.0% |
| 1919 | 3.1% | -85.6% |
| 1920 | 2.8% | -10.2% |
| 1921 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 2.4% | -13.7% |
| 1923 | 2.1% | -10.8% |
| 1924 | 1.8% | -14.9% |
| 1925 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 1.8% | -1.0% |
| 1927 | 1.6% | -6.7% |
| 1928 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 1929 | 1.5% | -2.0% |
| 1930 | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| 1931 | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| 1932 | 1.5% | -2.5% |
| 1933 | 1.4% | -5.7% |
| 1934 | 1.9% | +35.1% |
| 1935 | 2.1% | +14.3% |
| 1936 | 2.6% | +20.5% |
| 1937 | 3.1% | +21.5% |
| 1938 | 3.9% | +25.5% |
| 1939 | 21.2% | +441.1% |
| 1940 | 24.6% | +15.8% |
| 1941 | 25.4% | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 26.1% | +2.8% |
| 1943 | 27.9% | +6.8% |
| 1944 | 29.0% | +3.8% |
| 1945 | 28.7% | -1.1% |
| 1946 | 22.4% | -21.9% |
| 1947 | 10.5% | -53.1% |
| 1948 | 6.0% | -43.1% |
| 1949 | 5.8% | -3.6% |
| 1950 | 3.7% | -36.0% |
| 1951 | 4.2% | +15.1% |
| 1952 | 6.0% | +42.2% |
| 1953 | 5.9% | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 5.4% | -8.3% |
| 1955 | 4.9% | -9.6% |
| 1956 | 5.2% | +6.8% |
| 1957 | 4.9% | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 4.8% | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 4.1% | -15.0% |
| 1960 | 3.8% | -6.6% |
| 1961 | 4.0% | +4.6% |
| 1962 | 4.1% | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 3.9% | -3.1% |
| 1964 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 3.7% | -4.9% |
| 1966 | 3.4% | -7.3% |
| 1967 | 3.5% | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 3.2% | -8.4% |
| 1969 | 2.9% | -11.4% |
| 1970 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.1% | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 2.9% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 3.6% | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 3.7% | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 3.4% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | -6.6% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | -10.9% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +16.2% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 1820s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.5% | 1.1% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1910s | 11.6% | 1.8% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.0% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.1% | 1.4% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 1940s | 20.6% | 5.8% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 10 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.166 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 9,564 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3186 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 18,352 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 5.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.242 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1.7% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1836.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 62nd out of 172 countries with data for 2019.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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
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About this data
Military spending measured as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).