While some governments opt to spend less money on defense in favor of other sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, a chronically low military budget can expose a country to major threats.
- Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 countries with the cheapest militaries in 2025.
- This list is courtesy of Global Firepower.
- Bhutan ranks number 1 on the list.
A country with a low defense budget is vulnerable to foreign attack, particularly from those with better military capability.
An inadequate budget restricts investment in advanced weapons, contemporary defense systems, and strategic military alliances, making the country a prime target for foreign intervention, territorial conflicts, and hostile invasions.
A lack of proper finance impairs a country’s capacity to protect its borders against illicit operations such as smuggling, human trafficking, and cross-border terrorism.
Border security forces that are poorly equipped fail to properly monitor and respond to threats, resulting in increased criminal activity and potential infiltration by hostile groups.
Many countries have internal security concerns, including insurgencies, terrorism, and armed conflicts.
A limited defense budget frequently results in diminished financing for information collection, counterterrorism activities, and rapid response teams.
This can lead to prolonged conflicts, increased casualties, and instability that hampers economic growth and development.
SEE ALSO: Top 10 countries with the most expensive militaries in 2025
Foreign military aid, which may have political and financial conditions attached, is frequently relied upon by nations with underfunded defense systems.
A country’s sovereignty may be curtailed by this dependence, which may also compel it to support the objectives of more powerful nations at the expense of its national agenda.
The availability of contemporary equipment and the standard of military training are directly impacted by a low defense budget.
Inadequate resources, outdated equipment, and improper training programs can demoralize soldiers, lower operational effectiveness, and impair overall national defense readiness.
Furthermore, contemporary warfare is primarily reliant on technical breakthroughs like cyber security, drone surveillance, and artificial intelligence in military strategy.
Countries with strong defense capabilities wield more power in international diplomacy and security matters.
A small military presence reduces a country’s negotiating leverage in international relations and its capacity to engage in peacekeeping missions, alliances, and strategic defense treaties.
With that said, here are the 10 most least funded militaries in the world in 2025, according to data from Global Firepower.
Top 10 countries with the cheapest militaries in 2025
| Rank | Country | Defense budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bhutan | $14,000,000 |
| 2. | Beliz | $29,538,000 |
| 3. | Central Africa Republic | $45,990,000 |
| 4. | Burkina Faso | $81,280,000 |
| 5. | Nicaragua | $91,000,000 |
| 6. | Benin | $98,350,000 |
| 7. | Madagascar | $112,210,000 |
| 8. | Laos | $135,000,000 |
| 9. | Suriname | $144,000,000 |
| 10. | Montenegro | $148,100,000 |
