World military spending reaches $2.887 trillion in 2025, up 2.9%. Europe increases by 14%, and Asia-Oceania by 8.1%
Eleventh consecutive year of increase. Global military spending reached $2.887 trillion in 2025, a 2.9% increase from 2024. The top three military spenders – the United States, China, and Russia – together spent $1.480 trillion, 51% of the global total, according to new data released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).
Countries responded to another year of wars, uncertainties, and geopolitical upheavals with large-scale arms programs,” said Xiao Liang, a researcher at Sipri’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program, estimating that “this increase should continue through 2026 and beyond.” Here’s what you need to know from this report.
The decline in the United States “is expected to be short-lived”
Despite the global increase, US military spending decreased by 7.5% in 2025, but remains at a very high level, with $954 billion. “This decrease is mainly explained by the fact that no new military financial aid to Ukraine has been approved during the year,” explains Sipri.
This decline “is expected to be short-lived,” says Nan Tian, director of Sipri’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program. “The expenses approved by the US Congress for 2026 exceed $1 trillion…”
Read more on 20minutes
Also read:
War in the Middle East: How the French army is adapting, “urgently,” to anti-drone warfare
Deterrence: Why do major nuclear powers have so many missile stocks?
