Global military expenditure reached nearly $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking an 11th consecutive year of increase as rising insecurity and ongoing conflicts continue to drive defence budgets worldwide, according to researchers cited by AFP and data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The report shows that the United States, China and Russia remained the top three military spenders, together accounting for approximately $1.48 trillion, slightly more than half of total global military spending.
Overall defence expenditure rose by 2.9 percent compared to 2024, despite a decline in spending by the United States, which remains the world’s largest military spender. SIPRI researchers said the reduction in US spending was more than offset by significant increases across Europe and Asia.
Lorenzo Scarazzato, a researcher at SIPRI, told AFP that the rise reflects a global environment shaped by “another year of wars and increased tensions,” adding that multiple regions are accelerating rearmament in response to security concerns.
The report also highlights that the global “military burden”, the share of world GDP allocated to defence, has reached its highest level since 2009. Analysts say this trend signals a shift toward sustained militarisation as states respond to geopolitical instability.
Scarazzato noted that “everything points to a world that feels less secure and is spending on its military to compensate for the global landscape,” underscoring the long-term upward trajectory in global defence budgets.