Malaysia Military Spending
Malaysia spends an estimated 1.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $4.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1957–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$4.8 billion
Ranked #51 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.0%
Ranked #129 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $4.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$4.6 billion
Reached in 2015
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 Malaysia run to 2025.
Malaysia Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Malaysia is estimated to have spent $4.8 billion on military and defense, representing 1.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Malaysia is the #51 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $4.5 billion to $4.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 5.8% in 1981. The historical average military budget is 2.8% 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) | 1.00% | $5,001M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.00% | $4,773M |
| 2025 | 1.04% | $4,546M |
| 2024 | 1.04% | $4,378M |
| 2023 | 0.98% | $3,977M |
| 2022 | 0.90% | $3,686M |
| 2021 | 0.98% | $3,589M |
| 2020 | 1.00% | $3,427M |
| 2019 | 0.89% | $3,229M |
| 2018 | 0.96% | $3,343M |
| 2017 | 1.10% | $3,664M |
| 2016 | 1.38% | $4,360M |
| 2015 | 1.50% | $4,554M |
| 2014 | 1.46% | $4,230M |
| 2013 | 1.50% | $4,197M |
| 2012 | 1.41% | $3,852M |
| 2011 | 1.55% | $4,039M |
| 2010 | 1.49% | $3,603M |
| 2009 | 1.87% | $4,121M |
| 2008 | 1.82% | $4,366M |
| 2007 | 1.96% | $4,269M |
| 2006 | 2.01% | $3,823M |
| 2005 | 2.17% | $3,907M |
| 2004 | 2.26% | $3,653M |
| 2003 | 2.61% | $3,781M |
| 2002 | 2.22% | $2,968M |
| 2001 | 2.08% | $2,612M |
| 2000 | 1.63% | $2,100M |
| 1999 | 2.10% | $2,313M |
| 1998 | 1.61% | $1,710M |
| 1997 | 2.09% | $2,326M |
| 1996 | 2.40% | $2,475M |
| 1995 | 2.75% | $2,574M |
| 1994 | 2.85% | $2,421M |
| 1993 | 2.88% | $2,234M |
| 1992 | 2.99% | $2,102M |
| 1991 | 3.20% | $2,116M |
| 1990 | 2.56% | $1,554M |
| 1989 | 2.62% | $1,447M |
| 1988 | 2.43% | $1,208M |
| 1987 | 4.15% | $1,859M |
| 1986 | 3.22% | $1,279M |
| 1985 | 3.45% | $1,493M |
| 1984 | 3.75% | $1,673M |
| 1983 | 4.42% | $1,814M |
| 1982 | 5.37% | $2,028M |
| 1981 | 5.79% | $2,129M |
| 1980 | 4.23% | $1,580M |
| 1979 | 3.67% | $1,274M |
| 1978 | 3.71% | $1,090M |
| 1977 | 4.85% | $1,276M |
| 1976 | 3.98% | $952M |
| 1975 | 4.72% | $922M |
| 1974 | 4.18% | $873M |
| 1973 | 3.87% | $777M |
| 1972 | 4.98% | $839M |
| 1971 | 5.37% | $851M |
| 1970 | 5.17% | $759M |
| 1969 | 3.92% | $557M |
| 1968 | 4.45% | $572M |
| 1967 | 4.50% | $552M |
| 1966 | 4.73% | $599M |
| 1965 | 4.01% | $482M |
| 1964 | 3.16% | $344M |
| 1963 | 2.42% | $246M |
| 1962 | 2.19% | $183M |
| 1961 | 2.23% | $177M |
| 1960 | 2.68% | $214M |
| 1959 | 3.08% | $232M |
| 1958 | 4.06% | $266M |
| 1957 | 3.75% | $253M |