Romania Military Spending
Romania spends an estimated 2.6% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $8.8 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1980–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$9.2 billion
Ranked #34 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.6%
Ranked #50 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $8.8B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$12.1 billion
Reached in 1986
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 Romania run to 2025.
Romania Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Romania is estimated to have spent $9.2 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. Romania is the #34 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $8.8 billion to $9.2 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.8% in 1989. The historical average military budget is 2.4% 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
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 3.00% | $9,686M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.60% | $9,246M |
| 2025 | 2.28% | $8,806M |
| 2024 | 2.17% | $8,315M |
| 2023 | 1.62% | $5,916M |
| 2022 | 1.76% | $6,172M |
| 2021 | 1.86% | $6,363M |
| 2020 | 2.02% | $6,504M |
| 2019 | 1.84% | $6,081M |
| 2018 | 1.80% | $5,555M |
| 2017 | 1.73% | $4,995M |
| 2016 | 1.43% | $3,681M |
| 2015 | 1.45% | $3,489M |
| 2014 | 1.35% | $3,024M |
| 2013 | 1.29% | $2,768M |
| 2012 | 1.17% | $2,572M |
| 2011 | 1.24% | $2,644M |
| 2010 | 1.23% | $2,556M |
| 2009 | 1.28% | $2,775M |
| 2008 | 1.40% | $3,263M |
| 2007 | 1.49% | $2,961M |
| 2006 | 1.85% | $3,088M |
| 2005 | 2.01% | $2,995M |
| 2004 | 2.01% | $2,832M |
| 2003 | 2.09% | $2,634M |
| 2002 | 2.29% | $2,553M |
| 2001 | 2.42% | $2,567M |
| 2000 | 2.50% | $2,448M |
| 1999 | 2.64% | $2,572M |
| 1998 | 3.00% | $2,850M |
| 1997 | 3.02% | $3,137M |
| 1996 | 2.37% | $2,798M |
| 1995 | 2.61% | $2,879M |
| 1994 | 3.11% | $2,953M |
| 1993 | 2.74% | $2,476M |
| 1992 | 4.25% | $4,102M |
| 1991 | 4.77% | $5,244M |
| 1990 | 4.55% | $5,056M |
| 1989 | 4.80% | $11,479M |
| 1988 | 4.21% | $10,779M |
| 1987 | 3.91% | $9,894M |
| 1986 | 4.45% | $12,079M |
| 1985 | 4.30% | $11,385M |
| 1984 | 1.91% | $5,041M |
| 1983 | 1.99% | $4,944M |
| 1982 | 2.04% | $4,808M |
| 1981 | 2.20% | $5,338M |
| 1980 | 2.20% | $5,288M |