{"id":35465,"date":"2026-04-28T07:56:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T04:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=35465"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:57:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T04:57:01","slug":"global-military-spending-hits-record-high-at-2-9-trillion-in-2025-as-europe-and-asia-drive-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/global-military-spending-hits-record-high-at-2-9-trillion-in-2025-as-europe-and-asia-drive-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Global military spending hits record high at $2.9 trillion in 2025 as Europe and Asia drive growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global military expenditure reached approximately $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the overall increase, the growth rate slowed compared to 2024, with global military spending rising by 2.9% in real terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIPRI noted that the global military burden increased to 2.5% of global GDP, the highest level since 2009, reflecting sustained global prioritization of defense expenditure amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Europe Drives Global Increase<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe was the main driver of global military spending growth in 2025, with expenditure rising by 14% to $864 billion, the highest level ever recorded for the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increase was largely driven by NATO member states responding to the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader security concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany recorded a 24% increase in military spending to $114 billion, crossing the 2% of GDP threshold for the first time since 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Spain increased its defense budget by 50% to $40.2 billion, also surpassing the 2% GDP level for the first time since 1994. Poland continued to maintain one of the highest defense burdens in NATO, spending 4.5% of its GDP on its military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across NATO Europe, 22 member states now meet or exceed the 2% GDP defense target, reflecting a broader shift toward increased military preparedness and burden-sharing within the alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Asia-Pacific Sees Strongest Growth Since 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military spending in Asia and Oceania rose by 8.1% to $681 billion in 2025, marking the fastest regional increase since 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China remained the largest military spender in the region, increasing its defense budget by 7.4% to $336 billion, continuing its 31-year streak of annual growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taiwan increased its military expenditure by 14% to $18.2 billion, the largest rise since at least 1988, amid rising tensions and increased Chinese military activity near the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan raised its defense spending by 9.7% to $62.2 billion, reaching 1.4% of GDP, the highest level since 1958, as it continues to expand its military capabilities in response to regional security concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Japan's<\/a>
Japan’s Type-88 surface-to-ship short-range missiles are deployed as part of a Japan-U.S. joint military exercise on Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, on October 28, 2024. (Image Credit: Koji Harada\/Kyodo News)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


United States Sees First Major Decline in Years<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States remained the world\u2019s largest military spender at $954 billion in 2025, despite a 7.5% decline compared to the previous year. The decrease was primarily attributed to the absence of new congressional approvals for Ukraine-related military aid during the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIPRI noted that over the previous three years, the United States had approved approximately $127 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, which significantly influenced earlier spending levels. Despite the decline, the U.S. continued to invest heavily in nuclear modernization and Indo-Pacific defense capabilities aimed at countering China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers also noted that the decline is likely temporary, as Congress has already approved over $1 trillion for 2026, with potential increases to $1.5 trillion in 2027 under current proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Russia and Ukraine Maintain Extremely High War Spending<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia and Ukraine continued to allocate exceptionally large shares of national resources to military activity as the war entered its fifth year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia\u2019s military spending rose to an estimated $190 billion, representing 7.5% of GDP and around 20% of total government expenditure.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Russian<\/a>
Russian Ministry of Defense documentary showcased production inside the Alabuga drone factory. (Image Credit: TV Zvezda)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ukraine spent $84.1 billion, equivalent to 40% of GDP and 63% of government spending, making it one of the highest military burdens globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIPRI noted that both countries are now operating at historically unprecedented levels of military expenditure relative to the size of their economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Middle East Military Spending Remains Stable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military spending in the Middle East totaled approximately $218 billion in 2025, showing a marginal increase of 0.1% compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s defense spending declined by 4.9% to $48.3 billion following reduced military activity in Gaza after the January 2025 ceasefire. T\u00fcrkiye increased its military expenditure by 7.2% to $30 billion, driven by ongoing regional operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s spending fell by 5.6% to $7.4 billion in real terms, although SIPRI noted that inflation and off-budget financing suggest actual defense-related activity may be higher than official figures indicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Africa and Latin America Record Mixed Increases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Africa\u2019s military expenditure rose by 8.5% to $58.2 billion in 2025, driven by rising insecurity and insurgencies across several regions. Nigeria recorded a sharp 55% increase in military spending to $2.1 billion amid worsening internal security challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"US<\/a>
US Marines, including the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a training session in Puerto Rico in September as part of a U.S. military force deployed in the Caribbean to combat narco-traffickers. (Image Credit: U.S. Marines\/Lance Cpl Kyle Baskin)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In Latin America, Guyana increased its defense spending by 16% to $248 million due to escalating tensions with Venezuela over the Essequibo region. Venezuela\u2019s military spending remains unclear due to limited publicly available data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


NATO Spending and Transparency Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATO\u2019s total military expenditure reached $1.581 trillion in 2025, accounting for 55% of global military spending. At the NATO summit in June 2025, member states agreed to raise defense spending targets to 5% of GDP by 2035, including broader \u201cdefense and security-related\u201d expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, SIPRI researchers warned that expanding definitions of military spending could reduce transparency and lead to \u201ccreative accounting\u201d practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysts also noted that the inclusion of non-traditional expenditures could make it more difficult to accurately assess actual military capabilities across member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIPRI researchers emphasized that despite the slower growth rate in 2025, global military expenditure is expected to continue rising. Outside the United States, global spending increased by 9.2%, indicating sustained upward pressure across most regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, ongoing wars, geopolitical competition, and long-term military modernization plans suggest that global defense spending will likely continue its upward trajectory in the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Troops<\/a>
Troops from Norway, the UK, and the U.S., at Setermoen range, enhanced coordination through the Army’s Joint Fire Support Element and NATO’s Air Operations Centre in Bod\u00f8. (Image Credit: NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk\/via X\/@JFCNorfolk)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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