New Zealand Military Spending
New Zealand spends an estimated 1.4% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $2.9 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1956–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$3.0 billion
Ranked #55 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.4%
Ranked #104 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $2.9B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$3.2 billion
Reached in 2020
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 New Zealand run to 2025.
New Zealand Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, New Zealand is estimated to have spent $3.0 billion on military and defense, representing 1.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. New Zealand is the #55 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $2.9 billion to $3.0 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 3.1% in 1956. The historical average military budget is 1.9% 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) | 1.50% | $3,182M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.40% | $3,037M |
| 2025 | 1.10% | $2,893M |
| 2024 | 1.16% | $3,001M |
| 2023 | 1.20% | $3,078M |
| 2022 | 1.16% | $2,938M |
| 2021 | 1.16% | $2,900M |
| 2020 | 1.34% | $3,177M |
| 2019 | 1.29% | $3,086M |
| 2018 | 1.11% | $2,536M |
| 2017 | 1.05% | $2,322M |
| 2016 | 1.04% | $2,167M |
| 2015 | 0.99% | $1,965M |
| 2014 | 1.00% | $1,905M |
| 2013 | 1.04% | $1,909M |
| 2012 | 1.12% | $1,955M |
| 2011 | 1.16% | $2,010M |
| 2010 | 1.21% | $2,079M |
| 2009 | 1.22% | $2,041M |
| 2008 | 1.15% | $1,945M |
| 2007 | 1.18% | $2,005M |
| 2006 | 1.24% | $1,987M |
| 2005 | 1.14% | $1,796M |
| 2004 | 1.18% | $1,818M |
| 2003 | 1.33% | $1,940M |
| 2002 | 1.40% | $1,967M |
| 2001 | 1.50% | $2,044M |
| 2000 | 1.60% | $2,092M |
| 1999 | 1.65% | $2,083M |
| 1998 | 1.71% | $2,055M |
| 1997 | 1.72% | $2,052M |
| 1996 | 1.79% | $2,095M |
| 1995 | 1.84% | $2,078M |
| 1994 | 1.85% | $2,039M |
| 1993 | 1.94% | $2,013M |
| 1992 | 2.10% | $2,060M |
| 1991 | 2.28% | $2,201M |
| 1990 | 2.31% | $2,336M |
| 1989 | 2.18% | $2,243M |
| 1988 | 2.12% | $2,169M |
| 1987 | 2.41% | $2,466M |
| 1986 | 2.37% | $2,405M |
| 1985 | 2.36% | $2,205M |
| 1984 | 2.38% | $2,224M |
| 1983 | 2.44% | $2,144M |
| 1982 | 2.58% | $2,198M |
| 1981 | 2.73% | $2,397M |
| 1980 | 3.02% | $2,524M |
| 1979 | 2.16% | $1,818M |
| 1978 | 2.21% | $1,812M |
| 1977 | 2.12% | $1,714M |
| 1976 | 1.94% | $1,692M |
| 1975 | 2.08% | $1,761M |
| 1974 | 2.07% | $1,729M |
| 1973 | 1.97% | $1,674M |
| 1972 | 2.18% | $1,722M |
| 1971 | 2.32% | $1,698M |
| 1970 | 2.63% | $1,805M |
| 1969 | 2.57% | $1,653M |
| 1968 | 2.73% | $1,592M |
| 1967 | 2.62% | $1,506M |
| 1966 | 2.64% | $1,552M |
| 1965 | 2.36% | $1,367M |
| 1964 | 2.47% | $1,373M |
| 1963 | 2.20% | $1,152M |
| 1962 | 2.31% | $1,130M |
| 1961 | 2.49% | $1,159M |
| 1960 | 2.69% | $1,233M |
| 1959 | 2.82% | $1,203M |
| 1958 | 2.83% | $1,170M |
| 1957 | 2.86% | $1,184M |
| 1956 | 3.11% | $1,228M |