Colombia Military Spending
Colombia spends an estimated 3.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $13.7 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1958–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$14.4 billion
Ranked #29 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
3.0%
Ranked #39 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $13.7B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$13.9 billion
Reached in 2024
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 Colombia run to 2025.
Colombia Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Colombia is estimated to have spent $14.4 billion on military and defense, representing 3.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Colombia is the #29 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $13.7 billion to $14.4 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.5% in 1996. The historical average military budget is 2.7% 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
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 3.00% | $15,118M |
| 2026(estimate) | 3.00% | $14,431M |
| 2025 | 3.20% | $13,744M |
| 2024 | 3.31% | $13,876M |
| 2023 | 2.94% | $12,201M |
| 2022 | 2.80% | $12,023M |
| 2021 | 3.20% | $12,277M |
| 2020 | 3.53% | $11,765M |
| 2019 | 3.15% | $11,398M |
| 2018 | 3.03% | $10,602M |
| 2017 | 3.21% | $10,787M |
| 2016 | 3.07% | $10,109M |
| 2015 | 3.11% | $10,253M |
| 2014 | 3.11% | $10,200M |
| 2013 | 3.27% | $10,342M |
| 2012 | 3.16% | $9,498M |
| 2011 | 3.08% | $8,873M |
| 2010 | 3.64% | $9,532M |
| 2009 | 3.89% | $9,606M |
| 2008 | 3.74% | $9,144M |
| 2007 | 3.29% | $7,736M |
| 2006 | 3.30% | $7,292M |
| 2005 | 3.37% | $6,896M |
| 2004 | 3.47% | $6,774M |
| 2003 | 3.46% | $6,347M |
| 2002 | 3.42% | $6,042M |
| 2001 | 3.32% | $5,754M |
| 2000 | 3.03% | $5,232M |
| 1999 | 3.76% | $5,155M |
| 1998 | 3.44% | $4,844M |
| 1997 | 2.80% | $4,056M |
| 1996 | 4.45% | $6,308M |
| 1995 | 2.83% | $4,069M |
| 1994 | 2.51% | $3,486M |
| 1993 | 2.53% | $3,337M |
| 1992 | 2.11% | $2,590M |
| 1991 | 1.85% | $2,268M |
| 1990 | 1.86% | $2,291M |
| 1989 | 2.19% | $2,191M |
| 1988 | 2.20% | $2,149M |
| 1987 | 1.98% | $1,868M |
| 1986 | 1.94% | $1,737M |
| 1985 | 2.05% | $1,596M |
| 1984 | 2.33% | $1,741M |
| 1983 | 2.22% | $1,528M |
| 1982 | 1.71% | $1,155M |
| 1981 | 1.76% | $1,170M |
| 1980 | 1.83% | $1,239M |
| 1979 | 1.67% | $1,079M |
| 1978 | 1.55% | $952M |
| 1977 | 1.44% | $816M |
| 1976 | 1.49% | $843M |
| 1975 | 1.74% | $897M |
| 1974 | 1.58% | $796M |
| 1973 | 1.69% | $803M |
| 1972 | 1.97% | $883M |
| 1971 | 3.37% | $1,415M |
| 1970 | 2.26% | $900M |
| 1969 | 2.05% | $731M |
| 1968 | 2.39% | $789M |
| 1967 | 3.12% | $955M |
| 1966 | 3.17% | $931M |
| 1965 | 3.19% | $905M |
| 1964 | 3.18% | $858M |
| 1963 | 3.52% | $899M |
| 1962 | 3.10% | $787M |
| 1961 | 2.14% | $507M |
| 1960 | 1.88% | $424M |
| 1959 | 1.83% | $385M |
| 1958 | 2.35% | $469M |