Japan Military Spending
Japan spends an estimated 1.9% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $59.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1952–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$62.5 billion
Ranked #10 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.9%
Ranked #90 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $59.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$59.5 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 Japan run to 2025.
Japan Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Japan is estimated to have spent $62.5 billion on military and defense, representing 1.9% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Japan is the #10 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 2.2% in 1954. The historical average military budget is 1.0% 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% | $65,442M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.90% | $62,468M |
| 2025 | 1.41% | $59,493M |
| 2024 | 1.29% | $54,245M |
| 2023 | 1.10% | $45,863M |
| 2022 | 0.97% | $39,766M |
| 2021 | 1.03% | $42,277M |
| 2020 | 0.99% | $39,328M |
| 2019 | 0.97% | $39,668M |
| 2018 | 0.94% | $38,571M |
| 2017 | 0.89% | $36,722M |
| 2016 | 0.91% | $36,967M |
| 2015 | 0.93% | $37,188M |
| 2014 | 0.94% | $36,546M |
| 2013 | 0.93% | $36,159M |
| 2012 | 0.95% | $36,309M |
| 2011 | 0.97% | $36,754M |
| 2010 | 0.94% | $36,264M |
| 2009 | 0.96% | $36,135M |
| 2008 | 0.90% | $35,470M |
| 2007 | 0.88% | $35,815M |
| 2006 | 0.89% | $36,287M |
| 2005 | 0.91% | $36,755M |
| 2004 | 0.92% | $36,822M |
| 2003 | 0.93% | $36,969M |
| 2002 | 0.93% | $36,923M |
| 2001 | 0.92% | $36,740M |
| 2000 | 0.90% | $36,107M |
| 1999 | 0.92% | $35,919M |
| 1998 | 0.91% | $36,107M |
| 1997 | 0.89% | $36,066M |
| 1996 | 0.88% | $35,763M |
| 1995 | 0.89% | $35,124M |
| 1994 | 0.89% | $34,552M |
| 1993 | 0.95% | $34,564M |
| 1992 | 0.95% | $34,704M |
| 1991 | 0.94% | $34,190M |
| 1990 | 0.94% | $33,348M |
| 1989 | 0.94% | $31,791M |
| 1988 | 0.95% | $30,472M |
| 1987 | 0.97% | $29,009M |
| 1986 | 0.96% | $27,855M |
| 1985 | 0.96% | $26,681M |
| 1984 | 0.96% | $25,322M |
| 1983 | 0.95% | $24,215M |
| 1982 | 0.93% | $23,074M |
| 1981 | 0.92% | $22,338M |
| 1980 | 0.91% | $21,565M |
| 1979 | 0.91% | $21,225M |
| 1978 | 0.89% | $19,946M |
| 1977 | 0.89% | $18,864M |
| 1976 | 0.89% | $18,325M |
| 1975 | 0.91% | $18,165M |
| 1974 | 0.86% | $17,459M |
| 1973 | 0.82% | $17,038M |
| 1972 | 0.84% | $16,146M |
| 1971 | 0.82% | $14,463M |
| 1970 | 0.77% | $13,116M |
| 1969 | 0.77% | $11,972M |
| 1968 | 0.79% | $11,022M |
| 1967 | 0.84% | $10,330M |
| 1966 | 0.88% | $9,639M |
| 1965 | 0.90% | $8,922M |
| 1964 | 0.88% | $8,314M |
| 1963 | 0.90% | $7,573M |
| 1962 | 0.88% | $6,966M |
| 1961 | 0.92% | $6,805M |
| 1960 | 1.08% | $7,000M |
| 1959 | 1.26% | $6,990M |
| 1958 | 1.43% | $7,000M |
| 1957 | 1.50% | $6,853M |
| 1956 | 1.75% | $7,161M |
| 1955 | 2.10% | $7,661M |
| 1954 | 2.19% | $7,375M |
| 1953 | 2.03% | $6,546M |
| 1952 | 2.07% | $6,302M |