Military Expenditure in Mexico, 1960-2022

Mexico maintained consistently low military expenditure, averaging around 0.5–0.7% of GDP from 1960 to the 1990s. This stability reflects its focus on domestic development and lack of significant external threats. A brief increase to 0.7% in the mid-1980s aligned with internal security challenges, such as addressing drug cartels and insurgent groups.

Since 2000, spending has stabilized at approximately 0.5%, reflecting Mexico’s policy of limiting military involvement in regional disputes while addressing internal security concerns through other governance mechanisms.