Military spending as a share of GDP in United States of America
United States of America: Military spending as a share of GDP was 3.2% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
3.2%
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
20th
of 172 countries
All-time high
33.8%
in 1944
All-time low
0.3%
in 1887
Years of data
204
1816–2019
Military spending as a share of GDP in United States of America, 1816–2019
Source: Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 3.2% for military spending as a share of gdp in 2019.
That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in United States of America peaked at 33.8% in 1944 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1887.
That places United States of America 20th out of 172 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 1.2% | — |
| 1817 | 0.9% | -28.0% |
| 1818 | 0.8% | -8.5% |
| 1819 | 0.7% | -10.8% |
| 1820 | 0.6% | -11.7% |
| 1821 | 0.6% | -3.6% |
| 1822 | 0.5% | -17.9% |
| 1823 | 0.5% | +4.7% |
| 1824 | 0.5% | +1.1% |
| 1825 | 0.5% | -1.5% |
| 1826 | 0.6% | +9.0% |
| 1827 | 0.5% | -2.7% |
| 1828 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 1829 | 0.6% | +6.0% |
| 1830 | 0.5% | -15.1% |
| 1831 | 0.6% | +18.3% |
| 1832 | 0.6% | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 0.6% | +3.6% |
| 1834 | 0.6% | -7.3% |
| 1835 | 0.6% | +1.3% |
| 1836 | 0.6% | -5.0% |
| 1837 | 0.6% | +9.9% |
| 1838 | 0.6% | -1.2% |
| 1839 | 0.6% | -7.0% |
| 1840 | 0.6% | +10.6% |
| 1841 | 0.6% | -1.6% |
| 1842 | 0.6% | -1.8% |
| 1843 | 0.5% | -14.6% |
| 1844 | 0.6% | +8.3% |
| 1845 | 0.6% | +3.2% |
| 1846 | 1.7% | +196.1% |
| 1847 | 1.1% | -38.3% |
| 1848 | 1.1% | +3.3% |
| 1849 | 0.8% | -23.8% |
| 1850 | 0.7% | -14.0% |
| 1851 | 0.7% | -6.1% |
| 1852 | 0.6% | -5.0% |
| 1853 | 0.6% | -4.4% |
| 1854 | 0.6% | +2.9% |
| 1855 | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 0.7% | +5.7% |
| 1857 | 0.6% | -5.6% |
| 1858 | 0.7% | +2.7% |
| 1859 | 0.6% | -4.6% |
| 1860 | 0.6% | +2.3% |
| 1861 | 6.9% | +977.2% |
| 1862 | 10.1% | +46.9% |
| 1863 | 9.6% | -5.1% |
| 1864 | 15.5% | +61.6% |
| 1865 | 1.5% | -90.5% |
| 1866 | 1.3% | -13.7% |
| 1867 | 1.3% | +3.2% |
| 1868 | 1.2% | -7.7% |
| 1869 | 1.0% | -16.6% |
| 1870 | 0.7% | -26.4% |
| 1871 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 1872 | 0.6% | -2.2% |
| 1873 | 0.7% | +7.0% |
| 1874 | 0.6% | -11.6% |
| 1875 | 0.5% | -10.3% |
| 1876 | 0.5% | -2.3% |
| 1877 | 0.5% | -12.0% |
| 1878 | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| 1879 | 0.4% | -9.5% |
| 1880 | 0.4% | -11.4% |
| 1881 | 0.4% | -5.9% |
| 1882 | 0.3% | -1.6% |
| 1883 | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| 1884 | 0.3% | -1.6% |
| 1885 | 0.3% | -7.6% |
| 1886 | 0.3% | +4.5% |
| 1887 | 0.3% | -7.0% |
| 1888 | 0.3% | +9.9% |
| 1889 | 0.3% | +2.7% |
| 1890 | 0.4% | +14.2% |
| 1891 | 0.4% | -4.3% |
| 1892 | 0.4% | +1.9% |
| 1893 | 0.4% | +2.2% |
| 1894 | 0.4% | +5.6% |
| 1895 | 0.4% | +2.9% |
| 1896 | 0.5% | +6.6% |
| 1897 | 0.5% | +12.6% |
| 1898 | 1.0% | +103.1% |
| 1899 | 0.9% | -14.3% |
| 1900 | 0.8% | -11.7% |
| 1901 | 0.7% | -15.2% |
| 1902 | 0.7% | +4.0% |
| 1903 | 0.7% | -2.1% |
| 1904 | 0.7% | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 0.7% | -2.6% |
| 1906 | 0.6% | -8.1% |
| 1907 | 0.7% | +8.2% |
| 1908 | 0.7% | +3.0% |
| 1909 | 0.7% | +5.2% |
| 1910 | 0.6% | -10.7% |
| 1911 | 0.7% | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 0.6% | -4.9% |
| 1913 | 0.7% | +7.8% |
| 1914 | 0.6% | -17.8% |
| 1915 | 0.6% | +2.5% |
| 1916 | 0.5% | -10.7% |
| 1917 | 1.0% | +93.9% |
| 1918 | 9.8% | +898.4% |
| 1919 | 8.3% | -15.2% |
| 1920 | 1.3% | -84.1% |
| 1921 | 1.2% | -11.8% |
| 1922 | 0.9% | -22.4% |
| 1923 | 0.7% | -23.1% |
| 1924 | 0.5% | -23.0% |
| 1925 | 0.5% | -2.2% |
