Military Expenditure in Turkey, 1960-2022

Turkey’s military expenditure has fluctuated significantly from 1960 to 2022, reflecting the country’s geopolitical challenges, regional tensions, and internal political changes. In the early 1960s, military spending hovered around 3.5% of GDP, with slight variations through the decade. The mid-1970s saw a sharp increase, with expenditure rising to 5.1% in 1975, likely driven by regional security concerns, such as the Cyprus conflict and tensions with neighboring countries. The 1980s and 1990s maintained relatively stable levels around 3.5-4.1%, although economic challenges and changing political climates impacted defense spending during these years.

However, the most notable shift occurred after 2001, with military expenditure gradually declining in the early 2000s, dipping to around 2.4% by 2005. This reduction coincided with Turkey’s EU accession talks and a focus on domestic reforms. Military spending began to rise again around 2016, with a brief increase to 2.5% in 2018 as tensions with regional actors, including Syria and Iraq, escalated. By 2022, Turkey's military expenditure had fallen to 1.2% of GDP, reflecting both a strategic shift and financial constraints, though the country continues to prioritize defense spending due to its complex security landscape.