Europe Rearmament: Spending Hit $816.9bn in 2025
Europe's calculated military expenditure climbed from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, a 74.6% increase across the 44 countries SIPRI tracks in the region.
Key takeaways
- Europe's calculated military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, a 74.6% increase.
- Europe's share of world military spending grew from 21% to 29.8% over the same period.
- Russia overtook the United Kingdom as Europe's largest single spender, reaching $158.2bn in 2025 (19.4% of the regional total).
- Germany rose from fourth to second place ($106.7bn, 13.1%), while Ukraine entered the top five at $77.6bn (9.5%).
- Totals are our calculation from SIPRI country-level data across the 44 European countries SIPRI reports each year.
Verdict
Europe's calculated military spending climbed from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, a 74.6% increase, with Russia overtaking the United Kingdom as the region's largest single spender. These totals sum the 44 Europe countries SIPRI reports each year, excluding any country without a figure for that year, and are our calculation from SIPRI country-level data rather than a SIPRI-published total.
At a glance
| 2021 Europe total | $468.0bn21% of world spending |
|---|---|
| 2025 Europe total | $816.9bn29.8% of world spending |
| Increase, 2021–2025 | 74.6%$348.9bn |
| 2025 leader | Russia, $158.2bn19.4% of the 2025 total |
| 2021 leader | United Kingdom, $72.1bn15.4% of the 2021 total |
| Countries counted | 44each year |
Europe's calculated military expenditure reached $816.9bn in 2025, up from $468.0bn in 2021 — a 74.6% increase across the 44 countries SIPRI tracks in the region, with Russia overtaking the United Kingdom as the region's top spender.
01 How much has Europe's military spending grown since 2021?
Summing SIPRI's country-level figures for the 44 European states it tracks, regional military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025 — an increase of $348.9bn, or 74.6%, in constant 2024 US dollars. Europe's share of world military spending grew alongside the total, from 21% of world military spending in 2021 to 29.8% of world military spending in 2025.
| Year | Europe total | Countries counted | Share of world spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $468.0bn | 44 | 21% |
| 2025 | $816.9bn | 44 | 29.8% |
02 Who are Europe's biggest military spenders in 2025?
Russia is the largest single military spender in Europe in 2025, at $158.2bn, equal to 19.4% of the $816.9bn regional total. Germany ranks second at $106.7bn (13.1% of the total), followed by the United Kingdom at $88.0bn (10.8%), Ukraine at $77.6bn (9.5%), and France at $64.5bn (7.9%). For a full country-by-country breakdown, see the 2025 world rankings.
| Rank | Country | 2025 spending | Share of Europe total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | $158.2bn | 19.4% |
| 2 | Germany | $106.7bn | 13.1% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | $88.0bn | 10.8% |
| 4 | Ukraine | $77.6bn | 9.5% |
| 5 | France | $64.5bn | 7.9% |
| 6 | Italy | $45.4bn | 5.6% |
| 7 | Poland | $42.5bn | 5.2% |
| 8 | Spain | $37.7bn | 4.6% |
03 How has the top-spender ranking changed since 2021?
The identity of Europe's leading military spender changed between 2021 and 2025. In 2021 the United Kingdom led the region at $72.1bn, 15.4% of that year's $468.0bn total, with Russia second at $68.5bn (14.6%), France third at $60.5bn (12.9%), and Germany fourth at $59.9bn (12.8%). By 2025, Russia had moved to first place at $158.2bn, Germany had risen from fourth to second at $106.7bn, and the United Kingdom had fallen to third at $88.0bn despite its own spending rising in dollar terms. Ukraine, absent from the 2021 top eight, entered the ranking in fourth place at $77.6bn in 2025.
- Russia — moved from second ($68.5bn, 14.6% of the 2021 total) to first ($158.2bn, 19.4% of the 2025 total).
- Germany — moved from fourth ($59.9bn, 12.8%) to second ($106.7bn, 13.1%).
- United Kingdom — moved from first ($72.1bn, 15.4%) to third ($88.0bn, 10.8%).
- Ukraine — entered the top eight in fourth place at $77.6bn (9.5% of the 2025 total), having no listed figure in the 2021 top eight.
04 How is the increase in European defense spending distributed across countries?
Between 2021 and 2025, the growth in Europe's total military spending was concentrated among a handful of countries. Russia's spending more than doubled in dollar terms, rising from $68.5bn to $158.2bn. Ukraine entered the regional top eight at $77.6bn in 2025, having no listed figure in the 2021 top eight. Germany's spending rose from $59.9bn to $106.7bn, moving it from fourth to second place, and Poland's spending grew from $19.6bn (4.2% of the 2021 total) to $42.5bn (5.2% of the 2025 total). Together, these four countries account for a large share of the $348.9bn regional increase over the period.
05 Data coverage and methodology
The $468.0bn and $816.9bn totals are our calculation from SIPRI country-level data, not SIPRI's own published regional total. Figures are drawn from the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, in constant 2024 US dollars, as of April 2026. Both totals sum the same set of 44 European countries, so the comparison is on a consistent country basis across the two years.
Sum of the 44 Europe countries SIPRI reports for 2025. Countries without a 2025 figure are excluded.
Our calculation from SIPRI country-level data. Not SIPRI's own published total.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much did Europe spend on its military in 2025?
- Our calculation from SIPRI country-level data puts Europe's 2025 military spending at $816.9bn, up from $468.0bn in 2021 — a 74.6% increase.
- Which European country spends the most on its military?
- Russia is the largest single spender in 2025 at $158.2bn, 19.4% of the $816.9bn regional total. In 2021 the United Kingdom led at $72.1bn, 15.4% of that year's $468.0bn total.
- Has Ukraine entered the ranking of top European military spenders?
- Yes. Ukraine reached $77.6bn in 2025, 9.5% of the Europe total, placing it fourth — it did not appear in the 2021 top eight.
- What share of world military spending does Europe now account for?
- Europe accounted for 29.8% of world military spending in 2025, up from 21% in 2021, based on our calculation from SIPRI country-level data.
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.