It has been widely observed that military expenditure has a significant impact on countries and their standing on the global stage. This is particularly important for countries not spending all that much on their armed forces. Although smaller nations or those not allocating funds for their militaries tend to have a different set of circumstances that create this overall situation. (This nation spent a third of its economy on its military last year.)

For nations with minimal military budgets, allocating resources to defense can strain government finances. This pulls away from public works, infrastructure, healthcare and more. Ultimately, it can hinder economic development within nations that have budgetary constraints.

Limited military spending also leaves some nations vulnerable to outside or foreign threats, which is why many rely on diplomacy and alliances for military aid. Iceland is notorious for this, as it spends nothing on its military because it does not have one. Instead, Iceland relies on its membership to NATO for all its defense, should the need arise.

Countries like the United States are on the other end of this spectrum. The U.S. spends the most of any country in the world on its military. In fact, it spends more than the next ten nations combined on their respective militaries. Much of this spending goes to keeping U.S. forces outfitted with the most technologically advanced gear, aircraft and vehicles. However, 24/7 Wall St. is focusing on countries that are spending the least on their militaries. (Here is what the U.S. spent on military every year since 1970.)

To identify which countries spent the least on their military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on U.S. military spending from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Database, for the 2022 fiscal year. Figures are in current U.S. dollars. We included supplementary data on military expenditure as a percent of GDP, a percent of government spending, region, and 2023 population data from World Population Review. We only included countries with current up-to-date financial data.

Here is a look at the countries that spend the least on their military:

Why Are We Covering This?

The balance between military expenditure and other societal needs is a complex challenge for countries with limited resources, requiring careful consideration to ensure both security and prosperity. This also explains many modern military alliances and where they come from.

30. Equatorial Guinea

• Military expenditure (2022): $156.8 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.10%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 8.03%
• Population (2023): 1,675,000
• Region: Africa

29. Kyrgyztan

• Military expenditure (2022): $149.8 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.48%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 4.32%
• Population (2023): 6,975,000
• Region: Central Asia

28. Mongolia

• Military expenditure (2022): $118.4 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.60%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.78%
• Population (2023): 3,398,000
• Region: East Asia

27. Somalia

• Military expenditure (2022): $115.1 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): N/A
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 20.37%
• Population (2023): 17,600,000
• Region: Africa

26. Kosovo

• Military expenditure (2022): $107.6 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.13%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.83%
• Population (2023): 1,873,000
• Region: Central Europe

25. Tajikistan

• Military expenditure (2022): $103.5 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.02%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.79%
• Population (2023): 9,953,000
• Region: Central Asia

24. Burundi

• Military expenditure (2022): $101.4 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 2.76%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 7.22%
• Population (2023): 12,890,000
• Region: Africa

23. Madagascar

• Military expenditure (2022): $98 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.65%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.15%
• Population (2023): 29,610,000
• Region: Africa

22. Montenegro

• Military expenditure (2022): $98 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.61%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.95%
• Population (2023): 617,213
• Region: Central Europe

21. Papua New Guinea

• Military expenditure (2022): $97.5 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.33%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.55%
• Population (2023): 10,480,000
• Region: Oceania

20. Benin

• Military expenditure (2022): $97.2 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.56%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.03%
• Population (2023): 13,350,000
• Region: Africa

19. Malta

• Military expenditure (2022): $87 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.50%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.22%
• Population (2023): 531,113
• Region: Western Europe

18. Guyana

• Military expenditure (2022): $84.3 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.57%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.78%
• Population (2023): 808,726
• Region: Americas

17. Nicaragua

• Military expenditure (2022): $84.2 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.53%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.97%
• Population (2023): 6,948,000
• Region: Americas

16. Malawi

• Military expenditure (2022): $75.8 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.64%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 2.86%
• Population (2023): 20,410,000
• Region: Africa

15. Eswatini

• Military expenditure (2022): $74.3 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.65%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): N/A
• Population (2023): 1,202,000
• Region: Africa

14. Fiji

• Military expenditure (2022): $66.8 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.40%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 4.22%
• Population (2023): 929,766
• Region: Oceania

13. Moldova

• Military expenditure (2022): $47.7 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.32%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 0.88%
• Population (2023): 2,539,000
• Region: Eastern Europe

12. Timor Leste

• Military expenditure (2022): $44.3 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.11%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 2.55%
• Population (2023): 1,341,000
• Region: South East Asia

11. Central African Republic

• Military expenditure (2022): $42 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.70%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 8.96%
• Population (2023): 5,579,000
• Region: Africa

10. Lesotho

• Military expenditure (2022): $34.7 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.47%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 2.60%
• Population (2023): 2,306,000
• Region: Africa

9. Seychelles

• Military expenditure (2022): $26.1 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.38%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.20%
• Population (2023): 119,878
• Region: Africa

8. Guinea-Bissau

• Military expenditure (2022): $24.5 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.61%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 7.24%
• Population (2023): 2,106,000
• Region: Africa

7. Sierra Leone

• Military expenditure (2022): $24.5 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.60%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 2.71%
• Population (2023): 8,606,000
• Region: Africa

6. Belize

• Military expenditure (2022): $23.7 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.86%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 3.57%
• Population (2023): 405,272
• Region: Americas

5. Mauritius

• Military expenditure (2022): $20.3 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.17%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 0.59%
• Population (2023): 1,263,000
• Region: Africa

4. Liberia

• Military expenditure (2022): $18.7 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 1.27%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.61%
• Population (2023): 5,303,000
• Region: Africa

3. Gambia

• Military expenditure (2022): $15.2 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.69%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 2.96%
• Population (2023): 2,706,000
• Region: Africa

2. Haiti

• Military expenditure (2022): $12.6 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.07%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 0.69%
• Population (2023): 11,580,000
• Region: Americas

1. Cape Verde

• Military expenditure (2022): $10.3 million
• Military expenditure as a pct. of GDP (2022): 0.55%
• Military expenditure as a pct. of government spending (2022): 1.57%
• Population (2023): 593,149
• Region: Africa

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