Global rankings · 2026
Military Spending by Country (2026 Rankings)
The United States led world military spending in 2025 at $954 billion (SIPRI Apr 2026), followed by China ($336B), Russia ($190B), Germany ($114B), India ($92.1B) and the UK ($89B). Ukraine ($84.1B) overtook Saudi Arabia for the #7 slot. The top 10 countries account for roughly 72% of the $2.887T global total.
Source: SIPRI Trends in World Military Expenditure 2025 (Apr 27, 2026 release). 2026 projections use enacted national budgets where available.Top 10 Military Budgets, 2026
Ten countries, ~72% of global defence spending. Year-over-year change shown versus SIPRI 2024 baseline.
United States
China
Russia
Germany
India
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Saudi Arabia
France
Japan
Full Ranking — Top 25 Countries
Top 25 combined: $2.55T. GDP share calculated against 2025 nominal GDP. Per-capita figures rounded to nearest USD.
| # | Country | 2026 Spend | % GDP | Per Capita | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesSIPRI 2025 actual; -7.5% real after Ukraine supplemental ended. FY2026 enacted ~$895B; with supplementals projected to cross $1T. | $954B | 3.1% | $2,805 | -7.5% |
| 2 | ChinaSIPRI 2025 estimate; official 2026 budget ~$277B. Off-budget items add ~20%. | $336B | 1.7% | $237 | +7.4% |
| 3 | RussiaWartime spending; rouble volatility adds uncertainty. | $190B | 7.5% | $1,310 | +5.9% |
| 4 | GermanyEUR 108B 2026 budget; +24% real in 2025 — first major post-war buildup. | $114B | 2.3% | $1,355 | +24.0% |
| 5 | IndiaOvertook UK in 2025 to become #5. | $92.1B | 2.3% | $64 | +8.9% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | $89.0B | 2.4% | $1,310 | -2.0% |
| 7 | UkraineExcludes foreign military aid; highest GDP share globally. Overtook Saudi Arabia for #7 in 2025. | $84.1B | 40% | $2,250 | +20.0% |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | $83.2B | 6.5% | $2,255 | +1.4% |
| 9 | France | $68.0B | 2% | $1,010 | +1.5% |
| 10 | JapanOn trajectory to NATO-style 2% target by 2027. | $62.2B | 1.4% | $502 | +9.7% |
| 11 | IsraelDown from wartime 2024 peak. | $48.3B | 7.8% | $5,138 | -4.9% |
| 12 | ItalyCrossed 2% of GDP threshold for the first time. | $48.1B | 2% | $815 | +12.0% |
| 13 | South Korea | $47.8B | 2.4% | $925 | +2.6% |
| 14 | PolandHighest GDP share in NATO. | $46.8B | 4.5% | $1,265 | +23.0% |
| 15 | Spain+50% YoY surge to meet NATO 2% pledge. | $40.2B | 2.1% | $835 | +50.0% |
| 16 | Canada | $37.5B | 1.6% | $950 | +23.0% |
| 17 | Australia | $35.3B | 2% | $1,310 | +6.5% |
| 18 | Turkey | $30.0B | 2% | $350 | +11.0% |
| 19 | Netherlands | $28.9B | 2.2% | $1,620 | +16.0% |
| 20 | AlgeriaRegional response to Sahel instability. | $25.4B | 8.8% | $555 | +10.0% |
| 21 | Brazil | $22.0B | 1% | $100 | +5.3% |
| 22 | TaiwanRecord share as China-pressure rises. | $19.0B | 2.3% | $795 | +15.2% |
| 23 | Norway+49% YoY — among the largest jumps in NATO. | $17.0B | 3.3% | $3,045 | +49.0% |
| 24 | Mexico | $17.0B | 0.9% | $130 | +1.8% |
| 25 | SwedenFirst full year as a NATO member. | $16.5B | 2.5% | $1,525 | +18.0% |
Spending by Alliance & Region
Major blocs and regions by total 2026 military spending.
