United Kingdom—Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)
Category: MilitarySource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #73 of 151Updated April 2026
Latest Value
5.3%
2024
YoY Change
+4.0%
2023 → 2024
Global Rank
#73
of 151 countries
Maximum
7.0%
2000
Minimum
4.3%
2020
CAGR
-1.2%
25 years
Last
5.3%
Previous
5.0%
Highest
7.0%
Lowest
4.3%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
United Kingdom's military spending (% of govt expenditure) was 5.3% in 2024, ranking #73 out of 151 countries. This represents a +4.0% change from 2023. Over the past 25 years, the highest recorded value was 7.0% (2000) and the lowest was 4.3% (2020). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.3% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 7.0% |
Top Countries — Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 54.0% | 2024 |
| 2 | Belarus | 50.7% | 2024 |
| 3 | Myanmar | 29.1% | 2024 |
| 4 | Qatar | 26.9% | 2022 |
| 5 | Saudi Arabia | 22.3% | 2024 |
| 6 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 21.6% | 2024 |
| 7 | Algeria | 21.4% | 2024 |
| 8 | Oman | 20.1% | 2024 |
| 9 | Singapore | 20.1% | 2024 |
| 10 | Israel | 20.0% | 2024 |