Military spending as a share of GDP in Eritrea
Eritrea: Military spending as a share of GDP was 20.9% in 2003. ▲ Rising
Military spending as a share of GDP in Eritrea, 1993–2003
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 Eritrea is 20.9%, measured in 2003.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Eritrea peaked at 34.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 1997.
That places Eritrea 2nd out of 166 countries with data for 2003, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of GDP in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 21.3% | — |
| 1994 | 12.7% | -40.4% |
| 1995 | 19.5% | +53.7% |
| 1996 | 20.3% | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -41.7% |
| 1998 | 32.5% | +174.0% |
| 1999 | 34.4% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 32.7% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 22.1% | -32.2% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.8% | 11.9% | 34.4% | 7 |
| 2000s | 24.1% | 20.7% | 32.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More economy & growth data for Eritrea
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.25 Percent per annum (2019)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.84 Percent per annum (2019)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -0.2424 % change on previous year (2009)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 0.7138 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2009)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 458.9 constant LCU per person (2009)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 19.54 % change on previous year (2011)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 35.5 % change on previous year (2009)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9721 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2009)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 625.02 current US$ per person (2009)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 35.5 % change on previous year (2009)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Eritrea?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Eritrea was 20.9% in 2003, 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 Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 34.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 1997.
- How does Eritrea rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Eritrea ranks 2nd out of 166 countries with data for 2003.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eritrea 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.