Military spending as a share of GDP in Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of GDP in Congo, Democratic Republic of the, 1964–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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 Congo, Democratic Republic of the is 1.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 13.1% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Congo, Democratic Republic of the peaked at 5.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1979.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 103rd of 166 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 Congo, Democratic Republic of the, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | +10.1% |
| 1968 | 0.0% | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 0.0% | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 0.0% | +32.2% |
| 1971 | 0.0% | -11.9% |
| 1972 | 0.0% | -17.1% |
| 1973 | 0.0% | -13.3% |
| 1974 | 0.0% | +50.9% |
| 1975 | 0.0% | -14.0% |
| 1976 | 0.0% | -25.9% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -9.2% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | +17578583.9% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | -70.4% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -69.6% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +170.3% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -81.0% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +299.8% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | +51.8% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -16.5% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -37.0% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | +26.0% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +22.4% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -17.1% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +37.5% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -16.2% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | -27.7% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | -17.4% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | -26.9% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | +97.1% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | +8.7% |
| 2025 | 1.4% | +13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 0.4% | 5.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo, Democratic Republic of the
More economy & growth data for Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.079 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 63.7 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 211.33 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 170,500 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1013 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 81.69 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 14,418 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 22.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.3971 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 320.34 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Congo, Democratic Republic of the was 1.4% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1979.
- How does Congo, Democratic Republic of the rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 103rd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo, Democratic Republic of the data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.