Last updated September 18, 2024
In a world where geopolitical dynamics continually evolve, military expenditure serves a crucial role in sustaining a country's security and global standing. Not only does a nation's military budget reflect its capacity for defense, but it also provides useful context regarding its international relations, economic health, and overall priorities. The study and analysis of military spending by countries offer insights into the global distribution of power, potential risks and threats, and the shifting trends of defense expenditure. This article embarks on a detailed exploration of military budgets worldwide, with an emphasis on the United States. Key findings from the data include:
When it comes to military expenditure, the top ten countries varying significantly in their annual budgets. The United States leads the list with an impressive yearly military budget of $750B. In comparison, the second highest spender is China, with a significantly lesser amount of $237B per year. The third highest military budget belongs to Saudi Arabia, who spend $67.6B annually on their armed forces. Next in the list is India with a yearly military budget of $61B, closely followed by the United Kingdom, spending approximately $55.1B each year. The annual military spending of Germany amounts to $50B, whereas Japan spends slightly less at $49.0B per annum. Russia falls eighth in line with a yearly military budget of $48.0B, followed by South Korea with an allocation of $44.0B. France rounds out the top ten with a yearly military budget of $41.5B. 10 countries with Highest Military Spending:
The ranking of countries with minimal military budgets is topped by Liberia, Laos, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Moldova, Zambia, Mauritania, Somalia, and Suriname. Liberia has the least military budget, spending a sum of $13.0M annually. Laos ranks second, with a yearly military budget of $18.5M. Both Central African Republic and Kyrgyzstan have an annual military budget of $20.0M, making them the third and fourth lowest spenders respectively. Bhutan has a yearly military budget of $25.1M, placing it fifth on the list. Moldova ranks sixth, with an annual budget of $30.0M for military spending. Zambia, with $40.0M, is seventh, followed closely by Mauritania with a $50.3M military budget. Rounding up the list, the ninth is Somalia, with a yearly budget of $62.2 million, while Suriname is tenth with a yearly military budget of $63.0M. The ten countries with the lowest military spending:
12.0B
Ranked in World
#22
250.0M
Ranked in World
#104
13.0B
Ranked in World
#20
Ranked in World
#35
Ranked in World
#50
Ranked in World
#77
26.3B
Ranked in World
#13
Ranked in World
#56
Ranked in World
#60
Ranked in World
#75
Ranked in World
#53
Ranked in World
#44
25.1M
Ranked in World
#132
660.0M
Ranked in World
#91
165.0M
Ranked in World
#113
450.0M
Ranked in World
#99
27.8B
Ranked in World
#11
Ranked in World
#79
130.0M
Ranked in World
#116
604.0M
Ranked in World
#92
347.0M
Ranked in World
#101
22.5B
Ranked in World
#15
20.0M
Ranked in World
#134
200.0M
Ranked in World
#110
Ranked in World
#49
237.0B
Ranked in World
#2
10.6B
Ranked in World
#28
800.0M
Ranked in World
#84
500.0M
Ranked in World
#97
Ranked in World
#59
100.0M
Ranked in World
#120
Ranked in World
#46
760.0M
Ranked in World
#85
Ranked in World
#65
11.2B
Ranked in World
#25
167.0M
Ranked in World
#112
685.0M
Ranked in World
#90
350.0M
Ranked in World
#100
Ranked in World
#54
41.5B
Ranked in World
#10
83.0M
Ranked in World
#122
327.0M
Ranked in World
#102
50.0B
Ranked in World
#6
710.0M
Ranked in World
