Thailand Military Spending
Thailand spends an estimated 1.1% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $5.6 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1957–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$5.8 billion
Ranked #46 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.1%
Ranked #122 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $5.6B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$7.1 billion
Reached in 2020
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 Thailand run to 2025.
Thailand Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Thailand is estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on military and defense, representing 1.1% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Thailand is the #46 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $5.6 billion to $5.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.4% in 1979. The historical average military budget is 2.3% 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) | 1.10% | $6,122M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.10% | $5,844M |
| 2025 | 1.04% | $5,566M |
| 2024 | 1.05% | $5,520M |
| 2023 | 1.13% | $5,741M |
| 2022 | 1.24% | $6,144M |
| 2021 | 1.42% | $7,014M |
| 2020 | 1.46% | $7,127M |
| 2019 | 1.33% | $6,878M |
| 2018 | 1.33% | $6,711M |
| 2017 | 1.34% | $6,561M |
| 2016 | 1.33% | $6,227M |
| 2015 | 1.34% | $5,914M |
| 2014 | 1.38% | $5,710M |
| 2013 | 1.35% | $5,477M |
| 2012 | 1.39% | $5,512M |
| 2011 | 1.39% | $5,311M |
| 2010 | 1.52% | $5,770M |
| 2009 | 1.54% | $5,386M |
| 2008 | 1.25% | $4,365M |
| 2007 | 1.02% | $3,502M |
| 2006 | 0.95% | $3,089M |
| 2005 | 0.99% | $3,041M |
| 2004 | 1.13% | $3,322M |
| 2003 | 1.23% | $3,389M |
| 2002 | 1.33% | $3,394M |
| 2001 | 1.43% | $3,409M |
| 2000 | 1.49% | $3,420M |
| 1999 | 1.62% | $3,582M |
| 1998 | 1.86% | $4,031M |
| 1997 | 2.17% | $5,107M |
| 1996 | 2.15% | $5,257M |
| 1995 | 2.27% | $5,345M |
| 1994 | 2.50% | $5,356M |
| 1993 | 2.52% | $4,951M |
| 1992 | 2.66% | $4,815M |
| 1991 | 2.65% | $4,420M |
| 1990 | 2.59% | $3,992M |
| 1989 | 2.68% | $3,719M |
| 1988 | 2.93% | $3,596M |
| 1987 | 3.36% | $3,567M |
| 1986 | 3.80% | $3,598M |
| 1985 | 4.19% | $3,770M |
| 1984 | 4.06% | $3,504M |
| 1983 | 3.95% | $3,204M |
| 1982 | 4.12% | $3,165M |
| 1981 | 4.06% | $2,969M |
| 1980 | 4.24% | $3,044M |
| 1979 | 4.38% | $3,173M |
| 1978 | 3.92% | $2,728M |
| 1977 | 3.48% | $2,159M |
| 1976 | 3.13% | $1,795M |
| 1975 | 2.80% | $1,460M |
| 1974 | 2.66% | $1,345M |
| 1973 | 2.88% | $1,444M |
| 1972 | 3.47% | $1,539M |
| 1971 | 3.56% | $1,492M |
| 1970 | 3.07% | $1,240M |
| 1969 | 2.99% | $1,055M |
| 1968 | 2.75% | $904M |
| 1967 | 2.43% | $751M |
| 1966 | 2.17% | $655M |
| 1965 | 2.33% | $608M |
| 1964 | 2.43% | $564M |
| 1963 | 2.62% | $549M |
| 1962 | 2.63% | $517M |
| 1961 | 2.10% | $396M |
| 1960 | 2.47% | $457M |
| 1959 | 3.01% | $490M |
| 1958 | 3.25% | $478M |
| 1957 | 3.58% | $539M |