Democratic Republic of the Congo Military Spending
Democratic Republic of the Congo spends an estimated 1.2% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $1.1 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1963–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$1.1 billion
Ranked #82 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.2%
Ranked #113 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+3.0%
From $1.1B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$1.1 billion
Reached in 2025
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Democratic Republic of the Congo’s last 3 reported years (2023–2025), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 3%, 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo run to 2025.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Democratic Republic of the Congo is estimated to have spent $1.1 billion on military and defense, representing 1.2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Democratic Republic of the Congo is the #82 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 3.0%, from $1.1 billion to $1.1 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 5.2% in 1993. The historical average military budget is 0.8% 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) | 1.24% | $1,147M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.24% | $1,114M |
| 2025 | 1.38% | $1,082M |
| 2024 | 1.22% | $899M |
| 2023 | 1.12% | $763M |
| 2022 | 0.57% | $375M |
| 2021 | 0.53% | $334M |
| 2020 | 0.73% | $399M |
| 2019 | 0.69% | $386M |
| 2018 | 0.61% | $331M |
| 2017 | 0.74% | $385M |
| 2016 | 1.03% | $487M |
| 2015 | 1.22% | $572M |
| 2014 | 0.89% | $400M |
| 2013 | 1.07% | $441M |
| 2012 | 1.11% | $395M |
| 2011 | 0.90% | $286M |
| 2010 | 0.82% | $249M |
| 2009 | 0.65% | $183M |
| 2008 | 0.70% | $242M |
| 2007 | 1.11% | $338M |
| 2006 | 1.32% | $357M |
| 2005 | 1.31% | $329M |
| 2004 | 1.34% | $281M |
| 2003 | 0.88% | $169M |
| 2000 | 0.22% | $100M |
| 1999 | 1.16% | $134M |
| 1998 | 0.43% | $37M |
| 1997 | 1.41% | $122M |
| 1996 | 1.55% | $149M |
| 1993 | 5.23% | $431M |
| 1992 | — | $140M |
| 1991 | — | $73M |
| 1990 | — | $80M |
| 1989 | — | $113M |
| 1988 | — | $360M |
| 1987 | — | $49M |
| 1986 | — | $110M |
| 1985 | — | $80M |
| 1984 | — | $94M |
| 1983 | — | $76M |
| 1982 | — | $111M |
| 1981 | — | $57M |
| 1980 | — | $104M |
| 1979 | 0.00% | $118M |
| 1978 | 0.00% | $129M |
| 1977 | 0.00% | $148M |
| 1976 | 0.00% | $173M |
| 1975 | 0.00% | $283M |
| 1974 | 0.00% | $397M |
| 1973 | 0.00% | $278M |
| 1972 | 0.00% | $295M |
| 1971 | 0.00% | $370M |
| 1970 | 0.00% | $394M |
| 1969 | 0.00% | $301M |
| 1968 | 0.00% | $223M |
| 1967 | — | $215M |
| 1966 | 0.00% | $239M |
| 1965 | — | $279M |
| 1964 | 0.00% | $171M |
| 1963 | — | $124M |