Context:

• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its report “World Military Expenditure Trends 2024” on 29 July 2025.
• According to SIPRI, amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and escalating conflicts, global military spending surged by 9.4% in 2024, reaching $2.72 trillion (2,718 billion USD) — the largest annual increase since the end of the Cold War, and the 10th consecutive year of growth in military expenditure.
• Global military burden (share of GDP): 2.5%

Top 5 Military Spenders in 2024:

1. United States: $997 billion (37% of global expenditure)
2. China: $314 billion
3. Russia: $149 billion (7.1% of GDP)
4. Germany: $88.5 billion (28% increase)
5. India: $86.1 billion (1.6% increase)

Regional Trends:

Europe:

• Total military expenditure: $693 billion (17% increase)
• Russia: $149 billion (+38%), accounting for 7.1% of its GDP
• Ukraine: $64.7 billion (34% of GDP) – the highest military burden globally

Americas:

• Total spending: $1,100 billion (5.8% increase)
• United States: $997 billion (66% of NATO's and 37% of global military expenditure)
• Canada: $29.3 billion (1.3% of GDP)

Asia and Oceania:

• East Asia: $433 billion (7.8% increase)
• Japan: $55.3 billion (+21%) – largest annual increase since 1952
• South Korea: $47.6 billion (+1.4%)
• Taiwan: Increased investment in naval and anti-drone systems

Middle East:

• Total: $243 billion (15% increase)
• Saudi Arabia: $80.3 billion – 7th largest globally
• Israel: $46.5 billion (+65%) – highest annual rise since 1967

Africa:

• Total: $52.1 billion (3.0% increase)
• North Africa: $30.2 billion (+8.8%)

• • Algeria: $21.8 billion (21% of total government spending)

• Sub-Saharan Africa: Spending fell by 3.2% to $21.9 billion

Other Notable Countries:

• United Kingdom: $81.8 billion (+2.8%) – 6th largest spender
• France: $64.7 billion (+6.1%) – 9th largest
• Sweden: $12 billion (+34%) – Reached 2% of GDP in its first year of NATO membership
• Saudi Arabia: $80.3 billion (+1.5%) – Top spender in the Middle East
• Mexico: $16.7 billion (+39%) – Driven by military operations against organized crime