Moldova: Military expenditure (current USD)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Moldova's military expenditure (current USD) rose 3.7% on 2024 (from 109.2 million to 113.29 million).

Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1996 to 2024), the average change was +10.7% and a typical year strayed about 25.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 69.6% in 2023 and the biggest yearly fall was 43.6% in 1999. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 9.97 million a year. A straight line explains 86% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Moldova had the 132nd highest value of the 150 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Moldova in the 2025 ranking

• Equatorial Guinea — 129th of 150: 120.73 million
• Madagascar — 130th of 150: 119.68 million
• Nicaragua — 131st of 150: 116.37 million
• Papua New Guinea — 133rd of 150: 106.48 million
• Eswatini — 134th of 150: 93.36 million
• Fiji — 135th of 150: 81.16 million

What this measures

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)

Limitations: SIPRI strives to compile reliable, consistent military expenditure data by assessing multiple sources, but accuracy depends on the quality and transparency of those sources. Challenges arise from two key issues: whether reported figures reflect actual spending and how closely they match SIPRI’s definition. While data is generally accurate in developed and many developing countries, weak governance, corruption, and secret transfers in others can lead to major discrepancies. SIPRI sometimes makes estimates, when sources conflict or lack coverage, introducing uncertainty, especially for countries like China or the UAE.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 31 values

Military expenditure (current USD) in nearby economies

• Albania — 623.61 million (2025)
• Armenia — 1.73 billion (2025)
• Austria — 6.35 billion (2025)
• Azerbaijan — 4.94 billion (2025)
• Belarus — 1.94 billion (2025)
• Belgium — 14.53 billion (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 231.4 million (2025)
• Bulgaria — 2.59 billion (2025)
• Croatia — 2.1 billion (2025)
• Cyprus — 663.31 million (2025)
• Czechia

More public sector data for Moldova

• Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) — 2.54 (2023)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 1.97 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 0.56% (2025)
• Intentional homicides, female (per 100,000 female) — 1.27 (2023)
• Intentional homicides, male (per 100,000 male) — 4.04 (2023)
• Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) — 1.39% (2025)
• Central government debt, total (current LCU) — 121.39 billion (2024)
• Central government debt, total (% of GDP) — 37.48% (2024)
• Grants and other revenue (current LCU) — 7.05 billion (2024)
• Grants and other revenue (% of revenue)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Moldova's military expenditure (current USD)?

113.29 million in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1995?

It is up 748.86% from 13.35 million in 1995 (7.39% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 113.29 million in 2025 and the lowest 5.09 million in 2000.

How does Moldova rank?

132nd highest of 150 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in military expenditure (current USD) unusual for Moldova?

In 2025, Moldova's military expenditure (current USD) rose 3.7% on 2024 (from 109.2 million to 113.29 million). Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1996 to 2024), the average change was +10.7% and a typical year strayed about 25.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.XPND.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://www.sipri.org/databases Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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