A nation’s military is a crucial asset. The military enforces domestic and foreign policies and protects its citizens. National security is regarded as a government duty, including the security of citizens, the economy, and the country’s institutions. National security is crucial and requires large budgets to build and maintain. These expenses are typically referred to as military spending and/or defense spending. In 2020, the total world military expenditure was about $1.981 trillion. Military size varies significantly by country, typically correlating with each country’s size and military needs.
China, India, and the United States, unsurprisingly, have the largest militaries. A majority of the world’s nations have militaries, and only 36 nations do not have a military. Many nations have mandatory military service. The United States has the highest military spending of any nation. Its military spending includes all of the Department of Defense’s regular activities, war spending, the nuclear weapon program, international military assistance, and other Pentagon-related spending. In 2020, the U.S. spent $778 billion on military spending, more than the next nine top-spending countries combined.
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Military Expenditures (2022):
As mentioned previously, the United States spends more on its military than any other nation. The country’s $778 billion military expenditure is among the expensive government programs, along with Social Security and Medicare. The U.S. has the third-largest military with 1.367 million members on active duty and another 1.037 million in the National Guard and reserves. Following the United States is China, spending $252 billion and India, spending $72.9 billion.
FAQs
The final ranking shows that America still spends far more on defence than any other country. In 2023 it spent $916bn on its armed forces (see chart 2). Taken together, its 31 allies in NATO come in second: they spend $434bn or $719bn adjusted for cost differences.
Which country is responsible for the highest level of military spending in the world? ›
The US remains the world's largest defense spender, outlaying $916 billion last year, a 2.3 percent annual increase, ahead of China in second place, which spent an estimated $296 billion, a 6 percent increase over the same period.
Which countries are increasing military spending? ›
The 10 largest spenders in 2023—led by the United States, China and Russia—all increased their military spending, according to new data on global military spending published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), available at www.sipri.org.
How does US military spending compare to other countries? ›
The United States Spends More on Defense than the Next 9 Countries Combined. Defense spending by the United States accounted for nearly 40 percent of military expenditures by countries around the world in 2023, according to recently released figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What 5 countries spend the most on their military? ›
Download Table Data
| Country | Total Military Spending 2022 (USD) | Military Spending Per Capita |
|---|
| China | $298B | $209 |
| India | $81B | $56 |
| Saudi Arabia | $73B | $1,949 |
| Russia | $72B | $500 |
82 more rowsThe United States
The world's biggest power i.e. 'The United States' has the most powerful army in the world. If we talk about power, in 2024 the US have 104 million soldiers. According to the data, the US government spent US$693 billion on its military in 2023.
Where does China rank in military spending? ›
China was the second largest military spender with an estimated 296 billion U.S. dollars spent, with Russia following in third. According to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, the outlays for defense will rise to 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2033.
Which country has the best military industry? ›
The United States had a market share of over 40 percent in international arms exports between 2019 and 2023. The second largest suppliers of major weapons worldwide were Russia and France, accounting for 11 percent each of exports over the observed period.
How much does the US spend on military in 2024? ›
FY 2024 DEFENSE FUNDING LEVELS
Within this topline, the legislation authorizes $841.4 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD), $32.4 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE), and $438.0 million in defense-related activities.
How much will the military spend in 2024? ›
Washington, D.C. – The Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act provides $825 billion in total funding.
The United States has the largest military budget, spending $876.9 billion. The next largest military spender is China, which spends $292 billion.
Is America spending too much on the military? ›
But at the same time, U.S. defense spending is hardly huge or unaffordable. Relative to the size of the economy, it is down to about 3.5 percent of GDP, after having reached nearly 5 percent in the late years of George W. Bush and early years of Obama.
Who has the largest army in the world? ›
The People's Republic of China, with the military force of 2,035,000 personnel, holds the title of the biggest army in the world, followed by Indian Army, Amry of United States of America and North Korean Army.
Who is the largest defense spender in the world? ›
The US military spending was USD 916 billion in 2023, which was 2.3 per cent more than in 2022 and 9.9 per cent more than in 2014, the report said. The US remained by far the largest spender in the world, allocating 3.1 times more to the military than the second largest spender China.
What are the top 3 military countries? ›
List of the Top 10 Countries With Most Powerful Military 2024
| Rank | Rank & Nation | Total Military Personnel (est) |
|---|
| 1 | United States | 2,127,500 |
| 2 | Russia | 3,570,000 |
| 3 | China | 3,170,000 |
| 4 | India | 5,137,550 |
6 more rowsJan 17, 2024
The US military remains the world's most powerful in 2024, according to a global ranking recently released by Global Firepower. The ranking evaluated 145 countries based on over 60 factors, such as number of troops, military equipment, and financial stability.
Where is the US military ranked? ›
United States is ranked 1 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual Global Firepower review. The nation holds a Power Index score of 0.0699 with a score of 0.0000 being considered exceptional in the GFP assessment. This country is a Top 5 world power according to the GFP index formula.
