Italy Military Spending
Italy spends an estimated 2.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $45.4 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$47.7 billion
Ranked #12 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.0%
Ranked #83 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $45.4B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$45.4 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 Italy run to 2025.
Italy Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Italy is estimated to have spent $47.7 billion on military and defense, representing 2.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Italy is the #12 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $45.4 billion to $47.7 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.0% in 1952. The historical average military budget is 2.0% 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) | 2.10% | $49,984M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.00% | $47,712M |
| 2025 | 1.89% | $45,440M |
| 2024 | 1.59% | $37,850M |
| 2023 | 1.53% | $35,924M |
| 2022 | 1.60% | $36,951M |
| 2021 | 1.61% | $37,010M |
| 2020 | 1.66% | $35,329M |
| 2019 | 1.25% | $28,611M |
| 2018 | 1.32% | $30,011M |
| 2017 | 1.28% | $28,981M |
| 2016 | 1.30% | $28,934M |
| 2015 | 1.18% | $25,645M |
| 2014 | 1.25% | $26,768M |
| 2013 | 1.39% | $29,589M |
| 2012 | 1.42% | $30,767M |
| 2011 | 1.47% | $33,285M |
| 2010 | 1.49% | $33,988M |
| 2009 | 1.55% | $34,987M |
| 2008 | 1.53% | $36,173M |
| 2007 | 1.44% | $34,735M |
| 2006 | 1.51% | $35,755M |
| 2005 | 1.60% | $36,952M |
| 2004 | 1.67% | $38,409M |
| 2003 | 1.70% | $38,283M |
| 2002 | 1.69% | $37,974M |
| 2001 | 1.67% | $36,964M |
| 2000 | 1.73% | $37,581M |
| 1999 | 1.68% | $35,231M |
| 1998 | 1.64% | $33,905M |
| 1997 | 1.62% | $32,819M |
| 1996 | 1.58% | $31,300M |
| 1995 | 1.46% | $28,406M |
| 1994 | 1.71% | $31,102M |
| 1993 | 1.79% | $31,891M |
| 1992 | 1.75% | $31,721M |
| 1991 | 1.86% | $32,660M |
| 1990 | 1.88% | $32,206M |
| 1989 | 2.03% | $33,484M |
| 1988 | 2.07% | $33,222M |
| 1987 | 2.06% | $31,274M |
| 1986 | 1.98% | $28,743M |
| 1985 | 1.94% | $26,918M |
| 1984 | 2.01% | $27,190M |
| 1983 | 2.02% | $26,410M |
| 1982 | 2.01% | $25,845M |
| 1981 | 1.82% | $23,165M |
| 1980 | 1.76% | $22,028M |
| 1979 | 1.87% | $22,604M |
| 1978 | 1.88% | $21,242M |
| 1977 | 1.89% | $20,361M |
| 1976 | 1.83% | $19,028M |
| 1975 | 1.98% | $19,087M |
| 1974 | 2.07% | $20,498M |
| 1973 | 2.20% | $20,521M |
| 1972 | 2.39% | $20,554M |
| 1971 | 2.24% | $18,519M |
| 1970 | 2.06% | $16,479M |
| 1969 | 2.42% | $15,612M |
| 1968 | 2.65% | $15,817M |
| 1967 | 2.77% | $15,628M |
| 1966 | 2.99% | $15,910M |
| 1965 | 2.75% | $14,826M |
| 1964 | 2.73% | $14,285M |
| 1963 | 2.75% | $13,949M |
| 1962 | 2.63% | $12,534M |
| 1961 | 2.57% | $11,332M |
| 1960 | 2.71% | $11,034M |
| 1959 | 2.95% | $10,507M |
| 1958 | 3.04% | $10,190M |
| 1957 | 3.09% | $9,897M |
| 1956 | 3.17% | $9,593M |
| 1955 | 3.25% | $9,319M |
| 1954 | 3.53% | $9,460M |
| 1953 | 3.33% | $8,625M |
| 1952 | 3.99% | $9,494M |
| 1951 | 3.78% | $8,483M |
| 1950 | — | $7,488M |
| 1949 | — | $6,343M |