New Zealand: Military expenditure (current USD)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, New Zealand's military expenditure (current USD) fell 4.8% on 2024 (from 3 billion to 2.86 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +4.3% and a typical year strayed about 10.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 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 54.9% in 1980 and the biggest yearly fall was 17.9% in 1998. 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 111.87 million a year. A straight line explains 77% 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, New Zealand had the 55th 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 New Zealand in the 2025 ranking

• South Africa — 52nd of 150: 3.17 billion
• Slovak Republic — 53rd of 150: 3.12 billion
• Lithuania — 54th of 150: 2.95 billion
• Serbia — 56th of 150: 2.78 billion
• Ecuador — 57th of 150: 2.74 billion
• Peru — 58th of 150: 2.6 billion

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 66 values

Military expenditure (current USD) in nearby economies

• Australia — 35.33 billion (2025)
• Brunei Darussalam — 560.27 million (2024)
• Cambodia — 738.95 million (2025)
• China — 335.52 billion (2025)
• Fiji — 81.16 million (2025)
• Indonesia — 15.03 billion (2025)
• Japan — 62.16 billion (2025)
• Korea, Rep. — 47.77 billion (2025)
• Malaysia — 4.93 billion (2025)
• Mongolia — 221.32 million (2025)
• Myanmar

More public sector data for New Zealand

• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 4.91 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 1.1% (2025)
• Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 200 million (2024)
• Grants and other revenue (current LCU) — 17.87 billion (2024)
• Grants and other revenue (% of revenue) — 12.04% (2024)
• Revenue, excluding grants (current LCU) — 147.96 billion (2024)
• Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) — 34.25% (2024)
• Taxes on goods and services (current LCU) — 39.13 billion (2024)
• Taxes on goods and services (% of revenue) — 26.37% (2024)
• Customs and other import duties (current LCU)

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 New Zealand's military expenditure (current USD)?

2.86 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 2,721% from 101.22 million in 1960 (5.27% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 3.03 billion in 2023 and the lowest 96.32 million in 1962.

How does New Zealand rank?

55th highest of 150 economies with data for 2025.

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

In 2025, New Zealand's military expenditure (current USD) fell 4.8% on 2024 (from 3 billion to 2.86 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +4.3% and a typical year strayed about 10.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 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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