Trinidad and Tobago Military Spending
Trinidad and Tobago spends an estimated 1.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $228 million (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1968–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$235 million
Ranked #118 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.0%
Ranked #133 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+3.1%
From $228M in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$273 million
Reached in 2013
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Trinidad and Tobago’s last 3 reported years (2023–2025), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 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 Trinidad and Tobago run to 2025.
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Trinidad and Tobago is estimated to have spent $235 million on military and defense, representing 1.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Trinidad and Tobago is the #118 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 3.1%, from $228 million to $235 million. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 1.0% in 2024. The historical average military budget is 0.7% 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) | 0.96% | $242M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.96% | $235M |
| 2025 | 0.94% | $228M |
| 2024 | 0.98% | $238M |
| 2023 | 0.96% | $246M |
| 2022 | 0.77% | $230M |
| 2021 | 0.86% | $231M |
| 2020 | 0.81% | $194M |
| 2019 | 0.73% | $198M |
| 2018 | 0.69% | $192M |
| 2017 | 0.85% | $236M |
| 2016 | 0.91% | $254M |
| 2015 | 0.75% | $234M |
| 2014 | 0.66% | $230M |
| 2013 | 0.76% | $273M |
| 2012 | 0.64% | $229M |
| 2011 | 0.57% | $216M |
| 2010 | 0.64% | $221M |
| 2009 | 0.71% | $235M |
| 2008 | 0.49% | $251M |
| 2007 | 0.57% | $254M |
| 2006 | 0.62% | $253M |
| 2005 | 0.60% | $231M |
| 2004 | 0.56% | $192M |
| 2003 | 0.29% | $88M |
| 2002 | 0.21% | $53M |
| 2001 | 0.16% | $39M |
| 1994 | 0.49% | $87M |
| 1993 | 0.49% | $80M |
| 1981 | 0.51% | $170M |
| 1980 | 0.59% | $204M |
| 1979 | 0.59% | $177M |
| 1978 | 0.51% | $136M |
| 1977 | 0.49% | $126M |
| 1976 | 0.50% | $117M |
| 1975 | 0.44% | $98M |
| 1974 | 0.42% | $87M |
| 1973 | 0.68% | $106M |
| 1972 | 0.84% | $121M |
| 1971 | 0.96% | $129M |
| 1970 | 0.75% | $97M |
| 1969 | 0.68% | $85M |
| 1968 | 0.67% | $84M |