Laos Military Spending
Laos spends an estimated 0.2% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $22 million (2013).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1992–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$23 million
Ranked #150 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
0.2%
Ranked #161 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+4.5%
From $22M in 2013
Historical Peak Spending
$234 million
Reached in 1992
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Laos’s last 3 reported years (2011–2013), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2013 raised by a flat 3%, 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 Laos run to 2013.
Laos Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Laos is estimated to have spent $23 million on military and defense, representing 0.2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Laos is the #150 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2013), defense spending increased by 4.5%, from $22 million to $23 million. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 8.7% in 1992. 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) | 0.20% | $23M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.20% | $23M |
| 2013 | 0.19% | $22M |
| 2012 | 0.20% | $21M |
| 2011 | 0.21% | $21M |
| 2010 | 0.20% | $19M |
| 2009 | 0.22% | $18M |
| 2008 | 0.27% | $22M |
| 2007 | 0.31% | $24M |
| 2006 | 0.34% | $24M |
| 2005 | 0.39% | $24M |
| 2004 | 0.43% | $24M |
| 2003 | 0.49% | $26M |
| 2002 | 0.58% | $29M |
| 2001 | 0.72% | $32M |
| 2000 | 0.79% | $33M |
| 1999 | 1.06% | $41M |
| 1998 | 2.59% | $94M |
| 1997 | 3.84% | $138M |
| 1996 | 4.19% | $150M |
| 1995 | 5.83% | $196M |
| 1994 | 7.52% | $234M |
| 1993 | 8.11% | $232M |
| 1992 | 8.68% | $234M |