Military Expenditure in Bangladesh, 1973-2022

Bangladesh's military expenditure fluctuated between 1% and 1.6% of GDP from the 1970s to the 1990s. Peaks in 1976 and 1995 correspond with efforts to strengthen the armed forces following independence in 1971 and subsequent modernization drives.

Since the 2000s, spending has stabilized at around 1%, reflecting limited external security threats and a focus on economic growth. Minor fluctuations in recent years reflect incremental modernization efforts, but overall defense spending remains modest relative to regional peers.