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Countries with the Highest Military Expenditure

by Vishul Malik

Here are the top ten countries with the highest military expenditure according to the latest data available from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for the year 2021: United…


world top ten countries with largest defence budget map

Here are the top ten countries with the highest military expenditure according to the latest data available from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for the year 2021:

  • United States: The United States spends the most on its military, with an estimated military expenditure of $778 billion in 2021.
  • China: China has the second-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $252 billion in 2021.
  • India: India has the third-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $84.9 billion in 2021.
  • Russia: Russia has the fourth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $62.6 billion in 2021.
  • Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has the fifth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $57.5 billion in 2021.
  • United Kingdom: The United Kingdom has the sixth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $57 billion in 2021.
  • Germany: Germany has the seventh-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $54.8 billion in 2021.
  • Japan: Japan has the eighth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $51.7 billion in 2021.
  • South Korea: South Korea has the ninth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $44.9 billion in 2021.
  • France: France has the tenth-highest military expenditure, with an estimated $44.6 billion in 2021.

It is worth noting that the rankings can change from year to year, as countries’ economic situations and priorities can vary.

Top Ten Countries with Largest Defence Budget (US$bn)

Military expenditure by country, 2016

Rank Country US$bn (in current prices 2016)
1 United States 604.5
2 China 145.0
3 Russia 58.9
4 Saudi Arabia 56.9
5 United Kingdom 52.5
6 India 51.1
7 Japan 47.3
8 France 47.2
9 Germany 38.3
10 South Korea 33.8
11 Australia 24.2
12 Brazil 23.5
13 Italy 22.3
14 Israel 19.0
15 Iraq 18.1

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