Global Military Spending Reaches Record Levels

Military spending worldwide (AFP/Valentin RAKOVSKY) (Valentin RAKOVSKY)  

AFP: Military spending reaches record levels: report 

Global military spending rose again in 2021, setting new records as Russia continued to beef up its military prior to its invasion of Ukraine, researchers said Monday, predicting the trend would continue in Europe in particular. 

Despite the economic fallout of the global Covid pandemic, countries around the world increased their arsenals, with global military spending rising by 0.7 percent last year, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

"In 2021 military spending rose for the seventh consecutive time to reach $2.1 trillion. That is the highest figure we have ever had," Diego Lopes da Silva, senior researcher at Sipri, told AFP. 

Russia's spending grew by 2.9 percent -- the third year of consecutive growth -- to $65.9 billion.  

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Update #1: Global Military Spending Tops $2 Trillion for First Time as Europe Boosts Defenses (Bloomberg)  

Update #2: World military expenditure surpasses USD 2tn; US, China, India top spenders (The Print)  

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. 2022 is going to be another record year for global military spending.

The World's Top Countries For Military Spending

Zero Hedge: Mapping The World's Top Countries For Military Spending 

By practically any measure, the world today is more peaceful and less war-torn on a global scale, relative to the past. 

For instance, declarations of war between nations and soldier casualties have both dropped drastically since the 20th century. Yet, as Visual Capitalist's Aran Ali notes, military spending has not followed this trend.  

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WNU Editor: There is a lot of good data here.

Global Defense Spending Hit $1.917 Trillion In 2019. Biggest Spike In A Decade

The #USA🇺🇸 remained by far the largest spender in the world in 2019, spending $732 billion and accounting for 38% of global military spending. The USA spent almost as much on its #military in 2019 as the next 10 highest spenders combined.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/bANe7CQMmg pic.twitter.com/oWAeSSszZT

— SIPRI (@SIPRIorg) April 27, 2020

Defense News: Global defense spending sees biggest spike in a decade

WASHINGTON — Global defense spending hit $1.917 trillion in 2019, a 3.6 percent increase over previous year figures and the largest increase in one year since 2010, according to the annual report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The United States remains the world’s largest defense spender in 2019, with its $732 billion representing 38 percent of global military spending, SIPRI has reported. That was followed by China ($261 billion, at 14 percent of global total), India ($71.1 billion, at 3.7 percent), Russia ($65.1 billion, at 3.4 percent) and Saudi Arabia ($61.9 billion, at 3.2 percent).

All told, the top five nations accounted for 62 percent of overall military spending.

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WNU Editor: I am not sure about this .... Global Arms Spending Is Rising, but COVID-19 Will Trim Budgets (The Economist). What I see is a lot of instability because of Covid-19, and even bigger defense budgets in the future.

Update: The rise in defense spending in India is what caught my eye .... In a first, India among top 3 military spenders in 2019: SIPRI report (Money Control).

More News On Global Defense Spending Hitting $1.917 Trillion In 2019

Global defense spending sees biggest spike in a decade -- Defense News
Military spending surged to US$1.9 trillion in 2019, biggest increase in a decade -- SCMP/AFP
US still world's biggest military spender as global expenditures approach $2 trillion -- Stars and Stripes
Cold War Foes U.S., Russia, Spark Biggest Military Spending Jump In A Decade -- RFE
Annual global military spending hits highest point in a decade – SIPRI -- RT
Global military expenditure sees largest annual increase in a decade, reaching USD1917 billion in 2019 -- Army Recognition
By the numbers: Military spending around the world -- Axios
The Biggest Military Budgets As A Share Of GDP In 2019 [Infographic] -- Forbes
China and India Top Asian Military Spending, Figure in World Top 3 With US -- The diplomat
Russia Returns to Top 5 Defense Spending Countries Worldwide – Think Tank -- Moscow Times
SIPRI: Germany significantly increases military spending -- DW
Military spending hits highest level in a decade: Study -- Al Jazeera

Global Military Spending Surged To US$1.9 Trillion In 2019

Flight deck crew members direct a French Rafale fighter jet on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean sea. Photo: Reuters

SCMP/AFP: Military spending surged to US$1.9 trillion in 2019, biggest increase in a decade

* Before Covid-19 struck, the world’s militaries increased spending by 3.6 per cent
* The US was the largest spender, accounting for 38 per cent of the global total

Global military expenditure saw its biggest uptick in a decade in 2019, researchers said Monday, marking the first year two Asian countries were among the top three spenders.

