Global military spending reached $2.88 trillion in 2025, a 2.9% increase from the previous year, reports Todayinfo citing the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
To put this in perspective, $2.88 trillion amounts to $350 in military spending for every person on the planet. Al Jazeera analysed the rise of global militarisation in five charts, including spending by nation, top arms sellers, and a comparison of military budgets with healthcare and education spending.
The US remains the top military spender with $954 billion, followed by China ($336 billion), Russia ($190 billion), Germany ($114 billion), and India ($92 billion). These five countries account for 58% of global military spending. US spending exceeds the combined spending of the next six countries.
Since 1949, the US has spent at least $53.5 trillion on its military, accounting for 51.5% of the global total of over $100 trillion. Post-World War II, military spending surged from $284 billion in 1950 to $788 billion in 1953, driven by the Korean War.
During the Cold War, spending exceeded $1 trillion, peaking at $1.7 trillion by 1988. After the September 11 attacks, US military spending rose again, surpassing $2 trillion in 2009. In the last decade, spending has been on the rise, reaching a historic high in 2025.
In per capita terms, Qatar leads military spending, growing from $1,231 in 2006 to $5,428 in 2022 (a 340% increase). Israel rose from $1,360 to $5,108 (276%), and Norway from $1,080 to $3,040 (181%). Ukraine showed the largest increase, from $63 in 2006 to $2,197 in 2025 (3,387%), reflecting its ongoing conflict with Russia.
