Question 1

Which country spends the most on military as a percentage of GDP?

Accepted Answer

Ukraine leads with approximately 34.5% of GDP spent on military in 2024, primarily due to ongoing wartime expenditure. Other high spenders include Israel (~8.5%), Saudi Arabia (~6%), and Russia (~6%).

Question 2

How much does the United States spend on military?

Accepted Answer

The United States spent approximately $968 billion on military in 2024, representing about 3.4% of GDP. This makes the US the highest absolute military spender in the world.

Question 3

What is the NATO 2% defense spending target?

Accepted Answer

NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense. As of 2024, approximately 23 of the 32 NATO member countries meet or exceed this target.

Question 4

Where does this military spending data come from?

Accepted Answer

Historical data (1949-2024) comes from the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, maintained by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Data for 2025-2026 are estimates based on official government budget announcements and projections.

Question 5

How many countries are covered in this dataset?

Accepted Answer

The dataset covers 160 countries with varying historical coverage. Most major countries have data available from the 1950s or 1960s onward.

#↑	Country	% GDP	USD
1	Ukraine	34.48%	$66.8B
2	Israel	8.78%	$45.3B
3	Algeria	7.97%	$20.4B
4	Saudi Arabia	7.30%	$79.0B
5	Russia	7.05%	$150.5B
6	Myanmar	6.79%	$5.2B
7	Oman	5.59%	$5.9B
8	Armenia	5.48%	$1.4B
9	Azerbaijan	4.99%	$3.7B
10	Kuwait	4.84%	$7.6B
11	Jordan	4.80%	$2.5B
12	Burkina Faso	4.68%	$1.0B
13	Mali	4.20%	$0.9B
14	Poland	4.15%	$34.5B
15	Burundi	3.80%	$0.2B

GLOBAL MILITARY EXPENDITURE

Ranking by % of GDP (2024)

Country Focus

Military Spending (% of GDP)

Military Spending (USD Billions, 2023 prices)

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