Analysis
Data-led explainers on military spending — how defense budgets compare between countries, how they have moved over time, and what the figures do and do not measure.
Defense Spending as % of GDP by Country (2025)
Ukraine spent the most on its military relative to its economy in 2025, at 39.56% of GDP, followed by Algeria at 8.83% and Israel at 7.81%.
EU Military Spending 2025: $430.4bn Combined Total
The 27 European Union members spent a combined $430.4bn on military expenditure in 2025, equal to 15.7% of world spending.
Europe Defense Spending 2025: $816.9bn Across 44 Countries
Europe's 44 countries spent a combined $816.9bn on defense in 2025 — 29.8% of the world total, with Russia the single largest spender at $158.2bn.
European Rearmament: Europe Defense Spending Hits $816.9bn (2025)
Europe's collective military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, with Russia now the region's single largest spender at $158.2bn.
NATO Military Spending 2025: $1,520.9bn Total
NATO's 32 members spent a combined $1,520.9bn in 2025, equal to 55.5% of world military spending.
World Military Spending: The Global Total in 2025
The world spent at least $2,740.0bn on its military in 2025, up 2.8% on 2024, and five countries account for 59.2% of it.