Governments around the world spent a total of $2.887 billion on ships, planes, missiles and other weapons, new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) show. It is the highest level military consumption ever recorded.
"It clearly shows how countries are responding to current wars, tensions and geopolitical uncertainty," said Xiao Liang, a researcher at SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program. writes DW.
In 2025, fighting continued in Ukraine and Gaza, while conflicts, such as the war in Sudan, further contributed to global instability. "With all these crises still ongoing, and long-term spending plans in many countries already in place, this trend is likely to continue through 2026 and beyond."
Photo: FoNet/MoD of CroatiaFrench "Rafale"
Europe was rapidly arming itself in 2025
Much of the growth in global military spending in 2025 came from Europe. Spending on that continent increased by 14 percent, to 864 billion dollars.
Ruska invasion of Ukraine in full force in 2022 has changed the way European countries view their own security. Many European governments fear that Russia could pose a wider threat, not only to Ukraine. In response, European countries - especially member states NATO‑a - increase defense spending to strengthen their armies and deter further aggression.
"That's certainly the main driver," says Xiao Liang. "In recent years, Russian and Ukrainian spending has been a key factor in Europe, and it will continue to grow in 2025. However, when it comes to total spending, the focus is now shifting more towards the countries of Central and Western Europe, as their militarization and spending plans begin to take shape. Last year, they recorded the highest annual growth since the end of the Cold War."
Spain's defense budget jumped by 50 percent, Poland's by 23 percent, and Italy's by 20 percent.
Photo: AP Photo/Giannis AngelakisUSS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world
Germany - first in Europe, fourth in the world
Germany in 2025, it gave the most to the army - in Europe, and it is in fourth place in the world list. Its defense budget increased by 24 percent, to 114 billion dollars. For the first time since 1990, German military spending exceeded the NATO target of two percent of gross domestic product and reached 2,3 percent. In order to finance it, the German parliament changed the fiscal rules in 2025. Military spending is exempt from Germany's strict "borrowing brake".
"I don't think Germany's military capability is growing as fast as the numbers suggest," Liang said. "But in the long run, Germany is becoming militarily stronger and more independent."
In addition to Russia's war against Ukraine, the growth in German spending also reflects uncertainty about the future security guarantees of the United States. Like other NATO allies, Berlin is seeking to reduce its dependence on Washington - especially after US President Donald Trump again questioned the alliance's collective defense commitments.
Photo: Joel Thungren/Swedish Armed Forces/TT via APSwedish Baltic troops
The USA - still by far the most spender on armaments
United States remained the largest military spender in the world in 2025, with a share of about one third of global defense spending. However, their share has been gradually decreasing since 2020.
"This is less about the biggest spenders cutting back on spending," says Liang, "and more about widespread increases elsewhere, particularly among middle-power countries."
Some argue that a more evenly distributed military balance could make the world safer. Liang disagrees. "It simply means more guns and more weaponry," he says. "A new arms race reduces trust and increases the risk of misjudgment" - and that makes the world more dangerous.
Photo: AP photo/Eric Gay.American tanks
In 2025, the United States spent 7,5 percent less on the military than the previous year - a total of 954 billion dollars. The main reason for this decline is that the US Congress did not approve new military aid to Ukraine, unlike the previous three years. SIPRI counts such aid in the military spending of the donor country.
"That trend is already reversing," says Liang. "The new 2026 budget approved by the US Congress indicates a large increase. With the war in the Middle East and rising tensions in Asia, this slowdown is likely to be short-lived." According to the Pentagon, just the first six days of the war with Iran in 2026 cost the United States $11,3 billion.
And in 2025, the US continued to invest heavily in nuclear and conventional weapons, with the aim of maintaining military superiority and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region – a key objective of US national security strategy.
China – now second in the world
China remained the world's second largest military spender in 2025 and has increased its defense budget every year for the past 31 years – longer than any other country tracked by SIPRI.
Spending rose by 7,4 percent as Beijing continued its plan to modernize its armed forces by 2035. Last year, China tested prototypes of new sixth-generation fighters and moved closer to deploying its H‑20 stealth bomber.
Photo: APChinese army
The strengthening of the Chinese military has major regional consequences, Liang points out. "China's military modernization and tensions with its neighbors have long encouraged greater spending in the region, particularly in countries like Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines," he says. "But 2025 was also about changes in security thinking among America's allies. Countries like Australia, Japan and Taiwan are under increasing pressure to invest more in defense and become more self-reliant."
Japan increased spending on weapons
Japanese military spending will reach $62,2 billion in 2025, a 9,7 percent increase over 2024.
This increase supports the strengthening plan started in 2022. The expansion of the missile and drone programs indicates a major shift, which is leading Japan to become one of the largest military consumers in the world.
India in fifth place
Indija was the fifth largest military consumer in the world in 2025. Its defense budget rose 8,9 percent to $92,1 billion, largely due to tensions with China.
However, China was not the only factor, according to Liang. "During 2025, the war between India and Pakistan also broke out. That was a significant factor and India invested heavily in aviation and drones, which were widely used in that conflict."
The cost of militarization in the world remains to be seen
A country's military spending as a share of its economy—often called the military burden—indicates how much of society's wealth is directed toward defense rather than other needs. It is one of the clearest ways to compare the real economic costs of military spending between countries.
This burden has risen to an estimated 2,5 percent of global gross domestic product in 2025, the highest level since 2009. This means that governments are not only spending more in absolute terms, but also directing more of their economic output to the military.
Such a shift has ramifications that go beyond security policy. "It will affect other areas of public spending," says Liang. "Governments can cut social services or development aid. So this is not just about wars and weapons - this will have profound consequences for entire societies."
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