From spending on nuclear technology to advanced aircraft and warships, the world's largest militaries spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year to maintain their advantage.
In some countries, the most expensive elements, such as naval fleets, technologically advanced aircraft and missiles, constitute the majority of military spending, while other countries devote large sums to maintaining extensive military systems through conscription.
Ultimately, military spending varies depending on the country, its location and its interests, Gian Gentile, a retired U.S. Army colonel and senior historian at RAND, told Business Insider. Some countries prioritize defending their territory, while others value military superiority and the ability to project power over long distances.
“The U.S. is spending a lot on more advanced, ultra-precise weapons systems,” he said.
See also: Nuclear weapons in Poland? From a legal point of view, the situation is clear
How to measure military spending?
The military budget can be measured as the total amount of spending or as a share of a country's GDP, reflecting the burden on its economy. Globally, countries spent an average of 2.4 percent. of its GDP on defense in 2024
During war, spending's share of GDP tends to rise, putting pressure on the civilian economy, said Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In 2024, Ukraine will spend over 15% on the military. of its GDP – the highest share in the world.
Spending statistics help illustrate defense priorities, but do not always translate into conflict readiness.
— Cash is very expensive and loses value quickly Cancian said.
— A country's paper investments in defense systems do not always directly translate into its military capabilities, he added. Equipment training and maintenance are often omitted in analyzes of equipment and technology spending.
A particularly important cost in the case of technologically advanced aircraft is their maintenance and operation.
Nevertheless, the analysis of military budgets allows us to see how much capital individual countries have to defend themselves.
See also: The Chinese military has a leadership problem. And he is serious
Army spending ranking
Last year, the International Institute for Strategic Research, based in London, published the “Military Balance” report, which included data on the defense budgets of almost every country based on reported data for 2024 (no newer data available yet).
The report covers each country's total budget (in US dollars), per capita spending, and the defense budget's share of GDP. Some countries, such as North Korea, Libya, Syria, Cuba and Afghanistan, have not published their defense budgets.
Here are the 30 countries that spend the most on their military, ranked by the size of their defense budget:
30. Qatar
Defense budget: $9.66 billion. (approx. PLN 34.39 billion)
Defense budget per capita: $3,785. (approx. PLN 13,475)
Share in GDP: 4.36 percent
29. Norway
Defense budget: $9.79 billion. (approx. PLN 34.85 billion)
Per capita: $1,776 (approx. PLN 6,323)
GDP: 1.94 percent
28. Mexico
Budget: $10.19 billion. (approx. PLN 36.28 billion)
Per capita: $78 (approx. PLN 278)
GDP: 0.55 percent
27. Indonesia
Budget: $10.93 billion. (approx. PLN 38.91 billion)
Per capita: $39 (approx. PLN 139)
GDP: 0.78 percent
26. Sweden
Budget: $12.25 billion. (approx. PLN 43.61 billion)
Per capita: $1,157 (approx. PLN 4,119)
GDP: 2.01 percent
25. Iraq
Budget: $12.68 billion. (approx. PLN 45.14 billion)
Per capita: $301 (approx. PLN 1,072)
GDP: 4.8 percent
24. Türkiye
Budget: $14.27 billion. (approx. PLN 50.80 billion)
Per capita: $170 (approx. PLN 605)
GDP: 1.06 percent
23. Singapore
Budget: $15.17 billion. (approx. PLN 54.01 billion)
Per capita: $2,517 (approx. PLN 8,960)
GDP: 2.86 percent
22. Taiwan
Budget: $18.86 billion. (approx. PLN 67.14 billion)
Per capita: $799 (approx. PLN 2,844)
GDP: 2.43 percent
21. Spain
Budget: $19.44 billion. (approx. PLN 69.21 billion)
Per capita: $411 (approx. PLN 1,463)
GDP: 1.12 percent
20. Algeria
Budget: $21.4 billion. (approx. PLN 76.18 billion)
Per capita: $455 (approx. PLN 1,620)
GDP: 8.23 percent
19. United Arab Emirates
Budget: $22.27 billion. (approx. PLN 79.30 billion)
Per capita: $2,220 (approx. PLN 7,903)
GDP: 4.09 percent
18. Netherlands
Budget: $23.61 billion. (approx. PLN 84.05 billion)
Per capita: $1,328 (approx. PLN 4,728)
GDP: 1.94 percent
17. Brazil
Budget: $24.4 billion. (approx. PLN 86.86 billion)
Per capita: $111 (approx. PLN 395)
GDP: 1.11 percent
16. Canada
Budget: $27 billion. (approx. PLN 96.12 billion)
Per capita: $696 (approx. PLN 2,478)
GDP: 1.22 percent
15. Poland
Budget: $28 billion. (approx. PLN 99.68 billion)
Per capita: $723 (approx. PLN 2,574)
GDP: 3.25 percent
14. Ukraine
Budget: $28.41 billion. (approx. PLN 101.14 billion)
Per capita: $797 (approx. PLN 2,837)
GDP: 15.43 percent
13. Israel
Budget: $33.75 billion. (approx. PLN 120.15 billion)
Per capita: $3,589 (approx. PLN 12,777)
GDP: 6.39 percent
12. Italy
Budget: $35.23 billion. (approx. PLN 125.42 billion)
Per capita: $578 (approx. PLN 2,058)
GDP: 1.48 percent
11. Australia
Budget: $36.40 billion. (approx. PLN 129.58 billion)
Per capita: $1,360 (approx. PLN 4,842)
GDP: 2.02 percent
10. South Korea
Budget: $43.88 billion. (approx. PLN 156.21 billion)
Per capita: $842 (approx. PLN 2,998)
GDP: 2.35 percent
9. Japan
Budget: $53.01 billion. (approx. PLN 188.72 billion)
Per capita: $430 (approx. PLN 1,531)
GDP: 1.3 percent
8. France
Budget: $64.03 billion. (approx. PLN 227.95 billion)
Per capita: $937 (approx. PLN 3,336)
GDP: 2.02 percent
7. Saudi Arabia
Budget: $71.73 billion. (approx. PLN 255.36 billion)
Per capita: $1,963 (approx. PLN 6,988)
GDP: 6.52 percent
6. India
Budget: $74.36 billion. (approx. PLN 264.72 billion)
Per capita: $53 (approx. PLN 189)
GDP: 1.91 percent
5. Great Britain
Budget: $81.06 billion. (approx. PLN 288.57 billion)
Per capita: $1,184 (approx. PLN 4,215)
GDP: 2.26 percent
4. Germany
Budget: $85.98 billion. (approx. PLN 306.09 billion)
Per capita: $1,022 (approx. PLN 3,638)
GDP: 1.83 percent
3. Russia
Budget: $120.32 billion. (approx. PLN 428.34 billion)
Per capita: $854 (approx. PLN 3,040)
GDP: 5.51 percent
2. China
Budget: $234.98 billion. (approx. PLN 836.53 billion)
Per capita: $166 (approx. PLN 591)
GDP: 1.29 percent
1. United States
Budget: USD 967.96 billion. (approx. PLN 3,446.74 billion)
Per capita: $2,831 (approx. PLN 10,078)
GDP: 3.32 percent
