Qatar Military Spending

Qatar spends an estimated 4.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $16.1 billion (2022).

Defense budget and military expenditure data (1980–2027)

Data updated: July 7, 2026

Key Facts (2026 estimate)

Military Expenditure

$16.1 billion

Percent of GDP

4.0%

Ranked #22 of 163 countries by % of GDP

Historical Peak Spending

$16.1 billion

Reached in 2022

How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. Actual SIPRI figures for Qatar run to 2022.

Qatar Defense Budget Summary

Qatar spends an estimated 4.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $16.1 billion (2022).

The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 24.9% in 1985. The historical average military budget is 8.4% 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

YearPercent of GDPUSD (millions)
2027(estimate)4.00%
2026(estimate)4.00%
20226.50%$16,080M
20216.45%$12,700M
20101.47%$2,365M
20091.99%$2,396M
20082.01%$2,711M
20071.96%$2,103M
20061.75%$1,632M
20051.99%$1,520M
20042.43%$1,439M
20033.33%$1,561M
20023.93%$1,549M
199113.01%$2,323M
199010.74%$2,142M
198913.08%$2,367M
198816.27%$2,832M
198715.89%$2,609M
198524.85%$4,769M
198412.73%$2,781M
198313.96%$2,909M
198219.28%$4,845M
198112.22%$3,698M
19807.87%$2,347M

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Qatar spend on military?
Qatar spends an estimated 4.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $16.1 billion (2022).
What percentage of GDP does Qatar spend on defense?
In 2026, Qatar spends an estimated 4.0% of GDP on its military. The historical average military budget is 8.4% of GDP.
Where does Qatar rank in military spending worldwide?
In 2026, Qatar ranks #22 of 163 countries by military spending as a share of GDP, based on 2026 spending estimates. SIPRI data (refreshed 2026-07-07) includes no 2026 US-dollar figure for Qatar to rank by absolute spending.

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