In 2024, Ukraine tops the list with a whopping 34% of its GDP allocated to military spending, equal to about $65 billion. It is far more than any other nation in percentage terms. This is partly because of Ukraine’s continuous war with Russia, which has led the country to allocate a significant portion of its national resources to military spending. In terms of absolute military spending, the United States leads the world with approximately $997 billion, followed by China and Russia. These countries continuously have huge, well-armed military forces and an international military presence.
There is a wide split between nations in conflict or under threat and those investing in the military for strategic leadership. Countries such as Ukraine and Israel are spending large percentages of their GDP due to continuous threats, whereas nations such as the U.S., China, and Russia focus on global influence and technological advancement.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine records the highest military spending as a percentage of GDP (34%), which is mainly due to the war with Russia.
- The United States remains the world’s top military spender in absolute terms, allocating around $875 billion in 2024, followed by China at $375 billion and Russia at $151 billion.
- Nations that are engaged in ongoing conflicts or threatened by insecurity spend significantly higher proportions of their GDP on the military.
Top Countries with Military Spending in 2024
The table below shows the ranking of nations by military spending in 2024, as a percentage of GDP and in absolute USD terms. It reflects how much each nation is spending proportionally to its economy and in absolute terms.
| Rank | Country | Region | Military Expenditure (% of GDP) 2024 | Total Spending ($ bn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Eastern Europe | 34% | $65 Billion |
| 2 | 🇮🇱 Israel | Middle East | 9% | $47 Billion |
| 3 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Middle East | 7% | $80 Billion |
| 4 | 🇷🇺 Russia | Eastern Europe | 7% | $149 Billion |
| 5 | 🇺🇸 United States | North America | 3% | $997 Billion |
| 6 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Western Europe | 2% | $82 Billion |
| 7 | 🇮🇳 India | South Asia | 2% | $86 Billion |
| 8 | 🇫🇷 France | Western Europe | 2% | $65 Billion |
| 9 | 🇩🇪 Germany | Western Europe | 2% | $89 Billion |
| 10 | 🇨🇳 China | East Asia | 2% | $314 Billion |
The data is sourced from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
🇺🇦 Ukraine
Ukraine spends 34% of its GDP, or about $65 billion, on military expenditures. This is a direct consequence of its conflict with Russia, which started in 2022 and is ongoing to date. The conflict has ruined infrastructure and drained economic resources in Ukraine.
However, the country has prioritized defense to maintain sovereignty. Therefore, out of the total Ukrainian GDP of $190 billion, the country spends about $65 billion on military spending, which is a large amount for a relatively small economy.
🇺🇸 United States
The U.S. is the world’s largest military spender, which allocates more than $997 billion for its military budget in 2024. Even with only 3% of GDP, the scale of the U.S. economy makes its defense budget much higher than the combined budget of many nations. The U.S. has a worldwide network of bases, advanced technology programs, and strategic partnerships, all of which cost a lot.
U.S. vs. China: GDP Output Comparison from 2014 to 2025
🇨🇳 China
China is the second biggest defense spender after the United States. Even though it spends only 2% of its GDP on the military, its large economy means the total amount is high, around $314 billion. China’s expenditures are focused on regional supremacy, particularly in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Additionally, the country keeps building up its naval, cyber, and missile capabilities consistent with its long-term strategic objectives.
🇷🇺 Russia
Russia, which has been fighting a long war with Ukraine, spent approximately 7% of its GDP on the military in 2024. That equates to more than $149 billion—the world’s third-largest military budget. Even under pressure from economic sanctions and budget woes, Russia maintains its defense priorities, financing both its campaigns in Ukraine and overall strategic forces.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
The United Kingdom allocates approximately 2% of its GDP to its military budget, which amounts to more than $82 billion. Although not in a state of war, the defense priorities of the UK are to sustain nuclear deterrence, cyber warfare defense, and compliance with NATO commitments.
Recent hikes in military spending in the United Kingdom have been fueled by European tensions, particularly because of the war in Ukraine, as well as a need to modernize its military forces.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s defense expenditure was 7% of GDP, or approximately $80 billion. The threats from Iran, operations in Yemen, and upgrading military hardware account for the high expenditure. The kingdom’s massive oil wealth supports this level of spending.
Additionally, Israel had the second-largest percentage of GDP allocated to military spending in 2024. India, Germany, and France each spend approximately 2% of their GDP on the military, but their absolute expenditure is large because they have huge economies. India’s military budget exceeds $86 billion, while Germany spends about $93 billion and France spends about $65 billion on defense.
Conclusion
Military spending in 2024 shows a clear divide between countries at war and those getting ready for future threats. Ukraine, which is fighting for its survival, spends a big part of its economy on defense. The U.S., China, and Russia spend the most money overall, mainly because of their global goals and military plans. At the same time, many European countries aim to spend around 2% of their GDP, following NATO guidelines.
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