Military spending by country since 1990
The US, China, Russia and the rest of the world's biggest defense budgets since 1990.
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What the data shows
- In 2025, United States ranks #1 with $954B, ahead of China ($336B) and Russia ($190B).
- United States holds #1 for the whole period, 1990 to 2025.
- Biggest climber: China, from #10 in 1990 to #2 in 2025.
- United States grew 2.9× between 1990 and 2025.
- Russia wasn't on the board in 1990 but is in the top 5 by 2025.
About this chart
The United States has spent more on its military than any other country throughout this period, often more than the next several combined. China's budget has grown almost every year since the 1990s.
The figures come from SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank, in current US dollars. They are not adjusted for inflation or local prices, which flatters countries with strong currencies.
The data
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (MS.MIL.XPND.CD, from SIPRI), current US$ billions. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
| Date | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇨🇳 China | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇮🇳 India | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇫🇷 France | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $325B | $10B | $40B | $11B | $44B | $16B | $36B | $29B | $21B | $10B | ||
| 1991 | $299B | $10B | $37B | $9B | $47B | $16B | $36B | $33B | $22B | $11B | ||
| 1992 | $325B | $12B | $39B | $8B | $46B | $15B | $38B | $36B | $22B | $12B | ||
| 1993 | $317B | $12B | $8B | $35B | $8B | $38B | $0B | $17B | $36B | $41B | $18B | $12B |
| 1994 | $308B | $10B | $14B | $34B | $9B | $39B | $1B | $14B | $37B | $45B | $18B | $14B |
| 1995 | $296B | $12B | $13B | $39B | $10B | $38B | $1B | $13B | $40B | $50B | $17B | $16B |
| 1996 | $288B | $14B | $16B | $37B | $10B | $39B | $2B | $13B | $39B | $44B | $21B | $16B |
| 1997 | $293B | $16B | $18B | $31B | $12B | $40B | $2B | $18B | $35B | $41B | $20B | $15B |
| 1998 | $291B | $17B | $8B | $31B | $12B | $41B | $1B | $21B | $34B | $38B | $21B | $11B |
| 1999 | $298B | $21B | $7B | $31B | $14B | $41B | $1B | $18B | $33B | $43B | $21B | $12B |
| 2000 | $320B | $22B | $9B | $26B | $14B | $39B | $1B | $20B | $29B | $46B | $20B | $14B |
| 2001 | $332B | $27B | $12B | $26B | $15B | $40B | $1B | $21B | $28B | $41B | $20B | $13B |
| 2002 | $379B | $30B | $14B | $28B | $15B | $44B | $1B | $19B | $31B | $39B | $22B | $14B |
| 2003 | $441B | $33B | $17B | $33B | $16B | $52B | $1B | $19B | $39B | $43B | $27B | $16B |
| 2004 | $493B | $38B | $21B | $36B | $20B | $60B | $2B | $21B | $45B | $45B | $30B | $18B |
| 2005 | $533B | $43B | $27B | $36B | $23B | $62B | $2B | $25B | $45B | $44B | $30B | $22B |
| 2006 | $558B | $52B | $35B | $36B | $24B | $64B | $3B | $30B | $46B | $42B | $30B | $25B |
| 2007 | $590B | $62B | $44B | $40B | $28B | $73B | $4B | $36B | $51B | $41B | $32B | $28B |
| 2008 | $657B | $79B | $56B | $45B | $33B | $73B | $5B | $38B | $56B | $46B | $37B | $26B |
| 2009 | $706B | $97B | $52B | $45B | $39B | $64B | $4B | $41B | $57B | $52B | $34B | $25B |
| 2010 | $738B | $106B | $59B | $43B | $46B | $64B | $4B | $45B | $52B | $55B | $32B | $28B |
| 2011 | $752B | $125B | $70B | $45B | $50B | $67B | $4B | $49B | $54B | $61B | $34B | $31B |
| 2012 | $725B | $145B | $82B | $44B | $47B | $66B | $4B | $57B | $50B | $60B | $30B | $32B |
| 2013 | $679B | $164B | $88B | $44B | $47B | $64B | $4B | $67B | $52B | $49B | $30B | $34B |
| 2014 | $648B | $182B | $85B | $45B | $51B | $67B | $4B | $81B | $53B | $47B | $27B | $38B |
| 2015 | $634B | $197B | $66B | $38B | $51B | $60B | $4B | $87B | $46B | $42B | $22B | $37B |
| 2016 | $640B | $199B | $69B | $40B | $57B | $53B | $3B | $64B | $46B | $47B | $24B | $37B |
| 2017 | $647B | $211B | $67B | $43B | $65B | $52B | $4B | $70B | $48B | $45B | $25B | $39B |
| 2018 | $683B | $233B | $62B | $47B | $66B | $56B | $5B | $75B | $51B | $49B | $28B | $43B |
| 2019 | $734B | $240B | $65B | $49B | $71B | $57B | $6B | $65B | $51B | $51B | $25B | $44B |
| 2020 | $778B | $258B | $62B | $53B | $73B | $58B | $7B | $65B | $54B | $51B | $32B | $46B |
| 2021 | $806B | $286B | $66B | $57B | $76B | $65B | $7B | $63B | $59B | $54B | $35B | $51B |
| 2022 | $861B | $292B | $104B | $56B | $80B | $64B | $42B | $71B | $55B | $43B | $34B | $46B |
| 2023 | $916B | $296B | $109B | $69B | $82B | $74B | $65B | $78B | $60B | $48B | $36B | $48B |
| 2024 | $1,005B | $312B | $149B | $86B | $86B | $90B | $65B | $80B | $64B | $54B | $38B | $48B |
| 2025 | $954B | $336B | $190B | $114B | $92B | $89B | $84B | $83B | $68B | $62B | $48B | $48B |
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Frequently asked questions
Which country spends the most on its military?
In 2025, United States ranks #1 with $954B, followed by China ($336B) and Russia ($190B). Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (MS.MIL.XPND.CD, from SIPRI), current US$ billions.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, World Development Indicators (MS.MIL.XPND.CD, from SIPRI), current US$ billions. Retrieved November 3, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
Can I turn this chart into a video?
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