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.
Key takeaways
- Europe's military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, up roughly 75% in constant dollars.
- Russia is now Europe's largest military spender at $158.2bn (19.4% of the European total), overtaking the United Kingdom, which led in 2021 at $72.1bn.
- Germany's spending grew 78%, from $59.9bn to $106.7bn, making it Europe's second-largest spender in 2025.
- Europe's share of world military spending rose from 21% in 2021 to 29.8% in 2025.
- Ukraine, absent from Europe's 2021 top eight, ranks fourth in 2025 at $77.6bn.
Verdict
Europe's military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, with Russia overtaking the United Kingdom to become the region's largest spender at $158.2bn. This total sums the 44 European countries SIPRI reports for 2025; countries without a 2025 figure are excluded.
At a glance
| Europe total, 2021 | $468.0bn44 countries |
|---|---|
| Europe total, 2025 | $816.9bn44 countries |
| Growth, 2021-2025 | +75%constant dollars |
| Top spender, 2025 | Russia, $158.2bn19.4% of Europe total |
| Europe's share of world spending, 2025 | 29.8%up from 21% in 2021 |
Europe's military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, an increase of roughly 75% in constant dollars.
01 How Much Has European Military Spending Grown Since 2021?
The total covers the 44 European countries SIPRI reports spending data for in both years.
| Year | Europe total | Share of world spending |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $468.0bn | 21% |
| 2025 | $816.9bn | 29.8% |
Europe totals and shares are our calculation from SIPRI country-level data, in SIPRI constant 2024 US dollars, data as of 2026-06-15. They sum every European country SIPRI reports a figure for in the given year; a country missing a figure in a given year is excluded from that year's total rather than treated as zero.
Europe's own spending grew faster than the world total over the same period, which is why its share of the world total climbed alongside the absolute increase.
02 Who Are Europe's Top Military Spenders in 2025?
Russia is the data-determined leader in 2025, spending $158.2bn — 19.4% of the $816.9bn European total. Germany ranks second and the United Kingdom third.
| 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% |
Ukraine appears in the top four in 2025 with $77.6bn, a country that did not feature in the 2021 top eight at all.
03 Why Is Russia Now Europe's Largest Military Spender?
Russia's spending rose from $68.5bn in 2021 (14.6% of the European total, second place behind the United Kingdom) to $158.2bn in 2025 (19.4%, first place) — an increase of about 131%. The United Kingdom, the 2021 leader at $72.1bn, grew more slowly, to $88.0bn, and dropped to third place as Germany and Russia both overtook it.
- 2021 leader — United Kingdom, $72.1bn, 15.4% of Europe's $468.0bn total.
- 2025 leader — Russia, $158.2bn, 19.4% of Europe's $816.9bn total.
04 Which European Countries Increased Spending the Most Since 2021?
Among the countries that appear in both the 2021 and 2025 top-eight lists, Russia and Poland recorded the largest percentage increases, while France grew the least.
| Country | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | $68.5bn | $158.2bn | +131% |
| Poland | $19.6bn | $42.5bn | +117% |
| Spain | $21.1bn | $37.7bn | +79% |
| Germany | $59.9bn | $106.7bn | +78% |
| Italy | $37.0bn | $45.4bn | +23% |
| United Kingdom | $72.1bn | $88.0bn | +22% |
| France | $60.5bn | $64.5bn | +7% |
Two countries changed which end of the top eight they occupy. Turkey, ranked eighth in 2021 at $17.3bn, no longer appears in the 2025 top eight. Ukraine, absent from the 2021 top eight, ranks fourth in 2025 at $77.6bn.
05 Data Coverage and Methodology
The Europe totals and shares above are our calculation from SIPRI country-level data, not a total SIPRI itself publishes. They sum every European country SIPRI reports a figure for in the given year; a country missing a figure in a given year is excluded from that year's total rather than treated as zero.
Figures are in SIPRI constant 2024 US dollars, which remove the effect of inflation and exchange-rate movements so totals across years are comparable.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much did Europe spend on its military in 2025?
- $816.9bn, our calculation from SIPRI's country-level data for the 44 European countries it reports, up from $468.0bn in 2021.
- Which country spends the most on its military in Europe?
- Russia, at $158.2bn in 2025 — 19.4% of the European total — having overtaken the United Kingdom, which led in 2021 at $72.1bn.
- What share of world military spending does Europe now account for?
- 29.8% in 2025, up from 21% in 2021.
- Which European countries increased military spending the most since 2021?
- Russia (+131%) and Poland (+117%) recorded the largest percentage increases among countries in both the 2021 and 2025 top eight.
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.