Moroccan military spending is declining, and Algerian spending is accelerating

According to this report, Moroccan military spending decreased by 2.5% to $5.2 billion in 2023. This represents 3.64% of GDP. On the other hand, Algeria saw its military spending increase by 76% to $18.3 billion. This is the highest level ever for Algeria and the strongest annual increase since 1974. This increase is explained by “the strong increase in gas export revenues to European countries.”

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The report stated that “Algeria and Morocco represent by far the largest spenders in the (North Africa) subregion.” “Together they account for 82% of North Africa’s military spending in 2023.”

On the African continent, military spending rose by 22% to reach $51.6 billion in 2023. North African countries spent $28.5 billion on their armies last year, an increase of 38% from 2022. Sub-Saharan African countries spent $23.1 billion on weapons in in 2023, 8.9% more than in 2022, but 22% less than in 2014. This is due to a 20% increase in Nigeria’s spending – the largest military spending in the sub-region – and significant increases in spending in many other countries , including Congo and South Sudan.

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The United States, China, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia remain the world's largest military spenders. Together, these countries accounted for 61% of global military spending in 2023, reaching $2.4 trillion in 2023, the strongest increase in a decade, fueled by ongoing conflicts. “This reflects the deteriorating situation of peace and security in the world,” said Nan Tian, ​​a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. “There is no region where the situation is improving.”