Military Spending by Country

Global Overview

The top 15 military spenders account for over 80% of global defense expenditure. The distribution is heavily skewed, with the United States alone responsible for roughly 37% of worldwide military spending.

Regional Military Spending

North America ($920B)

Dominated by US spending ($886B), with Canada contributing approximately $34B. The US accounts for 96% of North American defense spending.

Europe ($450B)

European defense spending has surged since 2022, driven by the Ukraine war. Major spenders include the UK ($75B), Germany ($68B), France ($64B), and Poland ($35B). Most NATO members now meet or exceed the 2% of GDP target.

Asia-Pacific ($560B)

China ($296B+), India ($84B), Japan ($55B), South Korea ($48B), and Australia ($32B) are the major spenders. The region is experiencing the fastest growth in defense budgets globally.

Middle East ($200B)

Saudi Arabia ($78B), Israel ($24B), Turkey ($20B), and the UAE ($19B) lead regional spending. As a percentage of GDP, Middle Eastern nations have some of the highest rates worldwide.

Africa ($50B)

Despite numerous active conflicts, African defense spending remains low in absolute terms. Algeria ($18B), Egypt ($9B), and Nigeria ($3B) are the top spenders.

Fastest Growing Defense Budgets

Poland (+30% since 2022), Japan (+26%), Germany (+25%), and the Philippines (+20%) have seen the largest increases in defense spending in recent years, driven by regional security concerns.