The World's 10 Biggest Military Spenders in 2025
World military spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, the highest share of global GDP since 2009. The United States still spent the most, but its spending fell while Germany's jumped 24%.
Quick Answer
The United States spent the most on its military in 2025 at $954 billion, about 33% of the world total. China was second at an estimated $336 billion, followed by Russia at an estimated $190 billion, Germany at $114 billion and India at $92.1 billion. Together, the ten biggest spenders accounted for about 72% of the world's $2.89 trillion.
This ranking uses the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), whose Military Expenditure Database tracks spending by governments on armed forces, including personnel, operations, equipment and military aid. SIPRI counts military aid in the donor country's spending, so its figures can differ from those published by NATO or by governments themselves. Dollar amounts are in current US dollars at market exchange rates. Percentage changes from 2024 are in real terms, adjusted for inflation, which is why they are not the same as the change in the dollar figures. SIPRI marks some figures as estimates; for this top 10, that applies to China, Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.
Spending is not the same as military power
This ranking measures how much governments spent, not how strong or effective their armed forces are. Costs for personnel, weapons and equipment differ widely between countries, so the same number of dollars buys different capabilities. Figures for China, Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are SIPRI estimates, because those governments do not publish complete data.
Military spending in 2025, US$ billion
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, April 2026 updateTap any country to jump to its full breakdown below.
Ranked #10 to #1
Japan
1.4% of GDP · up 9.7% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $62.2B
- Category:
- Asia and Oceania
Japan spent $62.2 billion on its military in 2025, about 2.2% of the world total. Its spending rose 9.7% in real terms from 2024.
At 1.4% of GDP, Japan's military burden was its highest since 1958, according to SIPRI.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
France
2.0% of GDP · up 1.5% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $68.0B
- Category:
- Europe
France spent $68.0 billion in 2025, about 2.4% of the world total. Its spending grew 1.5% in real terms, a much smaller rise than Germany's.
France spent 2.0% of its GDP on its military, slightly below Germany's 2.3% and the UK's 2.4%.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
Saudi Arabia
6.5% of GDP (est.) · up 1.4% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $83.2B
- Category:
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia spent an estimated $83.2 billion in 2025, about 2.9% of the world total. SIPRI's figure is an estimate, and the increase from 2024 was 1.4% in real terms.
At an estimated 6.5% of GDP, Saudi Arabia's military burden was more than twice that of Germany, India or the United Kingdom.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
Ukraine
40% of GDP (est.) · up 20% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $84.1B
- Category:
- Europe
Ukraine spent an estimated $84.1 billion in 2025, about 2.9% of the world total, and its spending rose 20% in real terms. SIPRI's figures for Ukraine are estimates.
Military spending took about 40% of Ukraine's GDP, by far the highest burden of any country in the top 10.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
United Kingdom
2.4% of GDP · down 2.0% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $89.0B
- Category:
- Europe
The United Kingdom spent $89.0 billion in 2025, about 3.1% of the world total. Unlike most European countries in the top 10, its spending fell in real terms from 2024.
The UK and the US were the only two countries in this top 10 whose spending fell in real terms in 2025.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
India
2.3% of GDP · up 8.9% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $92.1B
- Category:
- Asia and Oceania
India spent $92.1 billion in 2025, about 3.2% of the world total, ranking fifth. Its spending increased 8.9% in real terms from 2024.
India spent only about $3 billion more than the United Kingdom in sixth place.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
Germany
2.3% of GDP · up 24% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $114B
- Category:
- Europe
Germany spent $114 billion in 2025, about 3.9% of the world total, and its spending rose 24% in real terms.
Germany's military burden was 2.3% of GDP, the first time it has been above 2.0% since 1990.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
Russia
7.5% of GDP (est.) · up 5.9% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $190B
- Category:
- Europe
Russia spent an estimated $190 billion in 2025, about 6.6% of the world total. SIPRI's figure is an estimate, and spending increased 5.9% in real terms from 2024.
Russia spent an estimated 7.5% of its GDP on its military, the highest share in the top 10 apart from Ukraine.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
China
1.7% of GDP (est.) · up 7.4% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $336B
- Category:
- Asia and Oceania
China spent an estimated $336 billion in 2025, about 12% of the world total. SIPRI's figure is an estimate, and spending increased 7.4% in real terms from 2024.
China's military spending has risen for 31 years in a row, according to SIPRI.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
United States
3.1% of GDP · down 7.5% from 2024- 2025 military spending:
- $954B
- Category:
- North America
The United States spent $954 billion in 2025, about 33% of the world total and nearly three times as much as China. Its spending fell 7.5% in real terms from 2024, mainly because no new military aid for Ukraine was approved in 2025.
SIPRI notes that spending approved by Congress for 2026 is over $1 trillion, and that it could rise to $1.5 trillion in 2027 if the president's latest budget proposal is accepted.
Source: SIPRI Fact Sheet, April 2026
What the numbers tell us
The US spent about 2.8 times as much as China, and the US and China together accounted for about 45% of the world's $2,887 billion. The ten countries on this list spent about $2,073 billion combined, roughly 72% of the global total. SIPRI puts the top 15 at $2,304 billion, or 80%. Globally, military spending rose 2.9% in real terms in 2025 and reached 2.5% of world GDP, the highest share since 2009.
- Data period:
- Calendar year 2025; SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, April 2026 update
- Last updated:
- October 16, 2026
- Sources:
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2025 (April 2026) and the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database
Countries are ranked by total military expenditure in 2025 in current US dollars at market exchange rates, as published in SIPRI's April 2026 fact sheet. SIPRI's definition covers all government spending on current military forces and activities, including personnel, operations, procurement, research and development, and military aid, which it counts in the donor country's spending. Percentage changes are in real terms using constant 2024 US dollars, and shares of GDP use SIPRI's 2025 GDP estimates. SIPRI marks the figures for China, Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia as estimates. SIPRI's figures can differ from those published by NATO or national governments because of differences in definitions. The ranking measures spending only and does not measure military strength.
Figures marked as estimates are based on publicly available information and may vary from other published sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
The United States, which spent $954 billion in 2025 according to SIPRI. That is about 33% of the world's total military spending and nearly three times China's estimated $336 billion.