Vietnam Military Spending
Vietnam spends an estimated 2.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $10.9 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1987–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$11.5 billion
Ranked #33 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.3%
Ranked #64 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $10.9B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$10.9 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 Vietnam run to 2025.
Vietnam Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Vietnam is estimated to have spent $11.5 billion on military and defense, representing 2.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Vietnam is the #33 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $10.9 billion to $11.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 7.9% in 1990. 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) | 2.40% | $12,006M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.30% | $11,460M |
| 2025 | 2.15% | $10,914M |
| 2024 | 1.80% | $8,590M |
| 2023 | 1.83% | $8,116M |
| 2022 | 1.72% | $7,308M |
| 2021 | 2.05% | $7,961M |
| 2020 | 2.07% | $7,729M |
| 2019 | 2.17% | $8,030M |
| 2018 | 2.22% | $7,690M |
| 2017 | 2.28% | $7,321M |
| 2016 | 2.46% | $7,341M |
| 2015 | 2.55% | $7,202M |
| 2014 | 2.41% | $6,507M |
| 2013 | 2.58% | $6,575M |
| 2012 | 2.42% | $5,985M |
| 2011 | 1.76% | $4,110M |
| 2010 | 1.84% | $3,956M |
| 2009 | 2.73% | $4,232M |
| 2008 | 2.07% | $3,061M |
| 2007 | 2.30% | $3,237M |
| 2006 | 1.94% | $2,512M |
| 2005 | 1.78% | $2,134M |
| 2004 | 2.01% | $2,046M |
| 2003 | 2.13% | $1,998M |
| 1994 | 2.65% | $1,081M |
| 1993 | 2.26% | $793M |
| 1992 | 3.37% | $1,011M |
| 1991 | 5.60% | $1,603M |
| 1990 | 7.91% | $2,253M |
| 1989 | 7.29% | $1,890M |
| 1988 | 7.10% | $1,432M |
| 1987 | 3.95% | $884M |