Last updated: October 27, 2026. Reference guide, reviewed when the underlying official data changes.
The United States has the world’s largest military budget, at $954 billion in 2025, followed by China ($336 billion, estimated), Russia ($190 billion, estimated), Germany ($114 billion) and India ($92.1 billion). World military spending reached a record $2.887 trillion, SIPRI reported in April 2026.
Top 30 military spenders, 2025
Spending is in current U.S. dollars. “Est.” marks SIPRI estimates. Sort by any column.
| Rank | Country | Spending ($ billion) | Share of GDP (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 954 | 3.1 |
| 2 | China | 336 (est.) | 1.7 (est.) |
| 3 | Russia | 190 (est.) | 7.5 (est.) |
| 4 | Germany | 114 | 2.3 |
| 5 | India | 92.1 | 2.3 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 89.0 | 2.4 |
| 7 | Ukraine | 84.1 (est.) | 40 (est.) |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | 83.2 (est.) | 6.5 (est.) |
| 9 | France | 68.0 | 2.0 |
| 10 | Japan | 62.2 | 1.4 |
| 11 | Israel | 48.3 | 7.8 |
| 12 | Italy | 48.1 | 1.9 |
| 13 | South Korea | 47.8 | 2.6 |
| 14 | Poland | 46.8 | 4.5 |
| 15 | Spain | 40.2 | 2.1 |
| 16 | Canada | 37.5 | 1.6 |
| 17 | Australia | 35.3 | 1.9 |
| 18 | Türkiye | 30.0 | 1.9 |
| 19 | Netherlands | 28.9 | 2.2 |
| 20 | Algeria | 25.4 | 8.8 |
| 21 | Brazil | 23.9 | 1.1 |
| 22 | Taiwan | 18.2 | 2.1 |
| 23 | Singapore | 17.4 | 3.0 |
| 24 | Norway | 17.0 | 3.3 |
| 25 | Sweden | 16.5 | 2.5 |
| 26 | Indonesia | 15.0 | 1.0 |
| 27 | Denmark | 14.9 | 3.3 |
| 28 | Belgium | 14.5 | 2.0 |
| 29 | Colombia | 14.5 | 3.2 |
| 30 | Mexico | 13.6 | 0.7 |
Key trends
- Record total: world spending rose 2.9% in real terms, the 11th straight annual increase, and is up 41% since 2016.
- U.S. down, others up: U.S. spending fell 7.5%, while spending outside the United States grew 9.2%. The U.S. still accounted for a third of the world total.
- Europe: spending in Europe rose 14% to $864 billion. Germany climbed to fourth and Spain’s budget grew 50%.
- Concentration: the top five spent 58% of the world total and the top 15 spent 80%.
The U.S. figure is calendar-year spending; for the Pentagon’s own fiscal plan, see US defense budget 2027 explained.
Who spends the most relative to GDP
Ukraine’s military spending equaled about 40% of its GDP, the heaviest burden in the world. Among the top 30, Algeria (8.8%), Israel (7.8%), Russia (7.5%) and Saudi Arabia (6.5%) follow. The global average was 2.5% of GDP, or $352 per person.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the biggest military budget?
The United States, at $954 billion in 2025, about a third of world spending, according to SIPRI.
How much does the world spend on the military?
$2.887 trillion in 2025, a record and 2.5% of global GDP.
Is China’s military budget bigger than Russia’s?
Yes. SIPRI estimates China at $336 billion and Russia at $190 billion in 2025.
Which country spends the most as a share of GDP?
Ukraine, at an estimated 40% of GDP in 2025.
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Sources
Additional sources
By Peter. This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.
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