#89
Ranked in World
#45
240.0M
Ranked in World
#106
205.0M
Ranked in World
#109
Ranked in World
#70
61.0B
Ranked in World
#4
Ranked in World
#31
19.6B
Ranked in World
#17
Ranked in World
#72
870.0M
Ranked in World
#83
20.0B
Ranked in World
#16
27.8B
Ranked in World
#12
550.0M
Ranked in World
#94
49.0B
Ranked in World
#7
Ranked in World
#62
Ranked in World
#52
121.0M
Ranked in World
#117
Ranked in World
#36
20.0M
Ranked in World
#133
18.5M
Ranked in World
#135
724.0M
Ranked in World
#87
Ranked in World
#66
13.0M
Ranked in World
#136
Ranked in World
#58
Ranked in World
#78
115.0M
Ranked in World
#118
Ranked in World
#51
70.0M
Ranked in World
#125
50.3M
Ranked in World
#129
Ranked in World
#34
30.0M
Ranked in World
#131
155.0M
Ranked in World
#114
65.0M
Ranked in World
#126
10.0B
Ranked in World
#29
245.0M
Ranked in World
#105
Ranked in World
#61
505.0M
Ranked in World
#96
213.0M
Ranked in World
#108
12.4B
Ranked in World
#21
Ranked in World
#47
140.0M
Ranked in World
#115
Ranked in World
#68
Ranked in World
#73
108.2M
Ranked in World
#119
Ranked in World
#32
Ranked in World
#30
11.4B
Ranked in World
#24
500.0M
Ranked in World
#98
250.0M
Ranked in World
#103
Ranked in World
#63
Ranked in World
#55
12.0B
Ranked in World
#23
Ranked in World
#57
Ranked in World
#38
715.0M
Ranked in World
#88
Ranked in World
#41
48.0B
Ranked in World
#8
67.6B
Ranked in World
#3
907.0M
Ranked in World
#82
75.5M
Ranked in World
#124
11.2B
Ranked in World
#26
Ranked in World
#69
581.0M
Ranked in World
#93
62.2M
Ranked in World
#128
Ranked in World
#48
44.0B
Ranked in World
#9
80.0M
Ranked in World
#123
15.1B
Ranked in World
#19
Ranked in World
#64
Ranked in World
#67
63.0M
Ranked in World
#127
Ranked in World
#37
Ranked in World
#42
Ranked in World
#71
10.7B
Ranked in World
#27
Ranked in World
#74
223.0M
Ranked in World
#107
Ranked in World
#33
550.0M
Ranked in World
#95
19.0B
Ranked in World
#18
200.0M
Ranked in World
#111
935.0M
Ranked in World
#81
Ranked in World
#40
22.8B
Ranked in World
#14
55.1B
Ranked in World
#5
750.0B
Ranked in World
#1
Ranked in World
#43
975.0M
Ranked in World
#80
745.0M
Ranked in World
#86
Ranked in World
#39
Ranked in World
#76
40.0M
Ranked in World
#130
100.0M
Ranked in World
#121
Region ↕ | Military Spending↕ |
---|---|
12.0B | |
250.0M | |
13.0B | |
7.0B | |
4.2B | |
1.4B | |
26.3B | |
3.4B | |
2.8B | |
1.4B | |
3.8B | |
4.9B | |
25.1M | |
660.0M | |
165.0M | |
450.0M | |
27.8B | |
1.1B | |
130.0M | |
604.0M | |
347.0M | |
22.5B | |
20.0M | |
200.0M | |
4.3B | |
237.0B | |
10.6B | |
800.0M | |
500.0M | |
3.0B | |
100.0M | |
4.8B | |
760.0M | |
2.5B | |
11.2B | |
167.0M | |
685.0M | |
350.0M | |
3.6B | |
41.5B | |
83.0M | |
327.0M | |
50.0B | |
710.0M | |
4.8B | |
240.0M | |
205.0M | |
2.1B | |
61.0B | |
7.6B | |
19.6B | |
1.7B | |
870.0M | |
20.0B | |
27.8B | |
550.0M | |
49.0B | |
2.6B | |
4.0B | |
121.0M | |
6.8B | |
20.0M | |
18.5M | |
724.0M | |
2.5B | |
13.0M | |
3.0B | |
1.1B | |
115.0M | |
4.0B | |
70.0M | |
50.3M | |
7.0B | |
30.0M | |
155.0M | |
65.0M | |
10.0B | |
245.0M | |
2.7B | |
505.0M | |
213.0M | |
12.4B | |
4.3B | |
140.0M | |
2.2B | |
1.6B | |
108.2M | |
7.2B | |
8.7B | |
11.4B | |
500.0M | |
250.0M | |
2.6B | |
3.5B | |
12.0B | |
3.4B | |
6.0B | |
715.0M | |
5.1B | |
48.0B | |
67.6B | |
907.0M | |
75.5M | |
11.2B | |
2.1B | |
581.0M | |
62.2M | |
4.3B | |
44.0B | |
80.0M | |
15.1B | |
2.5B | |
2.5B | |
63.0M | |
6.3B | |
5.0B | |
1.8B | |
10.7B | |
1.6B | |
223.0M | |
7.1B | |
550.0M | |
19.0B | |
200.0M | |
935.0M | |
5.4B | |
22.8B | |
55.1B | |
750.0B | |
5.0B | |
975.0M | |
745.0M | |
5.5B | |
1.4B | |
40.0M | |
100.0M |