Denmark Military Spending
Denmark spends an estimated 3.4% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $14.1 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$14.8 billion
Ranked #27 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
3.4%
Ranked #29 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $14.1B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$14.1 billion
Reached in 2025
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 Denmark run to 2025.
Denmark Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Denmark is estimated to have spent $14.8 billion on military and defense, representing 3.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Denmark is the #27 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $14.1 billion to $14.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 3.4% in 1953. The historical average military budget is 2.1% 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) | 3.50% | $15,491M |
| 2026(estimate) | 3.40% | $14,787M |
| 2025 | 3.25% | $14,083M |
| 2024 | 2.27% | $9,637M |
| 2023 | 2.01% | $8,254M |
| 2022 | 1.37% | $5,886M |
| 2021 | 1.30% | $5,428M |
| 2020 | 1.37% | $5,329M |
| 2019 | 1.30% | $5,011M |
| 2018 | 1.28% | $4,856M |
| 2017 | 1.14% | $4,245M |
| 2016 | 1.15% | $4,161M |
| 2015 | 1.11% | $3,903M |
| 2014 | 1.15% | $3,944M |
| 2013 | 1.22% | $4,126M |
| 2012 | 1.35% | $4,498M |
| 2011 | 1.31% | $4,362M |
| 2010 | 1.40% | $4,679M |
| 2009 | 1.34% | $4,395M |
| 2008 | 1.35% | $4,674M |
| 2007 | 1.30% | $4,501M |
| 2006 | 1.38% | $4,667M |
| 2005 | 1.31% | $4,269M |
| 2004 | 1.42% | $4,481M |
| 2003 | 1.46% | $4,455M |
| 2002 | 1.51% | $4,590M |
| 2001 | 1.53% | $4,645M |
| 2000 | 1.46% | $4,374M |
| 1999 | 1.57% | $4,522M |
| 1998 | 1.61% | $4,550M |
| 1997 | 1.62% | $4,500M |
| 1996 | 1.65% | $4,443M |
| 1995 | 1.69% | $4,429M |
| 1994 | 1.74% | $4,477M |
| 1993 | 1.87% | $4,592M |
| 1992 | 1.86% | $4,579M |
| 1991 | 1.92% | $4,665M |
| 1990 | 1.95% | $4,582M |
| 1989 | 2.02% | $4,579M |
| 1988 | 2.09% | $4,695M |
| 1987 | 2.03% | $4,602M |
| 1986 | 1.94% | $4,357M |
| 1985 | 2.10% | $4,522M |
| 1984 | 2.24% | $4,627M |
| 1983 | 2.36% | $4,742M |
| 1982 | 2.42% | $4,704M |
| 1981 | 2.44% | $4,572M |
| 1980 | 2.36% | $4,523M |
| 1979 | 2.25% | $4,483M |
| 1978 | 2.27% | $4,455M |
| 1977 | 2.22% | $4,288M |
| 1976 | 2.20% | $4,267M |
| 1975 | 2.40% | $4,359M |
| 1974 | 2.23% | $3,981M |
| 1973 | 1.98% | $3,620M |
| 1972 | 2.18% | $3,806M |
| 1971 | 2.36% | $3,827M |
| 1970 | 2.43% | $3,763M |
| 1969 | 2.39% | $3,566M |
| 1968 | 2.68% | $3,622M |
| 1967 | 2.59% | $3,394M |
| 1966 | 2.64% | $3,397M |
| 1965 | 2.83% | $3,451M |
| 1964 | 2.84% | $3,252M |
| 1963 | 3.04% | $3,138M |
| 1962 | 3.02% | $3,128M |
| 1961 | 2.59% | $2,555M |
| 1960 | 2.73% | $2,493M |
| 1959 | 2.59% | $2,237M |
| 1958 | 2.88% | $2,280M |
| 1957 | 3.08% | $2,352M |
| 1956 | 3.03% | $2,235M |
| 1955 | 3.18% | $2,330M |
| 1954 | 3.19% | $2,363M |
| 1953 | 3.36% | $2,374M |
| 1952 | 2.74% | $1,822M |
| 1951 | 2.05% | $1,329M |
| 1950 | 1.66% | $1,110M |
| 1949 | — | $1,182M |