Switzerland Military Spending
Switzerland spends an estimated 0.8% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $7.2 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1957–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$7.5 billion
Ranked #39 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
0.8%
Ranked #139 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $7.2B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$8.9 billion
Reached in 1990
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 Switzerland run to 2025.
Switzerland Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Switzerland is estimated to have spent $7.5 billion on military and defense, representing 0.8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Switzerland is the #39 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $7.2 billion to $7.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 3.0% in 1958. The historical average military budget is 1.5% 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) | 0.95% | $7,867M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.85% | $7,510M |
| 2025 | 0.76% | $7,152M |
| 2024 | 0.70% | $6,536M |
| 2023 | 0.71% | $6,509M |
| 2022 | 0.68% | $6,326M |
| 2021 | 0.67% | $6,044M |
| 2020 | 0.77% | $6,526M |
| 2019 | 0.70% | $6,009M |
| 2018 | 0.65% | $5,597M |
| 2017 | 0.67% | $5,557M |
| 2016 | 0.66% | $5,524M |
| 2015 | 0.65% | $5,311M |
| 2014 | 0.63% | $5,100M |
| 2013 | 0.71% | $5,629M |
| 2012 | 0.67% | $5,184M |
| 2011 | 0.69% | $5,281M |
| 2010 | 0.69% | $5,143M |
| 2009 | 0.73% | $5,325M |
| 2008 | 0.72% | $5,330M |
| 2007 | 0.72% | $5,204M |
| 2006 | 0.75% | $5,171M |
| 2005 | 0.83% | $5,433M |
| 2004 | 0.89% | $5,519M |
| 2003 | 0.93% | $5,624M |
| 2002 | 0.96% | $5,774M |
| 2001 | 0.99% | $6,032M |
| 2000 | 1.03% | $6,177M |
| 1999 | 1.09% | $6,270M |
| 1998 | 1.19% | $6,774M |
| 1997 | 1.22% | $6,790M |
| 1996 | 1.28% | $7,045M |
| 1995 | 1.36% | $7,445M |
| 1994 | 1.33% | $7,358M |
| 1993 | 1.37% | $7,425M |
| 1992 | 1.52% | $8,362M |
| 1991 | 1.54% | $8,612M |
| 1990 | 1.57% | $8,920M |
| 1989 | 1.52% | $8,411M |
| 1988 | 1.56% | $8,250M |
| 1987 | 1.56% | $7,897M |
| 1986 | 1.66% | $8,209M |
| 1985 | 1.82% | $8,660M |
| 1984 | 1.70% | $7,873M |
| 1983 | 1.75% | $7,791M |
| 1982 | 1.73% | $7,689M |
| 1981 | 1.66% | $7,381M |
| 1980 | 1.68% | $7,394M |
| 1979 | 2.04% | $7,434M |
| 1978 | 1.97% | $7,109M |
| 1977 | 2.02% | $7,097M |
| 1976 | 2.16% | $7,486M |
| 1975 | 1.90% | $6,608M |
| 1974 | 1.88% | $7,005M |
| 1973 | 1.86% | $7,033M |
| 1972 | 1.97% | $7,257M |
| 1971 | 2.05% | $7,123M |
| 1970 | 2.10% | $6,848M |
| 1969 | 2.20% | $6,657M |
| 1968 | 2.18% | $6,235M |
| 1967 | 2.38% | $6,546M |
| 1966 | 2.53% | $6,720M |
| 1965 | 2.47% | $6,394M |
| 1964 | 2.54% | $6,343M |
| 1963 | 2.52% | $5,854M |
| 1962 | 2.57% | $5,618M |
| 1961 | 2.47% | $5,082M |
| 1960 | 2.34% | $4,363M |
| 1959 | 2.71% | $4,659M |
| 1958 | 2.99% | $4,805M |
| 1957 | 2.83% | $4,509M |