Argentina Military Spending
Argentina spends an estimated 0.6% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $3.7 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$3.9 billion
Ranked #52 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
0.6%
Ranked #149 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $3.7B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$14.1 billion
Reached in 1979
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Argentina run to 2025.
Argentina Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Argentina is estimated to have spent $3.9 billion on military and defense, representing 0.6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Argentina is the #52 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $3.7 billion to $3.9 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.7% in 1978. The historical average military budget is 1.6% 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
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 0.70% | $4,104M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.60% | $3,918M |
| 2025 | 0.56% | $3,731M |
| 2024 | 0.65% | $4,180M |
| 2023 | 0.75% | $5,058M |
| 2022 | 0.68% | $4,620M |
| 2021 | 0.63% | $4,111M |
| 2020 | 0.73% | $4,174M |
| 2019 | 0.70% | $4,476M |
| 2018 | 0.73% | $4,920M |
| 2017 | 0.85% | $5,529M |
| 2016 | 0.81% | $5,100M |
| 2015 | 0.85% | $5,242M |
| 2014 | 0.88% | $5,293M |
| 2013 | 0.84% | $5,117M |
| 2012 | 0.78% | $4,567M |
| 2011 | 0.76% | $4,624M |
| 2010 | 0.81% | $4,691M |
| 2009 | 0.89% | $4,741M |
| 2008 | 0.76% | $4,399M |
| 2007 | 0.79% | $4,427M |
| 2006 | 0.79% | $4,092M |
| 2005 | 0.85% | $3,969M |
| 2004 | 0.88% | $3,778M |
| 2003 | 1.06% | $3,672M |
| 2002 | 1.09% | $3,565M |
| 2001 | 1.18% | $4,183M |
| 2000 | 1.15% | $4,246M |
| 1999 | 1.22% | $4,458M |
| 1998 | 1.14% | $4,326M |
| 1997 | 1.14% | $4,291M |
| 1996 | 1.24% | $4,364M |
| 1995 | 1.47% | $4,918M |
| 1994 | 1.46% | $5,017M |
| 1993 | 1.42% | $4,689M |
| 1992 | 1.42% | $4,969M |
| 1991 | 1.51% | $5,248M |
| 1990 | 1.45% | $5,230M |
| 1989 | 1.88% | $7,701M |
| 1988 | 2.12% | $9,474M |
| 1987 | 2.28% | $9,478M |
| 1986 | 2.31% | $9,502M |
| 1985 | 2.30% | $9,540M |
| 1984 | 2.16% | $10,325M |
| 1983 | 2.74% | $13,160M |
| 1982 | 2.70% | $11,510M |
| 1981 | 3.47% | $13,355M |
| 1980 | 3.10% | $12,547M |
| 1979 | 4.67% | $14,098M |
| 1978 | 4.72% | $13,568M |
| 1977 | 4.01% | $12,698M |
| 1976 | 3.78% | $11,989M |
| 1975 | 2.04% | $6,635M |
| 1974 | 1.66% | $5,227M |
| 1973 | 1.85% | $5,136M |
| 1972 | 1.82% | $4,902M |
| 1971 | 1.81% | $4,766M |
| 1970 | 1.88% | $4,618M |
| 1969 | 1.94% | $4,811M |
| 1968 | 1.69% | $3,940M |
| 1967 | 1.40% | $3,259M |
| 1966 | 1.17% | $2,928M |
| 1965 | 1.07% | $2,830M |
| 1964 | 1.15% | $2,935M |
| 1963 | 1.68% | $3,492M |
| 1962 | 2.66% | $3,426M |
| 1961 | 2.14% | $3,536M |
| 1960 | 1.55% | $2,905M |
| 1959 | 0.81% | $1,939M |
| 1958 | — | $3,446M |
| 1957 | — | $6,399M |
| 1956 | — | $3,605M |
| 1955 | — | $3,852M |
| 1954 | — | $3,815M |
| 1953 | — | $4,004M |
| 1952 | — | $3,070M |
| 1951 | — | $3,015M |
| 1950 | 2.91% | $4,448M |
| 1949 | — | $5,611M |