Military spending as a share of GDP in Taiwan, China
Taiwan, China: Military spending as a share of GDP was 2.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of GDP in Taiwan, China, 1976–2025
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 Taiwan, China is 2.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Taiwan, China peaked at 7.6% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2018.
That places Taiwan, China 65th 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 Taiwan, China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 6.2% | — |
| 1977 | 6.9% | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 7.0% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 7.6% | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 7.3% | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 6.6% | -8.8% |
| 1982 | 7.0% | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 6.3% | -9.4% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 6.1% | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 5.4% | -10.7% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 5.3% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 5.2% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 5.0% | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 4.7% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 4.1% | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 4.0% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | -7.3% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | -11.6% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -15.5% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -12.3% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +11.5% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | -11.4% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | +9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.9% | 6.2% | 7.6% | 4 |
| 1980s | 6.0% | 4.9% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 3.1% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Taiwan, China
More economy & growth data for Taiwan, China
- Special drawing rights per domestic currency (End-of-period (EoP)) 0.0232 (2025)
- Domestic currency per Special drawing rights (End-of-period (EoP)) 43.05 (2025)
- Domestic currency per US dollar (End-of-period (EoP)) 31.44 (2025)
- US dollar per domestic currency (End-of-period (EoP)) 0.0318 (2025)
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 1.73 million (2027)
- Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.801 (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. GDP per capita 0.93 (2025)
- Foreign aid received per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.39 constant 2024 US$ (1996)
- Milk supply per person 57.79 kilograms per year per capita (2023)
- Fruit consumption by type 0.01 kilograms per year per capita (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Taiwan, China?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Taiwan, China was 2.1% 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 Taiwan, China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Taiwan, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2018.
- How does Taiwan, China rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Taiwan, China ranks 65th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Taiwan, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Taiwan, China 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.