The world’s nations spent a combined US$1.9 trillion on their militaries in 2019, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Compared to 2018, that represented an annual growth of 3.6 per cent, the largest spending growth since 2010.

“Military spending has reached the highest point since the end of the Cold War,” Nan Tian, a researcher at SIPRI, told AFP.

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WNU Editor: The full report on global military spending is here .... SIPRI Fact Sheet April 2020: Trends in world military expenditure, 2019 (Relief Web).

Global Defense Spending Conitnues To Increase

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IISS: Global defence spending: the United States widens the gap

In 2019, the United States remained by far the world’s largest defence spender, widening the gap between it and the second largest spender, China. US investments in weapons procurement and R&D alone were larger than China’s total defence budget. The United States’ defence investments in weapons procurement and R&D were also worth around four times as much as European states’ combined.

IISS data shows that in 2019 the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and India retained their positions as the world’s top defence spenders. Indeed, the only movement in the top 15 saw Italy and Australia swap places, with Italy taking the 12th position and Australia the 13th (Figure 1).

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More News On Global Defense Spending

Biggest jump in world defence spending in 10 years: Study -- CNA/AFP
US, China lead global increase in defense spending -- DW
Global defence spending is on the rise in an unstable world -- BBC
Global Annual Military Spending Sees Biggest Hike in 10 Years Amid US-China Arms Race -- Sputnik

Global Military Spending Rising

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VOA: Data Shows Global Military Spending Rising

PENTAGON - Eighteen years after the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil, the world's military spending is at an all-time high.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, military spending was $1.8 trillion in 2018 alone, which SIPRI Senior Researcher Pieter Wezeman called a "worrying trend."

"We have to see that as a warning signal, not necessarily something which will lead to war, but something which needs very close attention," Wezeman told VOA.

Military spending hit a post-Cold War low in 1998, but took a sharp rise after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

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WNU Editor: China is driving this increase. SIPRI's report is here .... World military expenditure grows to $1.8 trillion in 2018 (SIPRI).

World’s Top 10 Biggest Military Spenders In 100 Years (From 1914 to 2018)

CEO World: The World’s Top 10 Biggest Military Spenders In 100 Years (From 1914 to 2018)

Undoubtedly, America has the most active and powerful military in the world. At a whopping $649 billion, the United States is still the biggest global spender on its military. It spent almost as much on its military in 2018 as the next eight largest-spending countries combined.

The top five biggest spenders in 2018 were the U.S., China, Saudi Arabia, India, and France., which together accounted for 60% of global military spending.

But the United States wasn’t always on top — the data below shows how military spending is distributed around the world and who are the most influential players. From 1914 to 1990 military spending is calculated in US$ in 2000 terms.

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WNU Editor: What a difference a hundred years makes.

Global Military Spending Is Now At A Record High

CNBC: How global military spending hit a record high

Global military spending increased to a record $1.8 trillion in 2018 — the largest amount since the Cold War.

It’s also about 75% higher than post-Cold War low in 1998.

These spending numbers come from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a Swedish-based think tank that has published widely sited global spending numbers since the 1960s.

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WNU editor: Asia is where we will see the biggest increases in the next few years, with China's neighbours representing the bulk in this defense increase.

Top Countries By Military Spending From 1914 - 2018 (Video)

Top countries by military spending. Evolution from 1914 - 2018. pic.twitter.com/OlOliJaBtn

— Bobbie☀️ (@bo66ie29) August 24, 2019

WNU Editor: The U.S. has been consistently number one since the Second World War.

Western Defence Spending Rises In 2018

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IISS: On the up: Western defence spending in 2018

Contrary to Trump’s claim, US direct spending on European defence is smaller than those of European NATO states, according to data in The Military Balance 2019. However, European members have yet to reach the 2% target.

Global defence spending in 2018 amounted to over US$1.67 trillion. This was an increase of more than US$80 billion over the previous year and reflected higher spending in Western states, notably the United States. Indeed, the US has driven the global rise in spending, with a 5% real-terms budget increase between 2017 and 2018. In 2018, the US accounted for 45% of the global increase in defence spending, in constant 2010 dollars.

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Update #1: West ups defense spending to keep ahead of Chinese tech: conference report (Reuters)
Update #2: Western Defense Spending Rises to Counter Threat of China and Russia (Fortune)

WNU Editor:  The big surprise to me on the above graph is how little Russia spends on its military, and that Iran does not even make the top 15 list.

