Actual value and historical data chart for France Military Expenditure Percent Of GDP

In 2023, the ratio of military expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP) in France was 2.06 percent. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 3.37 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

As of 2023, France was the country in the European Union which spent the second-greatest amount on its military, reaching beyond 53 billion euros in that year. While this amount has risen consistently since 2011, it has failed to keep pace with economic growth in the country, meaning that France has frequently fallen short of the two percent of GDP defense spending target set by NATO, although to a much lesser extent than in other EU member states, notably Germany.

Government spending in France was last recorded at 57.3 percent of GDP in 2024 . This dataset provides the latest reported value for - France Government Spending to GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The United States led the ranking of the countries with the highest military spending in 2024, with 997 billion U.S. dollars dedicated to the military. That constituted almost 40 percent of the total military spending worldwide that year, which amounted to 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars. This amounted to 3.4 percent of the U.S.'s gross domestic product (GDP), placing the country lower in the ranking of military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, compared to Ukraine, Israel, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. China was the second largest military spender, with an estimated 314 billion U.S. dollars spent, with Russia following in third. Defense budgetAccording to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, the outlays for defense will rise to 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2033. The largest parts of the budget are dedicated to the Departments of the Navy and the Air Force. The budget for the U.S. Air Force for 2024 was nearly 260 billion U.S. dollars.Global military spendingThe value of military spending globally has grown steadily in the past years and reached 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. Reasons for this are the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the war in Gaza, as well as increasing tensions in the South China Sea. North America is by far the leading region worldwide in terms of expenditure on the military.

Actual value and historical data chart for France Public Spending On Education Total Percent Of GDP

On average, the EU-27 countries spent 1.2 percent of their GDP on military defense in 2020. Greece, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania all spent over two percent of their GDP for defense purposes. These four countries were consequently the only countries that fulfilled the NATO's two percent requirement agreed upon in 2006. Geopolitical consideration like the proximity to Russia as well as their histories are likely to have played a role in Latvia's and Estonia's decision for higher national defense investments than other European countries. The two biggest economies in the European Union, France and Germany, were under the two percent mark with 1.7 and 1.1 percent, respectively.

In 2020, France and Germany had the highest military budgets of the European Union (EU-27) members with around 38.6 billion euros and 33.2 billion euros, respectively. However, both France and Germany invested less than two percent of their GDP for military defense, a share agreed upon among NATO members in 2006. Italy had the third highest defense spending with around 21.1 billion euros. All remaining EU-27 countries spent less than ten billion euros.

In 2022, the U.S. government spent more on healthcare than any other country, at 16.6 percent of GDP. In the same year, U.S. military expenditure was 3.45 percent of GDP. This statistic shows the healthcare and military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in select countries in 2022.

France FR: BERD: % of Value Added data was reported at 2.557 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.653 % for 2020. France FR: BERD: % of Value Added data is updated yearly, averaging 2.215 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2021, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.653 % in 2020 and a record low of 1.708 % in 1981. France FR: BERD: % of Value Added data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.OECD.MSTI: Business Enterprise Investment on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.

Definition of MSTI variables 'Value Added of Industry' and 'Industrial Employment':

R&D data are typically expressed as a percentage of GDP to allow cross-country comparisons. When compiling such indicators for the business enterprise sector, one may wish to exclude, from GDP measures, economic activities for which the Business R&D (BERD) is null or negligible by definition. By doing so, the adjusted denominator (GDP, or Value Added, excluding non-relevant industries) better correspond to the numerator (BERD) with which it is compared to.

The MSTI variable 'Value added in industry' is used to this end:

It is calculated as the total Gross Value Added (GVA) excluding 'real estate activities' (ISIC rev.4 68) where the 'imputed rent of owner-occupied dwellings', specific to the framework of the System of National Accounts, represents a significant share of total GVA and has no R&D counterpart. Moreover, the R&D performed by the community, social and personal services is mainly driven by R&D performers other than businesses.

Consequently, the following service industries are also excluded: ISIC rev.4 84 to 88 and 97 to 98. GVA data are presented at basic prices except for the People's Republic of China, Japan and New Zealand (expressed at producers' prices).In the same way, some indicators on R&D personnel in the business sector are expressed as a percentage of industrial employment. The latter corresponds to total employment excluding ISIC rev.4 68, 84 to 88 and 97 to 98.

