Sudan Military Spending
Sudan spends an estimated 1.2% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $2.8 billion (2021).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1956–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$2.9 billion
Ranked #58 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.2%
Ranked #118 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+3.0%
From $2.8B in 2021
Historical Peak Spending
$27.9 billion
Reached in 2008
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Sudan’s last 3 reported years (2019–2021), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2021 raised by a flat 3%, 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 Sudan run to 2021.
Sudan Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Sudan is estimated to have spent $2.9 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. Sudan is the #58 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2021), defense spending increased by 3.0%, from $2.8 billion to $2.9 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 5.5% in 2009. The historical average military budget is 2.9% 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) | 1.18% | $2,935M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.18% | $2,852M |
| 2021 | 0.93% | $2,769M |
| 2020 | 0.98% | $4,694M |
| 2019 | 1.63% | $8,084M |
| 2018 | 1.78% | $8,937M |
| 2017 | 3.29% | $17,543M |
| 2016 | 2.28% | $13,514M |
| 2015 | 2.71% | $12,896M |
| 2009 | 5.45% | $27,158M |
| 2008 | 4.98% | $27,850M |
| 2007 | 4.08% | $23,086M |
| 2006 | 3.64% | $19,373M |
| 2005 | 3.31% | $16,471M |
| 2004 | 4.66% | $20,152M |
| 2003 | 1.86% | $7,175M |
| 2002 | 2.67% | $9,383M |
| 2001 | 2.47% | $9,024M |
| 2000 | 4.47% | $13,835M |
| 1999 | 4.01% | $10,649M |
| 1998 | 2.38% | $6,003M |
| 1997 | 0.95% | $2,207M |
| 1996 | 1.27% | $2,805M |
| 1995 | 2.07% | $3,958M |
| 1994 | 3.90% | $5,415M |
| 1993 | 4.92% | $7,319M |
| 1992 | 4.39% | $6,419M |
| 1991 | 4.99% | $7,414M |
| 1990 | 4.81% | $9,248M |
| 1988 | 3.55% | $7,985M |
| 1987 | 2.55% | $7,313M |
| 1986 | 3.23% | $6,434M |
| 1985 | 3.40% | $7,551M |
| 1984 | 4.08% | $10,634M |
| 1983 | 3.27% | $9,279M |
| 1982 | 2.44% | $6,493M |
| 1981 | 1.78% | $5,939M |
| 1980 | 2.30% | $7,052M |
| 1979 | 2.59% | $6,115M |
| 1978 | 2.04% | $5,170M |
| 1977 | 2.62% | $6,999M |
| 1976 | 2.67% | $6,782M |
| 1975 | 2.25% | $4,597M |
| 1974 | 2.57% | $5,315M |
| 1973 | 3.16% | $6,809M |
| 1972 | 4.19% | $7,491M |
| 1971 | 4.60% | $8,665M |
| 1970 | 4.95% | $8,641M |
| 1969 | 5.20% | $7,224M |
| 1968 | 3.75% | $5,397M |
| 1967 | 3.65% | $4,396M |
| 1966 | 3.53% | $4,698M |
| 1965 | 4.12% | $5,354M |
| 1964 | 3.14% | $3,879M |
| 1963 | 2.15% | $2,710M |
| 1962 | 2.06% | $2,505M |
| 1961 | 1.84% | $2,102M |
| 1960 | 1.92% | $2,081M |
| 1959 | 1.71% | $1,852M |
| 1958 | 1.52% | $1,597M |
| 1957 | 1.64% | $1,690M |
| 1956 | 1.12% | $1,170M |