Global Military Spending Was $1.7 Trillion In 2017

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DW: SIPRI: Global military spending rose to $1.7 trillion in 2017

Global military spending in 2017 was at its highest level since the Cold War, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. DW spoke with Pieter Wezeman about the regional trends.

DW: In its report on military expenditure around the world in 2017, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) established that there had been a slight increase in spending. The report says that, around the world, $1.73 trillion (€1.45 trillion) was invested for military purposes. That's 1.1 percent more than in 2016. Is this a lot or a little?

Pieter Wezeman:If we take into account statistical imprecisions and the fact that the data is never absolutely reliable, we can say this is a minimal rise. It's also clear that on a global scale, military spending has stabilized at a high level. At a regional level, we see quite considerable differences.

In China, for example, expenditure rose by 5.6 percent, to a total of $228 billion.

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WNU Editor: SIPRI's report on global military spending is here .... Global military spending remains high at $1.7 trillion (SIPRI)

More News On SIPRI's Report That Global Military Spending Was $1.7 Trillion In 2017

Global spend on weapons and military increased to $1.7 trillion in 2017, arms watchdog says -- CNBC
Global military spending in 2017 up by 1.1% -- ABC News/AP
US, China and Saudi Arabia Biggest Military Spenders in 2017 - SIPRI -- Sputnik
Watchdog: Global military spending up by 1.1 percent -- Washington Post
US, China and Saudi Arabia top list of military spending -- Al Jazeera.
Russia cuts military spending for first time over past 19 years - report -- TASS
India and Japan increase military spending, 'driven by China tension' -- South China Morning Post
SIPRI Fact Sheet May 2018: Trends in world military expenditure, 2017 -- Relief Web
Which countries spend the most on their military? -- Euronews

U.S. Military Spending Still Dwarfs What Russia And China Both Spend

Rob Garver, Fiscal Times: US Military Spending Still Makes China, Russia Look Small

For the decade that ended with 2016, the United States’ two major geopolitical rivals doubled their spending on defense, a new analysis from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows. That only leaves them several hundred billion dollars per year behind what the US spends.

Between 2007 and 2016, China increased the amount it spends on defense each year by 118 percent, to $215 billion, and Russia over the same period increased its military spending by 87 percent to $69.2 billion, the SIPRI report states.

But as an indication of the extraordinary amount of money the U.S. pours into the Pentagon each year, they still spend less than half of what the Pentagon gets from U.S. taxpayers every year. In 2016, the US spent about $611 billion on defense, according to SIPRI estimates -- more than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Japan and Germany combined.

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WNU Editor: The above graph is already obsolete .... the U.S. defence budget is going to go nowhere but up in the next 4 years of the Trump administration.

Global Military Spending Increases Again In 2016

24/7 Wall Street: Countries With the Fastest Growing and Shrinking Militaries

The United States military remains the largest force on the planet. The superpower’s 2016 military expenditure of $611 billion was equivalent to approximately 36% of all global military spending. U.S. military spending was also up 1.7% from 2015, the first increase after five consecutive years of decline. A number of other countries substantially increased their military budgets last year, while a number of others cut spending substantially.

The world’s nations spent $1.67 trillion on their militaries in 2016, up slightly from 2015. Based on annual military expenditures estimated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 15 countries with the largest one-year military expenditure increases and declines.

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Update #1: US upped military spending, Asian militarization accelerated in 2016: Report (CNBC)
Update #2: Russia boosts military spending despite sanctions: study (AFP)

WNU Editor: And all signs are indicating that 2017 military spending will be even greater.

The World Spent $1,575,000,000,000 On The Military For 2016

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The Telegraph: $1,570,000,000,000: how much the world spent on arms this year

Increased fears about global stability and the rise of new military powers is driving a return to steady growth in worldwide defence spending.

A new analysis of arms spending from Jane’s Defence Budgets report found that outlays on weapons, equipment rose 1pc in 2016, to a global total of $1.57 trillion.

The uptick marks a turning point in defence spending, according to Fenella McGerty, principal analyst at Jane’s, after a “lacklustre” period with budgets constrained by the aftermath of the financial crash.

“Defence spending returned to a healthy rate of growth in 2016, kicking off what we expect to be a decade of stronger global defence spending,” said Ms McGerty. “It should should recover to pre-financial crisis levels by 2018.”

