Story perspectives

Global Military Spending Hits $2.89 T, Burden Peaks 2.5% GDP

4/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Global military spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, a 2.9% rise and the 11th consecutive year of growth.
U.S. defense outlays fell 7.5% to $954 billion, while Ukraine’s military spending rose 20% to $84.1 billion, about 40% of GDP.
Europe’s defence budgets and Asia-Oceania spending rose to $864 billion and $681 billion respectively, with China’s budget up 7.4% to $336 billion.
The global military burden reached 2.5% of world GDP, the highest share since 2009.

History

Historical Context

After the Cold War’s peace dividend lowered U.S. and NATO budgets, global military outlays hit a post-Cold-War low in 2009, with the United States spending $698 billion that year. Rising tensions—Russia’s 2022 invasion and China’s growth—have driven a resurgence, and by 2025 projected U.S. defense spending reaches $962 billion, making the United States account for about one-third of global defense outlays.

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Story summary

Global military spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, a 2.9% rise and the 11th consecutive year of growth.
U.S. defense outlays fell 7.5% to $954 billion, while Ukraine’s military spending rose 20% to $84.1 billion, about 40% of GDP.
Europe’s defence budgets and Asia-Oceania spending rose to $864 billion and $681 billion respectively, with China’s budget up 7.4% to $336 billion.
The global military burden reached 2.5% of world GDP, the highest share since 2009.

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