Military Spending by Country (2024)

Global Military Expenditure

Global military spending exceeded $2.4 trillion in 2024, with the United States accounting for roughly 40% of the total. The US spends approximately 3.5% of GDP on defense — over $900 billion annually, more than the next 10 countries combined in absolute terms. China is the second-largest spender at an estimated $300 billion, though exact figures are difficult to verify due to opaque defense budgets. Russia, despite its smaller economy, allocates an estimated 6-8% of GDP to military following its invasion of Ukraine.

Military spending trends are a barometer of geopolitical tensions. NATO members committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defense — a target most European members missed for decades but are now rapidly approaching after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered a fundamental reassessment of European security. Germany announced a €100 billion special defense fund, and Nordic countries accelerated their defense buildups. Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE consistently spend 4-6% of GDP due to regional security threats.

Japan maintained spending below 1% of GDP for decades under its post-WWII pacifist constitution but has recently increased toward 2% in response to China's military buildup and North Korean missile threats. For developing countries, excessive military spending creates a "guns versus butter" trade-off — resources devoted to defense cannot be invested in healthcare, education, or infrastructure that drives long-term economic growth.