Military Spending Worldwide Hits 2.7$ Trillion: Who Are the Biggest Spenders

Military spending worldwide reached historical levels, with Greece ranked 33rd. Credit: Greek Ministry of Defense

Military spending worldwide surged to a grounds $2.7 trillion successful 2024, reflecting the steepest year-over-year summation successful much than 3 decades. The rise, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and prolonged conflicts, marked important maturation successful information investments crossed each region.

SIPRI Military Expenditure Database reported that Greece ranked 33rd, spending $8 cardinal connected defence successful 2024. At the apical of the list, the United States remained the largest contributor by far, allocating $997 billion, which accounts for 37% of planetary spending.

China followed with $314 billion, making up 12% of the total. Russia placed 3rd astatine $149 billion, 7.1% of its GDP.

Top 10 countries by subject spending worldwide

Here are the apical 10 subject spenders successful 2024:

1. United States – $997.0 billion

2. China – $314.0 billion

3. Russia – $149.0 billion

4. Germany – $88.5 billion

5. India – $86.1 billion

6. United Kingdom – $81.8 billion

7. Saudi Arabia – $80.3 billion

8. Ukraine – $64.7 billion

9. France – $64.7 billion

10. Japan – $55.3 billion

Spending priorities nether scrutiny

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the planetary assemblage is investing acold much successful warfare than successful peacebuilding.

Today, we merchandise a study that lays bare a stark reality: the satellite is spending acold much connected waging warfare than successful gathering peace.

In 2024, planetary subject spending surged to a grounds $2.7 trillion – the equivalent of $334 for each idiosyncratic connected Earth.

– @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/ySAhn8qWqi

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 9, 2025

He pointed retired that the magnitude spent connected defence successful 2024 was 750 times greater than the UN’s regular operating fund and astir 13 times much than the full planetary improvement assistance from OECD nations.

The study emphasized that portion astir $3 trillion was spent connected arms, addressing utmost poorness would necessitate little than $300 billion.

A tiny reallocation from global subject spending could money acquisition successful low-income countries, destruct kid malnutrition, enactment clime adaptation successful processing regions, and accelerate advancement toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Development astatine hazard amid rising defence budgets

Only 1 of the 17 SDGs is presently connected track, Guterres said, adding that the committedness of sustainable improvement is slipping retired of reach. He noted that accrued subject budgets are coming astatine the outgo of captious investments successful health, education, infrastructure, and biology protection.

UNDP Deputy Chief Haoliang Xu explained that improvement strengthens semipermanent security. He said that erstwhile radical person entree to healthcare, education, and economical opportunities, societies go much unchangeable and peaceful.

The study argues that planetary priorities indispensable displacement toward diplomacy and quality development. It warns of a unsafe rhythm successful which underdevelopment fuels instability, prompting higher subject spending, which successful crook diverts resources from societal progress.

Guterres concluded that precocious subject expenditures bash not guarantee peace. Instead, they often summation mistrust, escalate arms races, and undermine the precise foundations of planetary stability.