Europe Military Spending 2026: $857.8bn Total

Europe's 43 tracked countries spent an estimated $857.8bn on defense in 2026, equal to 29.6% of world military spending.

Published: Figures verified

Key takeaways

  • Europe's 43 tracked countries spent an estimated $857.8bn on defense in 2026, in constant 2024 US dollars.
  • That total is equal to 29.6% of world military spending for 2026.
  • Russia is the region's largest spender at $166.1bn, or 19.4% of Europe's total.
  • Germany ($112.1bn), the United Kingdom ($92.4bn), Ukraine ($81.4bn) and France ($67.7bn) round out the top five.
  • The five largest spenders together account for more than 60% of Europe's tracked 2026 spending.
  • The $857.8bn figure is a sum of SIPRI's country-level data, not a SIPRI-published regional total, and 2026 is an estimate year.

Verdict

Europe's 43 tracked countries spent an estimated $857.8bn on defense in 2026 — 29.6% of world military spending — with Russia the region's largest single spender at $166.1bn.

Who this is for: Journalists, policy analysts and researchers who need a citable, source-transparent figure for Europe's total 2026 defense spending.

At a glance

Europe total (2026)$857.8bnSum of 43 SIPRI-tracked countries
Share of world spending29.6%Of global 2026 military spending
Top spenderRussia — $166.1bn19.4% of Europe's total
Countries tracked43Countries with a reported 2026 figure

Europe's 43 tracked countries spent an estimated $857.8bn on defense in 2026, equal to 29.6% of world military spending. Russia is the region's largest spender at $166.1bn.

01 Europe's 2026 Military Spending: $857.8bn Across 43 Countries

Summing SIPRI's country-level figures for every European state with a reported 2026 value puts the region's total military spending at $857.8bn, in constant 2024 US dollars. That figure spans 43 countries and reflects 2026 as an estimate year rather than an audited actual.

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Sum of the 43 Europe countries SIPRI reports for 2026. Countries without a 2026 figure are excluded.

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Our calculation from SIPRI country-level data. Not SIPRI's own published total.

02 How Europe Compares to the Rest of the World (29.6% Share)

Europe's $857.8bn in 2026 spending is equal to 29.6% of world military spending for 2026. That places the region as a substantial share of global defense outlays. For the full country-by-country breakdown behind this comparison, see the 2026 world rankings.

03 The Top Spenders: Russia, Germany, UK, Ukraine and France

Russia leads the region at $166.1bn, equal to 19.4% of Europe's $857.8bn total. Germany follows at $112.1bn (13.1% of the regional total), then the United Kingdom at $92.4bn (10.8%), Ukraine at $81.4bn (9.5%), and France at $67.7bn (7.9%). Together, by our calculation, these five countries account for more than 60% of Europe's tracked 2026 spending.

RankCountry2026 SpendingShare of Europe Total
1Russia$166.1bn19.4%
2Germany$112.1bn13.1%
3United Kingdom$92.4bn10.8%
4Ukraine$81.4bn9.5%
5France$67.7bn7.9%
  • Russia — the region's largest spender in 2026, at $166.1bn, or 19.4% of Europe's total.
  • Germany — the region's second-largest spender in 2026, at $112.1bn, or 13.1% of Europe's total.
  • Ukraine — $81.4bn in 2026, the fourth-largest figure in the region.

04 Mid-Tier Spenders: Italy, Poland and Spain

Below the top five, Italy spent $47.7bn (5.6% of Europe's total), Poland spent $44.7bn (5.2%), and Spain spent $39.6bn (4.6%). These three countries round out the region's eight largest spenders, together contributing, by our calculation, 15.4% of Europe's $857.8bn total.

RankCountry2026 SpendingShare of Europe Total
6Italy$47.7bn5.6%
7Poland$44.7bn5.2%
8Spain$39.6bn4.6%

05 Data Coverage and Methodology Notes

All figures are reported in SIPRI constant 2024 US dollars, which strip out inflation and exchange-rate effects so that spending can be compared across countries and years. Because 2026 is an estimate year, these figures should be read as projections rather than finalized actuals. The $857.8bn Europe total is not a number SIPRI itself publishes — it is our own sum of the 43 individual country figures SIPRI reports for the region in 2026, and any country lacking a 2026 figure is excluded from that sum rather than estimated. Data as of July 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Europe spend on defense in 2026?
An estimated $857.8bn, based on SIPRI country-level data for the 43 European countries with a reported 2026 figure.
What share of world military spending does Europe account for in 2026?
29.6% of total world military spending in 2026, by our calculation from SIPRI's country-level figures.
Which European country spends the most on defense in 2026?
Russia, at an estimated $166.1bn, or 19.4% of Europe's total tracked spending.
Is the $857.8bn Europe total a figure SIPRI publishes directly?
No. It is our own sum of SIPRI's individual country figures for 2026; SIPRI does not publish a single Europe-wide total. Countries without a reported 2026 figure are excluded from the sum.
Why is 2026 spending described as an estimate?
2026 figures in SIPRI's database are projections rather than finalized, audited actuals, since the year is still in progress or recently closed.
Figures verified July 7, 2026 against: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database

defensebudget.org

Defense spending data, sourced from SIPRI

defensebudget.org tracks military expenditure for 160 countries using the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Pages are generated from that dataset and reviewed before publication.

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