Military spending as a share of GDP in Viet Nam
Viet Nam: Military spending as a share of GDP was 2.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of GDP in Viet Nam, 1987–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending as a share of gdp in Viet Nam stood at 2.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.4% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Viet Nam peaked at 7.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2022.
Viet Nam ranks 62nd 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 Viet Nam, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 4.0% | — |
| 1988 | 7.1% | +79.6% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 7.9% | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 5.6% | -29.3% |
| 1992 | 3.4% | -39.7% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -33.1% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +17.3% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -19.7% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +18.9% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +31.8% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -32.6% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | +38.0% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | +19.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.1% | 4.0% | 7.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 2.3% | 7.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 7 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Viet Nam
- 59 Timor-Leste 2.3% compare
- 60 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.2% compare
- 61 Netherlands 2.2% compare
- 63 Niger 2.1% compare
- 64 Spain 2.1% compare
- 65 Taiwan, China 2.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Viet Nam
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 8.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.308 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 1,560 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 12.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 7,687 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 38.94 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 8.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2893 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,466 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 18.86 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Viet Nam?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Viet Nam was 2.2% 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 Viet Nam?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Viet Nam?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2022.
- How does Viet Nam rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Viet Nam ranks 62nd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Viet Nam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Viet Nam 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.