U.K. Military Spending/Defense Budget 1960-2024
Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country).
- U.K. military spending/defense budget for 2021 was $68.37B, a 12.68% increase from 2020.
- U.K. military spending/defense budget for 2020 was $60.68B, a 6.72% increase from 2019.
- U.K. military spending/defense budget for 2019 was $56.86B, a 2.11% increase from 2018.
- U.K. military spending/defense budget for 2018 was $55.68B, a 7.84% increase from 2017.
| U.K. Military Spending/Defense Budget - Historical Data |
| Year |
Billions of US $ |
% of GDP |
| 2021 |
$68.37B |
2.22% |
| 2020 |
$60.68B |
2.24% |
| 2019 |
$56.86B |
1.98% |
| 2018 |
$55.68B |
1.92% |
| 2017 |
$51.63B |
1.92% |
| 2016 |
$53.33B |
1.96% |
| 2015 |
$59.99B |
2.03% |
| 2014 |
$67.00B |
2.17% |
| 2013 |
$63.84B |
2.28% |
| 2012 |
$65.45B |
2.41% |
| 2011 |
$66.57B |
2.49% |
| 2010 |
$63.98B |
2.57% |
| 2009 |
$64.01B |
2.64% |
| 2008 |
$72.92B |
2.48% |
| 2007 |
$73.45B |
2.36% |
| 2006 |
$64.22B |
2.36% |
| 2005 |
$61.65B |
2.43% |
| 2004 |
$60.25B |
2.50% |
| 2003 |
$52.34B |
2.55% |
| 2002 |
$44.25B |
2.49% |
| 2001 |
$39.51B |
2.41% |
| 2000 |
$39.34B |
2.37% |
| 1999 |
$40.76B |
2.42% |
| 1998 |
$41.22B |
2.50% |
| 1997 |
$39.89B |
2.56% |
| 1996 |
$38.57B |
2.72% |
| 1995 |
$38.29B |
2.85% |
| 1994 |
$38.57B |
3.38% |
| 1993 |
$38.11B |
3.59% |
| 1992 |
$45.59B |
3.86% |
| 1991 |
$47.05B |
4.12% |
| 1990 |
$43.55B |
3.98% |
| 1989 |
$37.46B |
4.04% |
| 1988 |
$38.36B |
4.21% |
| 1987 |
$34.92B |
4.69% |
| 1986 |
$30.43B |
5.06% |
| 1985 |
$26.03B |
5.32% |
| 1984 |
$25.42B |
5.51% |
| 1983 |
$26.42B |
5.40% |
| 1982 |
$27.71B |
5.38% |
| 1981 |
$26.95B |
4.98% |
| 1980 |
$28.36B |
5.02% |
| 1979 |
$20.54B |
4.68% |
| 1978 |
$15.90B |
4.73% |
| 1977 |
$12.95B |
4.92% |
| 1976 |
$12.04B |
5.18% |
| 1975 |
$12.91B |
5.34% |
| 1974 |
$10.45B |
5.07% |
| 1973 |
$9.45B |
4.91% |
| 1972 |
$8.79B |
5.17% |
| 1971 |
$7.52B |
5.08% |
| 1970 |
$6.79B |
5.20% |
| 1969 |
$6.20B |
5.50% |
| 1968 |
$6.22B |
5.94% |
| 1967 |
$6.93B |
6.24% |
| 1966 |
$6.69B |
6.25% |
| 1965 |
$6.48B |
6.44% |
| 1964 |
$6.16B |
6.60% |
| 1963 |
$5.81B |
6.80% |
| 1962 |
$5.60B |
6.94% |
| 1961 |
$5.31B |
6.92% |
| 1960 |
$5.13B |
7.09% |