France's total budgetary expenditure in 2025 was nearly 844 billion euros. The first item of expenditure was Refunds and rebates, with more than 148 billion of investment. Advances to local authorities were the second sector of public investment with more than 134 billion euros. The COVID-19 recovery plan Following the economic crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, the French government has opened a budget of 36 billion euros for 2021. This recovery plan is intended for individuals, companies, local authorities, and administrations and is based on three themes: the economic, social, and ecological reconstruction of the country. Added to this budget is the emergency plan for the health crisis with aid to businesses.This vast plan, initiated at the very beginning of the crisis, has made it possible to limit the increase in unemployment in France, thanks to partial unemployment and the company closures through subsidies and state loans at zero interest. The economic model in the face of debt Although the economy is rapidly liberalizing in France, its economic system is still based on the principle of the welfare state, which intervenes regularly in the country's economy and finances to ensure that social services are developed for the well-being of its citizens.But this model is very expensive, the country keeps having a rather high debt level. In 2024, the public debt in France reached 112 percent of the GDP.

In 2025, public debt in France represented 116.2 percent of the country’s GDP. According to the source, public debt in France is supposed to remain stable in the upcoming years. There was a substantial increase between 2019 and 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the French government's economic response to it. Since 2005, public debt in France is increasing making the country one of the most in debt of the European Union. A debt country Public debt, also known as national debt, appears to be the difference between what a government is receiving and spending in a year. It is the accumulation of annual budget deficits, which happened when the government was spending more than receiving. Public debt in France is increasing since 2007, while the debt interest expenditure amounted to more than 40.3 billion euros in 2023. France’s revenue and spending Most of French public debt is generated by the State, in comparison with the social security system and the regional and local authorities. The budget balance of the country has been negative for years and does not appear to reach a positive one in the future. France spends most of its budget on tax repayments and abatement, as well as on education and defense. In 2023, France’s government spent more than 1.61 trillion euros, whereas its revenue amounted to 1.45 trillion euros. Non-tax revenue collected by the state came in majority from dividends, while it collected 70 billion euros by levying taxes on income and 140 billion euros through VAT in 2016.

Between 2010 and 2024, France constantly had the highest total government expenditure of the G7 countries in terms of share of gross domestic product (GDP). In 2024, its total expenditure was estimated to amount to ** percent of its GDP. On the other hand, the United States had the lowest government expenditure that year at ** percent of its GDP. Government spending increased in all G7 countries in 2020 to stem the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public spending on pensions represented **** percent of the GDP in 2023, compared with ***** percent in 2002.

As of 2025,the combined forces of NATO had approximately 3.44 million active military personnel, compared with 1.32 million active military personnel in the Russian military. The collective military capabilities of the 32 countries that make up NATO outnumber Russia in terms of aircraft, at 22,377 to 4,957, and in naval power, with 1,143 military ships, to 419. In terms of ground combat vehicles, NATO had an estimated 11,495 main battle tanks, to Russia's 5,750. The combined nuclear arsenal of the United States, United Kingdom, and France amounted to 5,559 nuclear warheads, compared with Russia's 5,580. NATO military spending In 2024, the combined military expenditure of NATO states amounted to approximately 1.47 trillion U.S. dollars, with the United States responsible for the majority of this spending, as the U.S. military budget amounted to 967.7 billion dollars that year. The current U.S. President, Donald Trump has frequently taken aim at other NATO allies for not spending as much on defense as America. NATO member states are expected to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense, although the U.S. has recently pushed for an even higher target. As of 2024, the U.S. spent around 3.38 percent of its GDP on defense, the third-highest in the alliance, with Estonia just ahead on 3.43 percent, and Poland spending the highest share at 4.12 percent. US aid to Ukraine The pause in aid to Ukraine from the United States at the start of March 2025 marks a significant policy change from Ukraine's most powerful ally. Throughout the War in Ukraine, military aid from America has been crucial to the Ukrainian cause. In Trump's first term in office, America sent a high number of anti-tank Javelins, with this aid scaling up to more advanced equipment after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The donation of around 40 HIMARs rocket-artillery system, for example, has proven to be one of Ukraine's most effective offensive weapons against Russia. Defensive systems such as advanced Patriot air defense units have also helped protect Ukraine from aerial assaults. Although European countries have also provided significant aid, it is unclear if they will be able to fill the hole left by America should the pause in aid goes on indefinitely.

