Germany Military Spending
Germany spends an estimated 2.8% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $106.7 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1953–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$112.1 billion
Ranked #4 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.8%
Ranked #42 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $106.7B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$106.7 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 Germany run to 2025.
Germany Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Germany is estimated to have spent $112.1 billion on military and defense, representing 2.8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Germany is the #4 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $106.7 billion to $112.1 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.9% in 1963. The historical average military budget is 2.4% 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) | 3.10% | $117,400M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.80% | $112,064M |
| 2025 | 2.27% | $106,727M |
| 2024 | 1.84% | $86,148M |
| 2023 | 1.50% | $70,205M |
| 2022 | 1.34% | $62,500M |
| 2021 | 1.30% | $59,888M |
| 2020 | 1.36% | $60,418M |
| 2019 | 1.24% | $56,705M |
| 2018 | 1.15% | $51,694M |
| 2017 | 1.13% | $50,305M |
| 2016 | 1.13% | $48,903M |
| 2015 | 1.11% | $46,869M |
| 2014 | 1.13% | $46,078M |
| 2013 | 1.16% | $46,023M |
| 2012 | 1.22% | $47,790M |
| 2011 | 1.18% | $46,462M |
| 2010 | 1.24% | $47,424M |
| 2009 | 1.29% | $47,308M |
| 2008 | 1.19% | $45,582M |
| 2007 | 1.15% | $44,529M |
| 2006 | 1.18% | $44,461M |
| 2005 | 1.23% | $45,267M |
| 2004 | 1.25% | $45,982M |
| 2003 | 1.30% | $47,435M |
| 2002 | 1.31% | $48,093M |
| 2001 | 1.31% | $47,962M |
| 2000 | 1.34% | $48,764M |
| 1999 | 1.38% | $49,545M |
| 1998 | 1.38% | $48,563M |
| 1997 | 1.40% | $48,396M |
| 1996 | 1.46% | $50,251M |
| 1995 | 1.49% | $51,253M |
| 1994 | 1.54% | $52,111M |
| 1993 | 1.68% | $55,877M |
| 1992 | 1.84% | $62,156M |
| 1991 | 1.97% | $65,354M |
| 1990 | 2.51% | $70,619M |
| 1989 | 2.52% | $67,010M |
| 1988 | 2.63% | $67,193M |
| 1987 | 2.76% | $67,736M |
| 1986 | 2.78% | $66,545M |
| 1985 | 2.85% | $64,825M |
| 1984 | 2.91% | $64,687M |
| 1983 | 3.01% | $65,344M |
| 1982 | 3.02% | $64,782M |
| 1981 | 3.03% | $65,629M |
| 1980 | 2.95% | $64,867M |
| 1979 | 2.95% | $64,008M |
| 1978 | 3.04% | $63,127M |
| 1977 | 3.02% | $60,552M |
| 1976 | 3.12% | $60,813M |
| 1975 | 3.27% | $61,255M |
| 1974 | 3.25% | $61,534M |
| 1973 | 3.14% | $58,921M |
| 1972 | 3.15% | $56,744M |
| 1971 | 3.05% | $53,046M |
| 1970 | 3.00% | $49,513M |
| 1969 | 3.38% | $48,956M |
| 1968 | 3.39% | $44,633M |
| 1967 | 4.06% | $50,288M |
| 1966 | 3.89% | $48,342M |
| 1965 | 4.07% | $49,252M |
| 1964 | 4.36% | $49,920M |
| 1963 | 4.88% | $52,060M |
| 1962 | 4.48% | $46,373M |
| 1961 | 3.72% | $36,474M |
| 1960 | 3.75% | $34,304M |
| 1959 | 4.15% | $31,860M |
| 1958 | 2.78% | $19,886M |
| 1957 | 3.88% | $26,546M |
| 1956 | 3.40% | $21,812M |
| 1955 | 3.83% | $22,903M |
| 1954 | 3.72% | $19,821M |
| 1953 | 3.95% | $19,578M |