Military expenditures of countries around the world have reached a record level — SIPRI

In 2025, global military spending increased again, setting a new historical record. This was reported by DW, citing a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in a news article.

 

It is noted that last year, global military spending rose by 2.9 percent, reaching $2.88 trillion. Thus, global military expenditure has recorded growth for the 11th consecutive year. The share of military spending accounted for 2.5 percent of the world's gross domestic product, reaching its highest level since 2009.

 

According to SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang, the increase in spending was driven by wars, geopolitical instability, and global uncertainty. He emphasized that this trend is expected to continue into 2026.

 

According to the report, the United States remains the country with the largest military budget at $954 billion. It is followed by China ($336 billion) and Russia ($190 billion).

 

Russia increased its military spending by 5.9 percent over the year, bringing it to 7.5 percent of its GDP. At the same time, sanctions have created additional costs for the country, forcing it to seek alternative ways to import advanced technologies.

 

Ukraine, meanwhile, ranked seventh in military spending in 2025, increasing this indicator by 20 percent. SIPRI researcher Lorenzo Scrassati noted that the share of military spending in the state budgets of Russia and Ukraine has reached the highest level in the history of observations.

 

Additionally, Germany rose to fourth place in military spending. For the first time since 1990, the country allocated more than 2 percent of its GDP — 2.3 percent — to the defense sector. Berlin plans to increase this figure to 3.5 percent by 2029.

 

According to experts, amid the ongoing tension in the global security environment, the growth in military spending is expected to continue in the coming years.