France Military Spending
France spends an estimated 2.1% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $64.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$67.7 billion
Ranked #9 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.1%
Ranked #78 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $64.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$64.5 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 France run to 2025.
France Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, France is estimated to have spent $67.7 billion on military and defense, representing 2.1% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. France is the #9 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $64.5 billion to $67.7 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 7.6% in 1953. The historical average military budget is 3.2% 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) | 2.30% | $70,967M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.10% | $67,741M |
| 2025 | 2.03% | $64,515M |
| 2024 | 2.01% | $63,575M |
| 2023 | 1.95% | $60,794M |
| 2022 | 1.96% | $60,193M |
| 2021 | 1.98% | $60,510M |
| 2020 | 2.02% | $58,039M |
| 2019 | 1.85% | $56,074M |
| 2018 | 1.85% | $54,701M |
| 2017 | 1.85% | $54,391M |
| 2016 | 1.85% | $53,500M |
| 2015 | 1.87% | $53,382M |
| 2014 | 1.86% | $51,961M |
| 2013 | 1.85% | $51,072M |
| 2012 | 1.87% | $51,405M |
| 2011 | 1.89% | $52,207M |
| 2010 | 1.97% | $53,807M |
| 2009 | 2.10% | $56,484M |
| 2008 | 1.90% | $52,593M |
| 2007 | 1.91% | $52,978M |
| 2006 | 1.98% | $52,998M |
| 2005 | 2.03% | $52,755M |
| 2004 | 2.11% | $53,859M |
| 2003 | 2.11% | $52,428M |
| 2002 | 2.06% | $50,893M |
| 2001 | 2.04% | $49,868M |
| 2000 | 2.09% | $50,022M |
| 1999 | 2.20% | $50,595M |
| 1998 | 2.25% | $50,172M |
| 1997 | 2.39% | $51,542M |
| 1996 | 2.44% | $51,357M |
| 1995 | 2.52% | $52,608M |
| 1994 | 2.69% | $55,348M |
| 1993 | 2.72% | $55,065M |
| 1992 | 2.73% | $55,682M |
| 1991 | 2.85% | $57,491M |
| 1990 | 2.84% | $57,119M |
| 1989 | 2.92% | $57,372M |
| 1988 | 3.00% | $56,678M |
| 1987 | 3.12% | $56,707M |
| 1986 | 3.09% | $55,093M |
| 1985 | 3.14% | $53,521M |
| 1984 | 3.19% | $53,584M |
| 1983 | 3.24% | $53,904M |
| 1982 | 3.22% | $52,922M |
| 1981 | 3.25% | $51,930M |
| 1980 | 3.16% | $50,669M |
| 1979 | 3.14% | $49,682M |
| 1978 | 3.15% | $48,552M |
| 1977 | 3.23% | $45,948M |
| 1976 | 3.16% | $43,571M |
| 1975 | 3.20% | $41,765M |
| 1974 | 3.09% | $39,972M |
| 1973 | 3.14% | $40,120M |
| 1972 | 3.23% | $38,708M |
| 1971 | 3.32% | $37,721M |
| 1970 | 3.46% | $37,212M |
| 1969 | 3.68% | $37,005M |
| 1968 | 4.14% | $38,687M |
| 1967 | 4.30% | $38,641M |
| 1966 | 4.29% | $36,735M |
| 1965 | 4.40% | $35,661M |
| 1964 | 4.54% | $35,152M |
| 1963 | 4.74% | $34,149M |
| 1962 | 5.16% | $34,792M |
| 1961 | 5.30% | $33,665M |
| 1960 | 5.43% | $32,393M |
| 1959 | 5.64% | $31,558M |
| 1958 | 5.69% | $30,860M |
| 1957 | 6.16% | $33,503M |
| 1956 | 6.46% | $31,298M |
| 1955 | 5.38% | $24,487M |
| 1954 | 6.12% | $26,277M |
| 1953 | 7.57% | $30,827M |
| 1952 | 7.23% | $27,678M |
| 1951 | 5.99% | $21,788M |
| 1950 | 4.65% | $16,268M |
| 1949 | — | $15,045M |