NATO (32 members; 31 with armed forces)
All 31 members with armed forces met the 2% of GDP target in 2025 (Iceland has no military). Hague summit committed to 5% by 2035 (3.5% core defence + 1.5% security-related).
Asia-Pacific
China dominates (~$336B); India now #5 globally; Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan all expanding.
Middle East
Saudi Arabia and Israel dominate; regional spending elevated by 2026 Iran war and ongoing Levant operations.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
Excludes newer BRICS+ invitees; Russia and China comprise ~82% of the bloc total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the highest military spending in 2026?
The United States leads world military spending with $954 billion in 2025 (SIPRI Apr 2026 release) and projected to cross $1 trillion in 2026 once Iran-war supplementals are counted. Adding DOE nuclear weapons, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security raises US national-security spending well above $1.1 trillion. China ranks second at roughly $336 billion (SIPRI estimate), though Beijing's official 2026 budget is ~$277B.
How much does China spend on military in 2026?
SIPRI estimates China's 2025 military spending at $336 billion, with the official 2026 budget at approximately 1.90 trillion yuan (~$277B). SIPRI adds estimated off-budget items — paramilitary forces, defence R&D, space, pensions — pushing the total up ~20%. China has now increased military spending for 31 consecutive years.
What are the top 10 military budgets in 2025?
Per SIPRI Apr 2026 release: United States ($954B), China ($336B), Russia ($190B), Germany ($114B), India ($92.1B), United Kingdom ($89B), Ukraine ($84.1B), Saudi Arabia ($83.2B), France ($68B), Japan ($62.2B). These ten countries account for roughly 73% of global military expenditure.
How much does Russia spend on military in 2026?
Russia's 2025 military spending hit $190 billion (SIPRI), roughly 7.5% of GDP — the highest share among major powers outside active war zones. This is approximately 2.4x the 2015 level and reflects continued wartime mobilisation after the Ukraine frontline froze. Rouble volatility and opaque accounting create ±15% uncertainty.
What is NATO's total military spending in 2026?
NATO's combined 2025 defence spending was approximately $1.38 trillion — roughly 48% of the global total of $2.887T. All 31 members with armed forces met the 2% of GDP floor for the first time in 2025 (Iceland has no military). At the 2025 Hague summit allies committed to reach 5% of GDP (3.5% core defence + 1.5% security-related) by 2035.
How does US military spending compare to China's?
US 2025 spending of $954B is roughly 2.8x China's estimated $336B. However PPP-adjusted figures narrow the gap significantly: IISS estimates Chinese military purchasing power is 60-80% of the US equivalent because personnel and procurement cost far less domestically in China.
Is China's military spending accurate?
China's official military budget is widely considered an undercount. SIPRI adds estimated off-budget components — paramilitary, R&D, space, veteran affairs — producing a figure ~15-25% above Beijing's headline. IISS and the US DoD publish separate estimates that are higher still. All three sources agree that China's actual spending trajectory is rising faster than its economy.
Which country spends the highest share of GDP on the military?
Ukraine leads by a large margin at roughly 40% of GDP in 2025 (SIPRI), reflecting total wartime mobilisation. Next are Algeria (~8.8%), Israel (~7.8%), Russia (~7.5%) and Saudi Arabia (~6.5%). NATO's new 5% target (by 2035) would still not match any of these.
Related Trackers
Sources & Methodology
2024 figures are from SIPRI (published April 2025). 2026 figures use enacted national appropriations where available (US FY2026, Germany 2026, UK 2025-26) and SIPRI/IISS projections otherwise. The next SIPRI annual update is expected 27 April 2026 and will supersede the SIPRI-sourced 2026 estimates here. China and Russia figures include SIPRI adjustments for off-budget items. Ukraine figures exclude foreign military aid. Per-capita USD uses 2025 population estimates.
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