These Nations Barely Fund Their Armed Forces

But not every country has the same military or spending capabilities. In fact, some countries (like the ones on this list) spend minimally, operating their entire full-year military force on what a major power might spend in just a few days. These lower-spending countries have an increased chance of global and political challenges. Not only are they more vulnerable to foreign threats, requiring alliances and aid, but these nations also lack the more technologically advanced equipment that powers like the U.S. have.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. explored which countries spend the least on their militaries. To do so, we 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.

This post was updated on November 30, 2025 to provide an overview on the countries that spend the most on national military defense.

Why Are We Covering This?

The balance between military funding and other societal needs is a complex challenge for countries with limited resources. For these countries, the government must carefully consider how much to spend on the defense budget while also taking care of the needs of the people: what sometimes feels like an impossible blend of security and prosperity. 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. Recognizing which countries are not spending as much on their military gives insight into that country’s goals and challenges, while also explaining where many modern military alliances came from.

See the 30 countries that spend the least on military expenditures: 

30. Equatorial Guinea

Exercise Kwanza Angola 06-2010 (7) (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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. Kyrgyzstan

• 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 marching opening ceremony Naadam Ulaanbaatar Mongolia (BY 2.0) by amanderson2

• 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

AMISOM's Force Commander, General Silas Ntigurirwa, greets officers during a ceremony to mark their rotation at Burundi's military base in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 26. AMISOM Photo (14577825348) (CC0 1.0) by AMISOM Public Information

• 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

Uniform and Badge of Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) - Military Museum - Belgrade - Serbia (BY 2.0) by Adam Jones, Ph.D. - Global Photo Archive

• 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

2017 S Tajik soldiers study diligently as part of their professional military education class, Tajikistan, 2017 (PDM 1.0) by U.S. Embassy Dushanbe

• 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

Burundi peacekeepers prepare for next rotation to Somalia, Bjumbura, Burundi 012210 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march. (PDM 1.0) by Anne & David (Use Albums)

• 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 Montenegro 7 (BY-SA 4.0) by CRNAGORAMNE

• 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

Africa Endeavor 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

20120303-A-WP252-003 (BY 2.0) by USASOC News Service

• 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

Malawi Defence Force receives vital Combat Life Saver training (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Cap Badge (BY-SA 4.0) by Apenisa Vatuniveivuke

• 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 vehicles Chisinau Moldova (PDM 1.0) by amanderson2

• 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

Exercise Kwanza Angola 06-2010 (9) (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

Africa Endeavor 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

Senegal Medical Readiness Exer... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

• 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

Sierra Leone and Brig. Gen. Kabia: A progressive voice for African military women - ALFS 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

Africa Endeavor 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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

U.S. Army Africa: Liberia Security Sector Reform 090419 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

• 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 RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI (BY 2.0) by expertinfantry

• 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

Policia Militar Cabo Verde 2006 (BY-SA 3.0) by Xuaxo

• 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