Ethiopia vs Kenya: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $785M in Ethiopia and $1.36B in Kenya, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Kenya, by $570M, or 1.73 times that in Ethiopia.
EthiopiaKenya
Watch it change on the mapUS dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
Latest figures
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | $785M 2025 | $531M | 85 of 151 |
| Kenya | $1.36B 2025 | $1.05B | 73 of 151 |
What the numbers say
- Kenya has been higher since 2006, when it overtook Ethiopia.
- In 2025, Ethiopia ranked 85 and Kenya ranked 73 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Ethiopia | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $785M | $1.36B |
| 2024 | $700M | $1.26B |
| 2023 | $982M | $1.14B |
| 2022 | $1.01B | $1.14B |
| 2021 | $492M | $1.16B |
| 2020 | $510M | $1.13B |
| 2019 | $585M | $1.15B |
| 2018 | $628M | $1.19B |
| 2017 | $636M | $1.16B |
| 2016 | $610M | $1.13B |
| 2015 | $531M | $1.05B |
| 2014 | $515M | $976M |
| 2013 | $497M | $1.07B |
| 2012 | $496M | $1.09B |
| 2011 | $515M | $962M |
| 2010 | $528M | $941M |
| 2009 | $544M | $887M |
| 2008 | $553M | $870M |
| 2007 | $693M | $911M |
| 2006 | $751M | $814M |
| 2005 | $832M | $823M |
| 2004 | $829M | $780M |
| 2003 | $764M | $791M |
| 2002 | $897M | $783M |
| 2001 | $1.08B | $728M |
| 2000 | $1.7B | $632M |
| 1999 | $1.88B | $589M |
| 1998 | $1.19B | $605M |
| 1997 | $555M | $642M |
| 1996 | $302M | $676M |
| 1995 | $259M | $578M |
| 1994 | $307M | $504M |
| 1993 | $334M | $605M |
| 1992 | $302M | $724M |
| 1991 | $510M | $968M |
| 1990 | $1.03B | $1.24B |
| 1989 | $1.08B | $1.22B |
| 1988 | $912M | $1.31B |
| 1987 | $757M | $1.36B |
| 1986 | $681M | $1.06B |
| 1985 | $600M | $884M |
| 1984 | $704M | $1.05B |
| 1983 | $737M | $1.28B |
| 1982 | $694M | $1.36B |
| 1981 | $697M | $1.35B |
| 1980 | $724M | $1.39B |
| 1979 | $582M | $1.71B |
| 1978 | $435M | $1.57B |
| 1977 | $377M | $1.21B |
| 1976 | $417M | $723M |
| 1975 | $524M | $504M |
| 1974 | $334M | $505M |
| 1973 | $238M | $467M |
| 1972 | $241M | $414M |
| 1971 | $216M | $325M |
| 1970 | $208M | $260M |
| 1969 | $228M | $246M |
| 1968 | $233M | $255M |
| 1967 | $249M | $250M |
| 1966 | $295M | $208M |
| 1965 | $287M | $165M |
| 1964 | – | $102M |
| 1963 | – | $32.2M |
- Estimate
- Highly uncertain
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time