Denmark donated the most significant percentage of its 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) to help Ukraine over the period between January 2022, and June 2025. Denmark contributed 2.89 percent of its GDP in bilateral aid, followed by Estonia with 2.8 percent of GDP. Besides the Nordic and Baltic countries, the Netherlands donated the largest share of GDP. Western countries sent aid to Ukraine in view of the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Who donated the most to Ukraine? In absolute terms, the largest bilateral aid allocations to Ukraine were made by the United States, at over 114 billion euros as of June 2025. European Union (EU) institutions, such as the European Commission and the European Council, allocated the second-largest amount of assistance, at almost 63.2 billion euros. The United Kingdom (UK) was the fourth-leading source of bilateral aid. EU aid to Ukraine The EU has supported Ukraine with over 69 billion euros in financial assistance as of January 2022. Of them, the largest share of aid has been provided as additional loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Among EU members, Germany allocated the largest amount of bilateral aid to Ukraine from January 24, 2022, at around 22 billion euros, while Estonia allocated the largest share of GDP.

The United States had a market share of over 40 percent in international arms exports between 2020 and 2024. The second-largest suppliers of major weapons worldwide were France and Russia, accounting for 10 and eight percent of exports over the observed period, respectively. The United States, Russia, and France contributed 60 percent of major weapons exports between 2020 and 2024. Leading military spending countries Three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the United States is, by far, the largest defense spender in the world, even though the U.S. defense outlays have decreased since the peak of the Iraq and Afghan wars. However, China has increased military spending in the past decade, becoming the second-largest spender in the world, signaling a possible shift in the global balance of military power, and several European NATO members have increased military spending significantly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Leading military importers Meanwhile, the market share of imports shows India and Saudi Arabia are the largest buyers. Saudi Arabia also spends the third most on its military as a percentage of gross domestic product, with Ukraine first.

From January 24, 2022, to June 30, 2025, the European Union (EU) institutions, such as the Commission and the EU Council, provided around 63.2 billion euros in bilateral financial, humanitarian, and military aid to Ukraine in view of the Russian invasion that started in February 2022. The highest value of allocations was recorded from the United States at over 114 billion euros. U.S. aid to Ukraine As of June 30, 2025, the value of U.S. bilateral aid allocations to Ukraine represented 0.53 percent of 2021 donor GDP. The U.S. donated the largest amount of bilateral military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Generally, U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine has increased since 2015. Where does military aid to Ukraine come from? The U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), and Denmark were the largest suppliers of military aid to Ukraine. In monetary terms, the U.S. bilateral military assistance to the country reached approximately 64.6 billion euros as of June 30, 2025. As part of that aid, the U.S. transported over 7,700 air defense missiles and over 1,600 air defense systems to Ukraine and other European partners. Furthermore, the U.S. delivered the most units of M777 howitzer artillery to the country.

In 2024, global government expenditure for space programs hit a record of approximately 135 billion U.S. dollars. The United States Government spent around 79.7 billion U.S. dollars on its space programs in than year, making it the country with the highest space expenditure in the world. The U.S. was followed by China, with government expenditure on space programs of over 19 billion U.S. dollars. The Space Agencies Responsible for civilian space programs, as well space research and exploration, the space agencies have gained in importance over the past decades. Today, there are six government space agencies (NASA, CNSA, ROSCOSMOS, ESA, ISRO, and JAXA) with full launch and extraterrestrial landing capabilities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is undoubtedly the most renowned of them all. Since its establishment in 1958, NASA has worked with international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and beyond, bringing new knowledge and opportunities back to our home planet. It is therefore not surprising that most of their budget goes to toward science and exploration. NASA’s requested FY 2024 budget for all sectors is 27.2 billion U.S. dollars.

In 1938, the year before the Second World War, the United States had, by far, the largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). The five Allied Great Powers that emerged victorious from the war, along with the three Axis Tripartite Pact countries that were ultimately defeated made up the eight largest independent economies in 1938.

When values are converted into 1990 international dollars, the U.S. GDP was over 800 billion dollars in 1938, which was more than double that of the second largest economy, the Soviet Union. Even the combined economies of the UK, its dominions, and colonies had a value of just over 680 billion 1990 dollars, showing that the United States had established itself as the world's leading economy during the interwar period (despite the Great Depression).

Interestingly, the British and Dutch colonies had larger combined GDPs than their respective metropoles, which was a key motivator for the Japanese invasion of these territories in East Asia during the war. Trade with neutral and non-belligerent countries also contributed greatly to the economic development of Allied and Axis powers throughout the war; for example, natural resources from Latin America were essential to the American war effort, while German manufacturing was often dependent on Swedish iron supplies.