Military budgets around the world continued to expand in 2025, with global defence expenditure crossing a record $2.9 trillion. From the United States’ massive outlay to India’s rise as the fifth-largest military spender, the latest SIPRI data reveal how countries are reshaping their defence priorities. Here’s a look at the world’s biggest military spenders and where India stands among them.
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1 / 8Global military spending reached a record $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The total accounted for around 2.5% of global GDP, reflecting continued focus on defence amid rising security concerns worldwide. (Canva AI)
2 / 8While global military expenditure grew 2.9% in 2025, India recorded a much sharper rise of 8.9%, making it one of the fastest-growing major defence spenders. The increase came even as overall global growth slowed compared with the 9.7% jump recorded in 2024, partly due to a decline in US military aid spending. (Canva AI)
3 / 8India ranked as the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025, with defence outlays of $92.1 billion. The country remained among the top five global defence spenders, alongside the United States, China, Russia and Germany, highlighting its continued push towards military modernisation. (Canva AI)
4 / 8Top 10 countries by military spending in 2025 | The United States continued to lead global defence spending with $954 billion in military expenditure, although its spending declined 7.5% year-on-year.
5 / 8China ranked second with $336 billion, followed by Russia at $190 billion. Together, the three countries accounted for a substantial share of worldwide military expenditure.
6 / 8Germany featured among the top five defence spenders globally, reflecting Europe’s broader increase in military budgets.
7 / 8Regional military spending trends | Beyond individual countries, defence spending rose across several regions in 2025. Europe recorded a sharp 14% increase in military expenditure to $864 billion, driven by heightened security concerns. Asia and Oceania saw spending rise 8.1% to $681 billion, supported by continued military modernisation efforts across the region. Africa’s military expenditure increased 8.5% to $58.2 billion, while the Middle East remained broadly stable at $218 billion. (Canva AI)
8 / 8The world’s top 15 military spenders accounted for nearly 80% of global defence expenditure in 2025, underlining how concentrated military spending remains among a small group of major economies.
