Military spending as a share of GDP in Rwanda
Rwanda: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.3%
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
110th
of 166 countries
All-time high
5.5%
in 1991
All-time low
0.6%
in 1995
Years of data
53
1973–2025
Military spending as a share of GDP in Rwanda, 1973–2025
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 Rwanda is 1.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Rwanda peaked at 5.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1995.
That places Rwanda 110th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1.9% | — |
| 1974 | 1.5% | -21.9% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | +10.7% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 2.2% | +33.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -26.2% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 2.0% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -15.4% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +13.0% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +112.6% |
| 1991 | 5.5% | +47.7% |
| 1992 | 4.3% | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -24.2% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -82.3% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | +776.7% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -21.7% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -20.5% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -19.7% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -19.4% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -16.9% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +10.1% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +23.0% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 7 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 0.6% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 107 Sri Lanka 1.3% compare
- 108 Congo 1.3% compare
- 109 Philippines 1.3% compare
- 111 Zambia 1.3% compare
- 112 Seychelles 1.2% compare
- 113 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Rwanda
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 5.1 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 7.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 122,557 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2204 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 247.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 17.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 314.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 353,853 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 11.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Rwanda?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Rwanda 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1995.
- How does Rwanda rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Rwanda ranks 110th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.