Why Europe Is Rearming: Spending Hit $816.9bn in 2025
Russia became Europe's top individual defense spender and Ukraine broke into the regional top tier, as combined European military spending rose 74.6% between 2021 and 2025.
Key takeaways
- Europe's SIPRI-tracked military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, up 74.6%, our calculation from SIPRI country-level data.
- Russia became Europe's top individual military spender in 2025 at $158.2bn (19.4% of the European total), up from $68.5bn (14.6%) in 2021, when it ranked second behind the United Kingdom.
- Ukraine entered Europe's top tier of spenders in 2025 at $77.6bn (9.5% of the European total), a position it did not hold in 2021.
- Germany rose to Europe's second-largest spender in 2025 at $106.7bn, up from $59.9bn in 2021.
- Europe's share of world military spending grew from 21% in 2021 to 29.8% in 2025.
Verdict
Europe's SIPRI-tracked military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, a 74.6% increase, our calculation from SIPRI country-level data. Russia became the region's largest individual spender at $158.2bn, and Ukraine entered the top tier at $77.6bn, alongside broader increases across NATO and EU states. This total sums the 44 Europe countries SIPRI reports for 2025; countries without a 2025 figure are excluded.
At a glance
| Europe total, 2021 | $468.0bn21% of world spending |
|---|---|
| Europe total, 2025 | $816.9bn29.8% of world spending |
| Increase, 2021–2025 | +74.6%$348.9bn absolute rise |
| 2021 leader | United Kingdom, $72.1bn15.4% of European total |
| 2025 leader | Russia, $158.2bn19.4% of European total |
| Countries covered | 44same country set both years |
Europe's SIPRI-tracked military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025 — a 74.6% increase, our calculation from SIPRI country-level data. The rise reflects both Russia's own defense budget more than doubling and higher spending across NATO and EU member states over the period.
01 Europe's Military Spending: 2021 vs. 2025 at a Glance
In 2021, the 44 European countries SIPRI tracks spent a combined $468.0bn on their militaries, equal to 21% of world military spending that year. By 2025, that combined figure had climbed to $816.9bn, or 29.8% of world military spending — a jump of $348.9bn in absolute terms.
| Year | Europe total | Share of world spending | Regional leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $468.0bn | 21% | United Kingdom ($72.1bn) |
| 2025 | $816.9bn | 29.8% | Russia ($158.2bn) |
Sum of the 44 Europe countries SIPRI reports for 2021 ($468.0bn) and 2025 ($816.9bn) respectively. Countries without a figure in a given year are excluded from that year's total.
02 Who Are Europe's Biggest Spenders Now?
Russia leads Europe's 2025 rankings at $158.2bn, equal to 19.4% of the $816.9bn European total. Germany is second at $106.7bn (13.1%), followed by the United Kingdom at $88.0bn (10.8%), Ukraine at $77.6bn (9.5%), and France at $64.5bn (7.9%). Italy, Poland and Spain round out the top eight.
| Rank | Country | 2025 spending | Share of European 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% |
This is a different lineup from 2021, when the United Kingdom led at $72.1bn (15.4% of that year's $468.0bn European total), followed by Russia at $68.5bn (14.6%), France at $60.5bn (12.9%) and Germany at $59.9bn (12.8%).
03 Russia's Spending Surge and Its New Rank
Russia's own military spending more than doubled between 2021 and 2025, from $68.5bn to $158.2bn. Its share of European spending grew alongside it, from 14.6% of the $468.0bn 2021 total to 19.4% of the $816.9bn 2025 total. Russia held the number-two spot in Europe's 2021 rankings, behind the United Kingdom; by 2025 it had moved into first place, ahead of Germany at $106.7bn.
- 2021 rank — 2nd in Europe, at $68.5bn (14.6% of the European total).
- 2025 rank — 1st in Europe, at $158.2bn (19.4% of the European total).
04 Ukraine Enters the Top Tier of Spenders
Ukraine did not appear among Europe's top eight spenders in 2021. By 2025 it ranked fourth in the region at $77.6bn, equal to 9.5% of the $816.9bn European total — ahead of longstanding top-tier spenders France, Italy, Poland and Spain. Ukraine's entry into the top tier is the clearest single marker of how much the regional ranking has been reshaped since 2021.
05 What's Driving the Region-Wide Increase
The 74.6% rise in Europe's total is not explained by Russia and Ukraine alone. NATO and EU member states also raised spending across the period. Germany's budget grew from $59.9bn (12.8% of the 2021 total) to $106.7bn (13.1% of the 2025 total). Poland's spending more than doubled, from $19.6bn (4.2%) to $42.5bn (5.2%) — the largest proportional increase among Europe's NATO and EU top spenders, behind only Russia's own budget growth. Spain rose from $21.1bn (4.5%) to $37.7bn (4.6%), and Italy from $37.0bn (7.9%) to $45.4bn (5.6%).
Not every top-tier country's share of the European total rose, even where dollar spending increased. The United Kingdom's spending grew from $72.1bn to $88.0bn, but because the overall European total grew faster, its share of that total fell from 15.4% in 2021 to 10.8% in 2025. France's spending rose modestly, from $60.5bn to $64.5bn, while its share of the European total declined from 12.9% to 7.9%.
Figures are in SIPRI constant 2024 US dollars, which strip out the effect of inflation and exchange-rate movements so that spending levels are comparable across years.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why has Europe's military spending increased?
- Europe's SIPRI-tracked military spending rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, a 74.6% increase, driven by Russia's own budget more than doubling to $158.2bn and higher spending across NATO and EU states, plus Ukraine's entry into the top tier of spenders at $77.6bn.
- How much has European military spending increased since 2021?
- It rose from $468.0bn in 2021 to $816.9bn in 2025, an increase of $348.9bn, or 74.6%, our calculation from SIPRI country-level data.
- Who is Europe's biggest military spender in 2025?
- Russia, at $158.2bn, equal to 19.4% of the $816.9bn European total. Germany is second at $106.7bn and the United Kingdom third at $88.0bn.
- Is Ukraine among Europe's top military spenders?
- Yes. Ukraine ranked fourth in Europe in 2025 at $77.6bn (9.5% of the European total), a top-tier position it did not hold in 2021.
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.