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Afghanistan Military Spending

Afghanistan spends an estimated 2.5% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $9 million (1977).

Defense budget and military expenditure data (1970–2027)

Data updated: July 7, 2026

Key Facts (2026 estimate)

Military Expenditure

$9 million

Percent of GDP

2.5%

Ranked #52 of 163 countries by % of GDP

Historical Peak Spending

$9 million

Reached in 1977

How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. Actual SIPRI figures for Afghanistan run to 2021.

Afghanistan Defense Budget Summary

Afghanistan spends an estimated 2.5% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $9 million (1977).

The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 2.6% in 2007. The historical average military budget is 1.7% of GDP.

Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.

Historical Military Spending

Military Spending (% of GDP)

Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)

Historical Data

YearPercent of GDPUSD (millions)
2027(estimate)2.50%—
2026(estimate)2.50%—
20211.83%—
20201.36%—
20191.17%—
20181.01%—
20170.95%—
20160.96%—
20150.99%—
20141.30%—
20131.08%—
20121.18%—
20111.82%—
20101.95%—
20092.09%—
20082.34%—
20072.57%—
20061.90%—
20051.99%—
20042.43%—
19772.01%$9M
19762.05%$8M
19751.72%$6M
19741.61%$6M
19731.87%$6M
19701.63%$5M

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Afghanistan spend on military?
Afghanistan spends an estimated 2.5% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $9 million (1977).
What percentage of GDP does Afghanistan spend on defense?
In 2026, Afghanistan spends an estimated 2.5% of GDP on its military. The historical average military budget is 1.7% of GDP.
Where does Afghanistan rank in military spending worldwide?
In 2026, Afghanistan ranks #52 of 163 countries by military spending as a share of GDP, based on 2026 spending estimates. SIPRI data (refreshed 2026-07-07) includes no 2026 US-dollar figure for Afghanistan to rank by absolute spending.

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