Pakistan Military Spending
Pakistan spends an estimated 2.6% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $11.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1953–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$12.1 billion
Ranked #32 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.6%
Ranked #49 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $11.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$12.0 billion
Reached in 2021
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 Pakistan run to 2025.
Pakistan Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Pakistan is estimated to have spent $12.1 billion on military and defense, representing 2.6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Pakistan is the #32 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $11.5 billion to $12.1 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 7.0% in 1986. The historical average military budget is 4.8% 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) | 2.60% | $12,627M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.60% | $12,053M |
| 2025 | 2.91% | $11,479M |
| 2024 | 2.73% | $10,303M |
| 2023 | 2.89% | $9,778M |
| 2022 | 3.18% | $11,196M |
| 2021 | 3.39% | $11,994M |
| 2020 | 3.49% | $11,503M |
| 2019 | 3.51% | $11,694M |
| 2018 | 3.59% | $11,838M |
| 2017 | 3.36% | $10,585M |
| 2016 | 3.20% | $9,656M |
| 2015 | 3.16% | $9,337M |
| 2014 | 3.10% | $8,596M |
| 2013 | 3.09% | $8,172M |
| 2012 | 3.10% | $7,901M |
| 2011 | 2.92% | $7,450M |
| 2010 | 3.04% | $7,067M |
| 2009 | 3.27% | $6,759M |
| 2008 | 3.46% | $6,558M |
| 2007 | 3.51% | $6,956M |
| 2006 | 3.65% | $6,908M |
| 2005 | 3.90% | $6,796M |
| 2004 | 3.96% | $6,529M |
| 2003 | 4.09% | $6,272M |
| 2002 | 4.07% | $5,869M |
| 2001 | 3.88% | $5,457M |
| 2000 | 4.17% | $5,101M |
| 1999 | 5.19% | $5,091M |
| 1998 | 5.42% | $5,041M |
| 1997 | 5.62% | $5,041M |
| 1996 | 6.04% | $5,265M |
| 1995 | 5.82% | $5,266M |
| 1994 | 5.92% | $5,176M |
| 1993 | 6.43% | $5,330M |
| 1992 | 6.70% | $5,357M |
| 1991 | 6.57% | $5,038M |
| 1990 | 6.52% | $4,706M |
| 1989 | 6.53% | $4,459M |
| 1988 | 6.79% | $4,446M |
| 1987 | 6.97% | $4,296M |
| 1986 | 6.99% | $3,928M |
| 1985 | 6.92% | $3,654M |
| 1984 | 6.66% | $3,356M |
| 1983 | 6.64% | $3,123M |
| 1982 | 6.38% | $2,799M |
| 1981 | 5.71% | $2,323M |
| 1980 | 5.52% | $2,138M |
| 1979 | 5.45% | $1,979M |
| 1978 | 5.50% | $1,871M |
| 1977 | 5.55% | $1,758M |
| 1976 | 5.89% | $1,766M |
| 1975 | 6.32% | $1,751M |
| 1974 | 6.09% | $1,672M |
| 1973 | 6.21% | $1,677M |
| 1972 | 6.87% | $1,795M |
| 1971 | 6.74% | $1,601M |
| 1970 | 6.16% | $1,441M |
| 1969 | 5.51% | $1,320M |
| 1968 | 5.10% | $1,214M |
| 1967 | 5.40% | $1,181M |
| 1966 | 6.73% | $1,450M |
| 1965 | 5.90% | $1,243M |
| 1964 | 3.87% | $770M |
| 1963 | 3.65% | $683M |
| 1962 | 3.66% | $632M |
| 1961 | 4.10% | $660M |
| 1960 | 4.31% | $666M |
| 1959 | 4.34% | $640M |
| 1958 | 4.25% | $543M |
| 1957 | 4.17% | $523M |
| 1956 | 5.03% | $630M |
| 1955 | 5.57% | — |
| 1954 | 5.35% | — |
| 1953 | 6.32% | — |