| 1926 | 0.5% | -6.4% |
| 1927 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.5% | +8.5% |
| 1929 | 0.5% | +1.3% |
| 1930 | 0.6% | +15.3% |
| 1931 | 0.6% | +3.6% |
| 1932 | 0.7% | +15.6% |
| 1933 | 0.8% | +6.3% |
| 1934 | 0.9% | +18.2% |
| 1935 | 0.9% | -6.4% |
| 1936 | 0.9% | +1.1% |
| 1937 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1938 | 1.0% | +13.2% |
| 1939 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 1940 | 1.0% | +2.9% |
| 1941 | 4.1% | +304.2% |
| 1942 | 13.6% | +234.9% |
| 1943 | 31.0% | +127.0% |
| 1944 | 33.8% | +9.2% |
| 1945 | 25.2% | -25.4% |
| 1946 | 16.8% | -33.3% |
| 1947 | 5.7% | -66.2% |
| 1948 | 4.1% | -28.5% |
| 1949 | 4.6% | +12.2% |
| 1950 | 4.3% | -6.5% |
| 1951 | 8.3% | +94.6% |
| 1952 | 12.2% | +47.2% |
| 1953 | 11.8% | -3.5% |
| 1954 | 10.4% | -11.6% |
| 1955 | 8.8% | -15.7% |
| 1956 | 9.5% | +8.7% |
| 1957 | 9.2% | -3.5% |
| 1958 | 9.2% | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 8.1% | -11.2% |
| 1960 | 7.3% | -10.0% |
| 1961 | 7.8% | +6.5% |
| 1962 | 7.3% | -6.4% |
| 1963 | 6.5% | -10.3% |
| 1964 | 6.7% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 6.4% | -4.8% |
| 1966 | 7.0% | +9.6% |
| 1967 | 7.6% | +7.9% |
| 1968 | 7.3% | -4.2% |
| 1969 | 6.9% | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 6.3% | -8.5% |
| 1971 | 5.6% | -12.1% |
| 1972 | 5.3% | -5.7% |
| 1973 | 4.8% | -9.0% |
| 1974 | 4.4% | -8.9% |
| 1975 | 4.3% | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 4.0% | -6.3% |
| 1977 | 3.9% | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 3.7% | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 4.1% | +7.2% |
| 1982 | 4.7% | +14.3% |
| 1983 | 4.6% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 4.7% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 4.9% | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 4.9% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | -5.3% |
| 1988 | 4.4% | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 4.1% | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -11.2% |
| 1992 | 3.8% | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | -11.0% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | +16.6% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 3.3% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 2.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.9% | 0.6% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.3% | 0.5% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1940s | 14.0% | 1.0% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.2% | 4.3% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.1% | 6.4% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.6% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.6% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More economy & growth data for United States of America
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2153 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 18,554 current US$ per person (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.2153 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 18,554 current LCU per person (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1748 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in United States of America?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in United States of America was 3.2% 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 1944.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1887.
- How does United States of America rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- United States of America ranks 20th out of 172 countries with data for 2019.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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).