Nigeria Military Spending
Nigeria spends an estimated 1.2% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $1.8 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1960–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$1.8 billion
Ranked #68 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.2%
Ranked #115 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $1.8B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$4.7 billion
Reached in 1975
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 Nigeria run to 2025.
Nigeria Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Nigeria is estimated to have spent $1.8 billion on military and defense, representing 1.2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Nigeria is the #68 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $1.8 billion to $1.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 10.3% in 1969. 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) | 1.20% | $1,932M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.20% | $1,844M |
| 2025 | 0.91% | $1,756M |
| 2024 | 0.56% | $1,135M |
| 2023 | 0.84% | $1,780M |
| 2022 | 0.65% | $1,478M |
| 2021 | 1.01% | $2,380M |
| 2020 | 0.63% | $1,522M |
| 2019 | 0.46% | $1,182M |
| 2018 | 0.51% | $1,289M |
| 2017 | 0.43% | $1,092M |
| 2016 | 0.43% | $1,142M |
| 2015 | 0.42% | $1,183M |
| 2014 | 0.41% | $1,212M |
| 2013 | 0.47% | $1,333M |
| 2012 | 0.50% | $1,387M |
| 2011 | 0.58% | $1,575M |
| 2010 | 0.54% | $1,414M |
| 2009 | 0.51% | $1,205M |
| 2008 | 0.49% | $1,159M |
| 2007 | 0.37% | $825M |
| 2006 | 0.35% | $711M |
| 2005 | 0.40% | $682M |
| 2004 | 0.49% | $772M |
| 2003 | 0.57% | $793M |
| 2002 | 0.95% | $1,288M |
| 2001 | 0.78% | $853M |
| 2000 | 0.54% | $599M |
| 1999 | 0.86% | $776M |
| 1998 | 0.55% | $458M |
| 1997 | 0.44% | $359M |
| 1996 | 0.41% | $334M |
| 1995 | 0.48% | $394M |
| 1994 | 0.78% | $342M |
| 1993 | 0.93% | $487M |
| 1992 | 0.56% | $360M |
| 1991 | 0.77% | $419M |
| 1990 | 0.83% | $437M |
| 1989 | 0.58% | $264M |
| 1988 | 0.88% | $389M |
| 1987 | 0.77% | $396M |
| 1986 | 1.31% | $494M |
| 1985 | 1.44% | $561M |
| 1984 | 1.56% | $574M |
| 1983 | 2.22% | $859M |
| 1982 | 2.27% | $998M |
| 1981 | 2.77% | $1,275M |
| 1980 | 3.30% | $1,934M |
| 1979 | 4.32% | $2,381M |
| 1978 | 5.33% | $2,754M |
| 1977 | 6.02% | $3,532M |
| 1976 | 5.79% | $3,329M |
| 1975 | 8.12% | $4,655M |
| 1974 | 4.34% | $2,849M |
| 1973 | 5.48% | $2,530M |
| 1972 | 5.39% | $2,363M |
| 1971 | 4.39% | $1,873M |
| 1970 | 5.28% | $2,256M |
| 1969 | 10.32% | $2,652M |
| 1968 | 9.16% | $1,575M |
| 1967 | 5.81% | $1,019M |
| 1966 | 1.10% | $228M |
| 1965 | 1.40% | $296M |
| 1964 | 1.23% | $254M |
| 1963 | 1.10% | $214M |
| 1962 | 1.10% | $177M |
| 1961 | 0.85% | $136M |
| 1960 | 0.70% | $120M |