Bangladesh Military Spending
Bangladesh spends an estimated 1.0% 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 (1973–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$3.8 billion
Ranked #53 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.0%
Ranked #124 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $3.7B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$4.7 billion
Reached in 2020
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 Bangladesh run to 2025.
Bangladesh Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Bangladesh is estimated to have spent $3.8 billion on military and defense, representing 1.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Bangladesh is the #53 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 $3.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 1.6% in 1977. The historical average military budget is 1.2% 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) | 1.00% | $4,031M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.00% | $3,848M |
| 2025 | 0.81% | $3,665M |
| 2024 | 0.86% | $3,747M |
| 2023 | 0.87% | $3,746M |
| 2022 | 1.00% | $4,133M |
| 2021 | 1.18% | $4,666M |
| 2020 | 1.26% | $4,710M |
| 2019 | 1.24% | $4,632M |
| 2018 | 1.18% | $4,057M |
| 2017 | 1.13% | $3,684M |
| 2016 | 1.23% | $3,781M |
| 2015 | 1.45% | $3,441M |
| 2014 | 1.36% | $3,046M |
| 2013 | 1.33% | $2,850M |
| 2012 | 1.41% | $2,859M |
| 2011 | 1.46% | $2,718M |
| 2010 | 1.42% | $2,565M |
| 2009 | 1.23% | $2,130M |
| 2008 | 1.12% | $1,826M |
| 2007 | 1.19% | $1,848M |
| 2006 | 1.19% | $1,756M |
| 2005 | 1.16% | $1,631M |
| 2004 | 1.19% | $1,609M |
| 2003 | 1.20% | $1,579M |
| 2002 | 1.25% | $1,574M |
| 2001 | 1.34% | $1,623M |
| 2000 | 1.40% | $1,624M |
| 1999 | 1.42% | $1,555M |
| 1998 | 1.42% | $1,501M |
| 1997 | 1.43% | $1,479M |
| 1996 | 1.38% | $1,390M |
| 1995 | 1.41% | $1,331M |
| 1994 | 1.40% | $1,294M |
| 1993 | 1.28% | $1,154M |
| 1992 | 1.20% | $1,062M |
| 1991 | 1.09% | $923M |
| 1990 | 1.11% | $906M |
| 1989 | 1.18% | $912M |
| 1988 | 1.14% | $833M |
| 1987 | 1.06% | $758M |
| 1986 | 1.03% | $706M |
| 1985 | 0.97% | $648M |
| 1984 | 1.09% | $704M |
| 1983 | 1.20% | $716M |
| 1982 | 0.97% | $561M |
| 1981 | 0.84% | $486M |
| 1980 | 0.74% | $459M |
| 1979 | 0.84% | $437M |
| 1978 | 1.27% | $460M |
| 1977 | 1.57% | $515M |
| 1976 | 1.52% | $427M |
| 1975 | 0.84% | $241M |
| 1974 | 0.60% | $235M |
| 1973 | 0.66% | $208M |