Taiwan Military Spending
Taiwan spends an estimated 3.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $17.3 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1976–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$18.2 billion
Ranked #22 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
3.3%
Ranked #33 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $17.3B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$17.3 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 Taiwan run to 2025.
Taiwan Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Taiwan is estimated to have spent $18.2 billion on military and defense, representing 3.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Taiwan is the #22 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $17.3 billion to $18.2 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 7.6% in 1979. The historical average military budget is 3.7% 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) | 3.80% | $19,075M |
| 2026(estimate) | 3.30% | $18,208M |
| 2025 | 2.10% | $17,341M |
| 2024 | 1.91% | $15,233M |
| 2023 | 2.16% | $16,202M |
| 2022 | 1.99% | $14,827M |
| 2021 | 1.79% | $13,061M |
| 2020 | 1.77% | $12,131M |
| 2019 | 1.79% | $11,603M |
| 2018 | 1.72% | $10,881M |
| 2017 | 1.77% | $11,105M |
| 2016 | 1.78% | $10,918M |
| 2015 | 1.83% | $11,109M |
| 2014 | 1.83% | $10,541M |
| 2013 | 1.94% | $10,602M |
| 2012 | 2.12% | $11,226M |
| 2011 | 2.07% | $10,845M |
| 2010 | 2.05% | $10,742M |
| 2009 | 2.33% | $11,366M |
| 2008 | 2.15% | $10,552M |
| 2007 | 2.00% | $10,364M |
| 2006 | 1.98% | $9,794M |
| 2005 | 2.14% | $10,209M |
| 2004 | 2.26% | $10,611M |
| 2003 | 2.35% | $10,593M |
| 2002 | 2.45% | $10,694M |
| 2001 | 2.67% | $11,058M |
| 2000 | 2.66% | $11,263M |
| 1999 | 3.15% | $12,812M |
| 1998 | 3.30% | $12,835M |
| 1997 | 3.73% | $13,721M |
| 1996 | 4.02% | $13,779M |
| 1995 | 4.11% | $13,357M |
| 1994 | 4.66% | $14,414M |
| 1993 | 4.96% | $14,590M |
| 1992 | 4.70% | $12,870M |
| 1991 | 4.97% | $12,731M |
| 1990 | 5.23% | $12,372M |
| 1989 | 5.28% | $11,727M |
| 1988 | 5.14% | $10,692M |
| 1987 | 4.93% | $9,607M |
| 1986 | 5.44% | $9,452M |
| 1985 | 6.09% | $9,105M |
| 1984 | 5.73% | $8,149M |
| 1983 | 6.34% | $8,088M |
| 1982 | 6.99% | $8,079M |
| 1981 | 6.65% | $7,366M |
| 1980 | 7.29% | $7,926M |
| 1979 | 7.58% | $7,860M |
| 1978 | 7.02% | $6,622M |
| 1977 | 6.92% | $5,771M |
| 1976 | 6.24% | $4,751M |