Spain Military Spending
Spain spends an estimated 2.1% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $37.7 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$39.6 billion
Ranked #15 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.1%
Ranked #80 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $37.7B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$37.7 billion
Reached in 2025
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 Spain run to 2025.
Spain Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Spain is estimated to have spent $39.6 billion on military and defense, representing 2.1% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Spain is the #15 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $37.7 billion to $39.6 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 3.0% in 1984. 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) | 2.10% | $41,464M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.10% | $39,580M |
| 2025 | 2.13% | $37,695M |
| 2024 | 1.46% | $25,200M |
| 2023 | 1.53% | $25,573M |
| 2022 | 1.43% | $22,691M |
| 2021 | 1.37% | $21,080M |
| 2020 | 1.36% | $19,702M |
| 2019 | 1.22% | $19,695M |
| 2018 | 1.25% | $19,506M |
| 2017 | 1.22% | $18,780M |
| 2016 | 1.13% | $16,969M |
| 2015 | 1.26% | $18,301M |
| 2014 | 1.25% | $17,217M |
| 2013 | 1.27% | $17,242M |
| 2012 | 1.42% | $19,764M |
| 2011 | 1.33% | $19,542M |
| 2010 | 1.38% | $21,184M |
| 2009 | 1.36% | $21,047M |
| 2008 | 1.37% | $21,924M |
| 2007 | 1.36% | $22,046M |
| 2006 | 1.37% | $21,256M |
| 2005 | 1.39% | $20,582M |
| 2004 | 1.43% | $20,329M |
| 2003 | 1.42% | $19,448M |
| 2002 | 1.46% | $19,163M |
| 2001 | 1.63% | $20,673M |
| 2000 | 1.73% | $20,905M |
| 1999 | 1.76% | $20,228M |
| 1998 | 1.76% | $18,407M |
| 1997 | 1.72% | $17,539M |
| 1996 | 1.81% | $17,712M |
| 1995 | 1.92% | $18,290M |
| 1994 | 2.00% | $18,146M |
| 1993 | 2.01% | $17,960M |
| 1992 | 2.04% | $18,432M |
| 1991 | 2.13% | $18,895M |
| 1990 | 2.29% | $19,660M |
| 1989 | 2.36% | $19,382M |
| 1988 | 2.49% | $19,486M |
| 1987 | 2.61% | $19,274M |
| 1986 | 2.63% | $18,212M |
| 1985 | 2.95% | $19,481M |
| 1984 | 2.97% | $19,151M |
| 1983 | 2.94% | $18,695M |
| 1982 | 2.66% | $16,687M |
| 1981 | 2.58% | $16,113M |
| 1980 | 2.49% | $15,864M |
| 1979 | 2.50% | $15,300M |
| 1978 | 2.36% | $14,285M |
| 1977 | 2.31% | $13,721M |
| 1976 | 2.32% | $13,506M |
| 1975 | 2.00% | $11,400M |
| 1974 | 2.21% | $12,505M |
| 1973 | 2.11% | $11,296M |
| 1972 | 2.32% | $11,462M |
| 1971 | 2.11% | $9,618M |
| 1970 | 2.29% | $10,007M |
| 1969 | 2.43% | $9,925M |
| 1968 | 2.30% | $8,413M |
| 1967 | 1.85% | $6,350M |
| 1966 | 2.08% | $6,756M |
| 1965 | 1.88% | $5,620M |
| 1964 | 1.93% | $5,602M |
| 1963 | 1.97% | $4,903M |
| 1962 | 2.27% | $5,204M |
| 1961 | 2.03% | $4,261M |
| 1960 | 2.25% | $4,228M |
| 1959 | 1.91% | $3,523M |
| 1958 | 1.93% | $3,697M |
| 1957 | 2.23% | $4,214M |
| 1956 | 2.26% | $4,027M |
| 1955 | 2.31% | $3,795M |
| 1954 | 2.29% | $3,507M |
| 1953 | — | $3,490M |
| 1952 | — | $3,559M |
| 1951 | — | $2,808M |
| 1950 | — | $2,968M |
| 1949 | — | $3,165M |