“The total military spending of Ukraine increased by 2.9% and reached $ 64.7 billion. […] Ukraine carries the largest military load among all countries in 2024, which is 34% of GDP, ”the material says.
The commentary of the Sipri expert notes that Russia, which wages a full -scale war against Ukraine, “again significantly increased its military expenses, increasing the gap in expenses with Ukraine.” The Russian Federation, according to estimates, in 2024 spent $ 149 billion on the war, which is 38% more than in 2023.
“Ukraine directs all its tax revenues to the needs of the army. In such a limited fiscal space, it will be difficult for Ukraine to continue to increase its military expenses,” the institute believes.
In the list of countries with the highest expenses for the army, Ukraine takes eighth place (as a year ago), France has the same costs. Russia is the third after the USA and China.
The top 10 list looks like this (part of the countries has evaluative data):
- USA – $ 997 billion;
- China – $ 314 billion;
- Russia – $ 149 billion;
- Germany – $ 88.5 billion;
- India – $ 86.1 billion;
- Great Britain – $ 81.8 billion;
- Saudi Arabia – $ 80.3 billion;
- Ukraine – $ 64.7 billion;
- France – $ 64.7 billion;
- Japan – $ 55.3 billion.
“World military expenses reached $ 2718 billion in 2024, increasing by 9.4% in real terms compared to 2023 and becoming the most sharp annual growth at least from the moment of end of the Cold War. Military expenses have increased in all regions of the world, especially rapid growth have been observed in Europe and the Middle East,” Sipri write.
Also, according to the institute, the share of military spending increased in the world last year to 2.5% of GDP.
Context
Sipri monitors changes in military spending around the world.
Military expenses relate to all state expenses to the Armed Forces and their current activities, including wages and benefits, operational expenses, purchases of weapons and equipment, military construction, research and development, as well as central management, command and support.
