The average for 2022 based on 145 countries was 1.98 percent. The highest value was in Ukraine: 33.55 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 0.07 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

As a share of gross domestic product (GDP), Ukraine spent more on its military than any other country in 2023, reaching 37 percent of the country's GDP. The high figure is due to the country being invaded by Russia in February 2022. Algeria and Saudi Arabia followed behind.Leading military spending countriesIn gross terms, the countries with the highest military spending are the United States, China, and Russia. However, these are countries with large populations and GDPs, and smaller countries usually cannot compete alone, regardless of how much they invest. For this reason, they form alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO countries aim to pool two percent of their GDP towards their own militaries and to aid each other in case of war. Regional differencesThe past decade has seen an increase in global military spending. This has not been distributed evenly. That period saw large positive changes in military spending from several Asian countries, including a large increase from China. While this does not reflect the number of active conflicts, it reflects growing tensions in global affairs.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in United States was reported at 3.3618 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The United States led the ranking of the countries with the highest military spending in 2023, with 916 billion U.S. dollars dedicated to the military. That constituted over 40 percent of the total military spending worldwide that year, which amounted to 2.4 trillion U.S. dollars. This amounted to 3.5 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), placing the U.S. lower in the ranking of military expenditure as a percentage of GDP than for instance Saudi Arabia, Israel, Algeria, and Russia. China was the second largest military spender with an estimated 296 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 2.44 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. 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.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Israel was reported at 5.3174 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Israel - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Austria was reported at 0.84427 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Austria - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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.

The average for 2022 based on 9 countries was 1.84 percent. The highest value was in Burma (Myanmar): 3.05 percent and the lowest value was in Indonesia: 0.7 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2022 based on 42 countries was 1.49 percent. The highest value was in Togo: 5.44 percent and the lowest value was in Mauritius: 0.17 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Syria: Military spending, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2010 is 4.06 percent, an increase from 4.03 percent in 2009. In comparison, the world average is 1.86 percent, based on data from 144 countries. Historically, the average for Syria from 1960 to 2010 is 9.73 percent. The minimum value, 3.55 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 17.69 percent was recorded in 1984.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Turkey was reported at 1.5027 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Japan was reported at 1.1961 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Netherlands was reported at 1.5326 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Netherlands - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Denmark was reported at 1.9532 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Denmark - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

In 2020, Poland allocated **** percent of its GDP to financing the armed forces, exceeding the goal recommended by NATO for defense spending for each member state (* percent of GDP). Defense spending is planned to increase gradually to *** percent in 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 12 countries was 4.05 percent. The highest value was in Saudi Arabia: 7.42 percent and the lowest value was in Egypt: 1.06 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in China was reported at 1.6653 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Military expenditure (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Turkey: Military spending, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2022 is 1.23 percent, a decline from 1.9 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 1.98 percent, based on data from 145 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1960 to 2022 is 3.23 percent. The minimum value, 1.23 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 5.12 percent was recorded in 1975.

Graph and download economic data for Shares of gross domestic product: Government consumption expenditures and gross investment: Federal: National defense (A824RE1Q156NBEA) from Q1 1947 to Q2 2025 about Shares of GDP, defense, investment, gross, federal, consumption expenditures, consumption, government, GDP, and USA.

Australia: Military spending, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2022 is 1.9 percent, a decline from 1.99 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 1.98 percent, based on data from 145 countries. Historically, the average for Australia from 1960 to 2022 is 2.23 percent. The minimum value, 1.64 percent, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 3.84 percent was recorded in 1968.