Mexico Military Spending
Mexico spends an estimated 0.8% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $13.8 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$14.5 billion
Ranked #28 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
0.8%
Ranked #144 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $13.8B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$20.6 billion
Reached in 2024
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 Mexico run to 2025.
Mexico Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Mexico is estimated to have spent $14.5 billion on military and defense, representing 0.8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Mexico is the #28 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $13.8 billion to $14.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 1.1% in 2024. The historical average military budget is 0.6% 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) | 0.80% | $15,161M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.80% | $14,472M |
| 2025 | 0.74% | $13,783M |
| 2024 | 1.13% | $20,595M |
| 2023 | 0.66% | $12,035M |
| 2022 | 0.69% | $12,221M |
| 2021 | 0.66% | $11,464M |
| 2020 | 0.72% | $11,901M |
| 2019 | 0.51% | $9,108M |
| 2018 | 0.46% | $8,287M |
| 2017 | 0.42% | $7,409M |
| 2016 | 0.48% | $8,178M |
| 2015 | 0.45% | $7,313M |
| 2014 | 0.50% | $7,787M |
| 2013 | 0.49% | $7,454M |
| 2012 | 0.46% | $7,046M |
| 2011 | 0.45% | $6,656M |
| 2010 | 0.43% | $6,097M |
| 2009 | 0.48% | $6,402M |
| 2008 | 0.37% | $5,331M |
| 2007 | 0.38% | $5,361M |
| 2006 | 0.30% | $3,995M |
| 2005 | 0.34% | $4,260M |
| 2004 | 0.35% | $4,193M |
| 2003 | 0.39% | $4,352M |
| 2002 | 0.39% | $4,363M |
| 2001 | 0.41% | $4,514M |
| 2000 | 0.41% | $4,562M |
| 1999 | 0.42% | $4,419M |
| 1998 | 0.41% | $4,200M |
| 1997 | 0.42% | $4,073M |
| 1996 | 0.44% | $4,065M |
| 1995 | 0.41% | $3,829M |
| 1994 | 0.48% | $4,584M |
| 1993 | 0.40% | $3,646M |
| 1992 | 0.47% | $3,416M |
| 1991 | 0.44% | $3,078M |
| 1990 | 0.43% | $2,919M |
| 1989 | 0.52% | $3,082M |
| 1988 | 0.54% | $2,908M |
| 1987 | 0.58% | $3,128M |
| 1986 | 0.63% | $3,234M |
| 1985 | 0.68% | $3,843M |
| 1984 | 0.66% | $3,687M |
| 1983 | 0.52% | $2,941M |
| 1982 | 0.50% | $3,072M |
| 1981 | 0.51% | $3,177M |
| 1980 | 0.42% | $2,400M |
| 1979 | 0.51% | $2,527M |
| 1978 | 0.50% | $2,274M |
| 1977 | 0.53% | $2,236M |
| 1976 | 0.60% | $2,394M |
| 1975 | 0.57% | $2,133M |
| 1974 | 0.57% | $1,982M |
| 1973 | 0.54% | $1,811M |
| 1972 | 0.54% | $1,636M |
| 1971 | 0.49% | $1,355M |
| 1970 | 0.50% | $1,319M |
| 1969 | 0.60% | $1,412M |
| 1968 | 0.55% | $1,207M |
| 1967 | 0.55% | $1,109M |
| 1966 | 0.58% | $1,115M |
| 1965 | 0.59% | $1,062M |
| 1964 | 0.68% | $1,107M |
| 1963 | 0.72% | $1,058M |
| 1962 | 0.69% | $942M |
| 1961 | 0.65% | $831M |
| 1960 | 0.67% | $821M |
| 1959 | 0.64% | $728M |
| 1958 | 0.69% | $744M |
| 1957 | 0.73% | $800M |
| 1956 | 0.74% | $737M |
| 1955 | 0.79% | $721M |
| 1954 | 0.88% | $762M |
| 1953 | 0.81% | $604M |
| 1952 | 0.72% | $533M |
| 1951 | 0.76% | $576M |
| 1950 | 0.86% | $568M |
| 1949 | 0.88% | $511M |