Military spending as a share of GDP in El Salvador
El Salvador: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.3%
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
105th
of 166 countries
All-time high
6.6%
in 1985
All-time low
0.6%
in 1970
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Military spending as a share of GDP in El Salvador, 1965–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 1.3% for military spending as a share of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador peaked at 6.6% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1970.
That places El Salvador 105th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.7% | — |
| 1966 | 0.7% | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7% | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 0.7% | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 0.6% | -12.0% |
| 1971 | 0.7% | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | +22.8% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | -7.3% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | +10.2% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | +15.1% |
| 1979 | 1.6% | +41.0% |
| 1980 | 1.7% | +10.1% |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +31.3% |
| 1982 | 2.8% | +21.8% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | +27.9% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | +81.4% |
| 1985 | 6.6% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 4.3% | -34.3% |
| 1987 | 4.5% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 4.9% | +14.1% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | -29.9% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -20.0% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | -25.5% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -19.4% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | -13.1% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | -8.6% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +29.8% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | -25.6% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +8.4% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | -12.3% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +18.8% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.1% | 1.7% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 0.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More economy & growth data for El Salvador
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.92 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 3.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.8132 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4,690 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.6403 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,693 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 2.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9773 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador was 1.3% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1970.
- How does El Salvador rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- El Salvador ranks 105th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.