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:
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
12.0B
#22
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
250.0M
#104
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
13.0B
#20
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
7.0B
#35
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.2B
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.4B
#77
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
26.3B
#13
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.4B
#56
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.8B
#60
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.4B
#75
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.8B
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.9B
#44
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
25.1M
#132
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
660.0M
#91
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
165.0M
#113
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
450.0M
#99
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
27.8B
#11
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.1B
#79
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
130.0M
#116
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
604.0M
#92
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
347.0M
#101
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
22.5B
#15
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
20.0M
#134
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
200.0M
#110
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.3B
#49
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
237.0B
#2
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
10.6B
#28
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
800.0M
#84
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
500.0M
#97
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.0B
#59
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
100.0M
#120
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.8B
#46
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
760.0M
#85
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.5B
#65
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
11.2B
#25
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
167.0M
#112
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
685.0M
#90
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
350.0M
#100
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.6B
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
41.5B
#10
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
83.0M
#122
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
327.0M
#102
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
50.0B
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
710.0M
#89
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.8B
#45
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
240.0M
#106
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
205.0M
#109
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.1B
#70
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
61.0B
#4
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
7.6B
#31
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
19.6B
#17
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.7B
#72
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
870.0M
#83
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
20.0B
#16
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
27.8B
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
550.0M
#94
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
49.0B
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.6B
#62
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.0B
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
121.0M
#117
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
6.8B
#36
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
20.0M
#133
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
18.5M
#135
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
724.0M
#87
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.5B
#66
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
13.0M
#136
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.0B
#58
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.1B
#78
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
115.0M
#118
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.0B
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
70.0M
#125
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
50.3M
#129
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
7.0B
#34
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
30.0M
#131
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
155.0M
#114
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
65.0M
#126
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
10.0B
#29
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
245.0M
#105
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.7B
#61
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
505.0M
#96
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
213.0M
#108
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
12.4B
#21
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.3B
#47
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
140.0M
#115
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.2B
#68
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.6B
#73
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
108.2M
#119
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
7.2B
#32
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
8.7B
#30
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
11.4B
#24
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
500.0M
#98
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
250.0M
#103
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.6B
#63
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.5B
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
12.0B
#23
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
3.4B
#57
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
6.0B
#38
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
715.0M
#88
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
5.1B
#41
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
48.0B
#8
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
67.6B
#3
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
907.0M
#82
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
75.5M
#124
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
11.2B
#26
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.1B
#69
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
581.0M
#93
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
62.2M
#128
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
4.3B
#48
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
44.0B
#9
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
80.0M
#123
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
15.1B
#19
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.5B
#64
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
2.5B
#67
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
63.0M
#127
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
6.3B
#37
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
5.0B
#42
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.8B
#71
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
10.7B
#27
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.6B
#74
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
223.0M
#107
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
7.1B
#33
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
550.0M
#95
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
19.0B
#18
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
200.0M
#111
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
935.0M
#81
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
5.4B
#40
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
22.8B
#14
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
55.1B
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
750.0B
#1
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
5.0B
#43
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
975.0M
#80
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
745.0M
#86
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
5.5B
#39
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
1.4B
#76
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
40.0M
#130
Metric
Value
Rank
Military Spending
100.0M
#121
Region ↕ | Military Spending ↕ |
---|---|
Afghanistan | 12.0B |
Albania | 250.0M |
Algeria | 13.0B |
Angola | 7.0B |
Argentina | 4.2B |
Armenia | 1.4B |
Australia | 26.3B |
Austria | 3.4B |
Azerbaijan | 2.8B |
Bahrain | 1.4B |
Bangladesh | 3.8B |
Belgium | 4.9B |
Bhutan | 25.1M |
Bolivia | 660.0M |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 165.0M |
Botswana | 450.0M |
Brazil | 27.8B |
Bulgaria | 1.1B |
Burkina Faso | 130.0M |
Cambodia | 604.0M |
Cameroon | 347.0M |
Canada | 22.5B |
Central African Republic | 20.0M |
Chad | 200.0M |
Chile | 4.3B |
China | 237.0B |
Colombia | 10.6B |
Croatia | 800.0M |
Cuba | 500.0M |
Czech Republic | 3.0B |
DR Congo | 100.0M |
Denmark | 4.8B |
Dominican Republic | 760.0M |
Ecuador | 2.5B |
Egypt | 11.2B |
El Salvador | 167.0M |
Estonia | 685.0M |
Ethiopia | 350.0M |
Finland | 3.6B |
France | 41.5B |
Gabon | 83.0M |
Georgia | 327.0M |
Germany | 50.0B |
Ghana | 710.0M |
Greece | 4.8B |
Guatemala | 240.0M |
Honduras | 205.0M |
Hungary | 2.1B |
India | 61.0B |
Indonesia | 7.6B |
Iran | 19.6B |
Iraq | 1.7B |
Ireland | 870.0M |
Israel | 20.0B |
Italy | 27.8B |
Ivory Coast | 550.0M |
Japan | 49.0B |
Jordan | 2.6B |
Kazakhstan | 4.0B |
Kenya | 121.0M |
Kuwait | 6.8B |
Kyrgyzstan | 20.0M |
Laos | 18.5M |
Latvia | 724.0M |
Lebanon | 2.5B |
Liberia | 13.0M |
Libya | 3.0B |
Lithuania | 1.1B |
Madagascar | 115.0M |
Malaysia | 4.0B |
Mali | 70.0M |
Mauritania | 50.3M |
Mexico | 7.0B |
Moldova | 30.0M |
Mongolia | 155.0M |
Montenegro | 65.0M |
Morocco | 10.0B |
Mozambique | 245.0M |
Myanmar | 2.7B |
Namibia | 505.0M |
Nepal | 213.0M |
Netherlands | 12.4B |
New Zealand | 4.3B |
Nicaragua | 140.0M |
Nigeria | 2.2B |
North Korea | 1.6B |
North Macedonia | 108.2M |
Norway | 7.2B |
Oman | 8.7B |
Pakistan | 11.4B |
Panama | 500.0M |
Paraguay | 250.0M |
Peru | 2.6B |
Philippines | 3.5B |
Poland | 12.0B |
Portugal | 3.4B |
Qatar | 6.0B |
Republic of the Congo | 715.0M |
Romania | 5.1B |
Russia | 48.0B |
Saudi Arabia | 67.6B |
Serbia | 907.0M |
Sierra Leone | 75.5M |
Singapore | 11.2B |
Slovakia | 2.1B |
Slovenia | 581.0M |
Somalia | 62.2M |
South Africa | 4.3B |
South Korea | 44.0B |
South Sudan | 80.0M |
Spain | 15.1B |
Sri Lanka | 2.5B |
Sudan | 2.5B |
Suriname | 63.0M |
Sweden | 6.3B |
Switzerland | 5.0B |
Syria | 1.8B |
Taiwan | 10.7B |
Tajikistan | 1.6B |
Tanzania | 223.0M |
Thailand | 7.1B |
Tunisia | 550.0M |
Turkey | 19.0B |
Turkmenistan | 200.0M |
Uganda | 935.0M |
Ukraine | 5.4B |
United Arab Emirates | 22.8B |
United Kingdom | 55.1B |
United States | 750.0B |
Uruguay | 5.0B |
Uzbekistan | 975.0M |
Venezuela | 745.0M |
Vietnam | 5.5B |
Yemen | 1.4B |
Zambia | 40.0M |
Zimbabwe | 100.0M |