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More News On Global Defense Budgets And Arms Sales

Growth to $1.57 trillion in global defence spending this year is set to kick off decade of growth -- City AM
2016’s $1.57 Trillion Global Defence Spend to Kick off Decade of Growth, IHS Markit Says -- Business Wire
India’s outgunned Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s fourth-largest defence spender -- Quartz
India beat Russia, France and Japan to be world's fourth largest defence spender -- IBTimes
China's defense spending to double to $233 billion -- CNN
Russia's 2016 Defense Spending Declines for 1st Time Since 1990s -- Sputnik
China and India set to drive a 10-year global arms race -- CNBC
U.S. Arms Sales Overseas Are On Record Pace With Big Mideast Sales -- Investors.com
In decline? Weapons business made $370.7 billion in 2015, with US dominating, study shows -- RT
Weapons business booming despite decline in sales: SIPRI report -- DW
Russia's arms sales rising while America's drop -- CNN
British arms companies buck global trend with increase in sales -- The Guardian
Global Weapons Sales: US-Based Companies Continue To Dominate Despite Fall In Sales, Report Shows -- IBTimes

Who Has The Biggest Navy?

FindTheData | Graphiq

IBTimes: Who Has The Biggest Navy? Military Defense Spending On The Rise Amid Global Conflict

China, the U.S. and Europe have long been big spenders when it comes to military technology, but where do they go window shopping? Paris, of course.

The global market value for navy defense is estimated to be about $40 billion, Defense News reported. As defense budgets continue to skyrocket, a massive annual industry trade show in the French capital next week is setting the stage for countries looking to ramp up their maritime defense efforts.

U.S. suppliers have the largest market share of the maritime defense industry with $12 billion, while Europe enjoys sales of at least $10 billion. Producers in China and Russia each claim between $3 billion and $4 billion, according to Patrick Boissier, president of the French trade organization Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales (Gican), which coordinates the trade show called Euronaval.

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WNU Editor: Asia is probably the place where much of the growth and focus in naval spending will occur.

A Look At Military Spending Over 25 Years

Market Watch: Watch America beat everyone else on military spending over 25 years

On military spending, ‘America’s dominance is the one constant’

Military spending may not be the only indicator of a nation’s fighting power, but it’s the most obvious one. The U.S. spent over $600 billion on its military in 2014, outspending its closest rival, China, by nearly $400 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Were things always this way?

Data visualization site HowMuch.net has put the numbers in historical perspective by creating an animated graphic of the past 25 years of military spending around the world. As HowMuhch put it, “America’s dominance is the one constant.”

In that 25 years, China takes over from Russia as America’s main challenger. And Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, dramatically expand their share of the global pie.

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WNU Editor: An interesting video .... I would love to see a 50 year version of it.

Global Military Spending

Business Insider: The only chart you need to see to know that the US spends more on its military than the next 11 countries combined

It's no surprise the United States pours more money into its military than any other country in the world.

In 2015, the US had a defense budget of about $597 billion, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' most recent World Military Balance report, released earlier this year.

In short, that's more than the next 11 countries combined.

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WNU Editor: That's a lot of money.

Global Military Spending Is Now $1.7 Trillion (And Rising)

SIPRI: Global military spending rises for the first time since 2011

The US and China continue to be the top spenders, but Saudi Arabia pulled ahead of Russia in 2015. The research institute said falling oil prices and economic crises have created "contrasting trends" across the globe.
DW:

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Tuesday published a report showing global military spending increased by one percent in 2015, marking the first increase since 2011.

However, falling oil prices and economic hardships have led several countries to drastically cut their military expenditure.

"On the one hand, spending trends reflect the escalating conflict and tension in many parts of the world; on the other hand, they show a clear break from the oil-fuelled surge in military spending of the past decade," said Sam Perlo-Freedom, who heads SIPRI's military spending project, in a statement.

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WNU Editor: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's website is here. The big surprise in this report .... saudi Arabia is now the world's third largest military spender, surpassing Russia.

More News On Global Military Spending Is Now $1.7 Trillion

World military spending resumes upward course, says SIPRI -- SIPRI
Global military spending nearly $1.7T amid Mideast conflicts -- AP
Military spending rises again in 2015 -- AFP
Global Military Spending Grows For First Time Since 2011 -- Defense News
World military spending grows to $1.7tn in 2015 - Swedish think tank -- RT
Global Military Spending Grows by 1% in 2015, Totaling Nearly $1.7 Trillion -- Sputnik
World military spending rose 1% last year; first increase since 2011 -- IBTimes
Arms industry cashes in on Asia tensions -- Financial Times
Saudi Arabia Replaces Russia As World's Third Biggest Military Spender -- RFE
US Tops 2015 Military Spending at $596 Billion -- 24/7 Wall Street

Peace Activists Decry The $1.8 Trillion Spent On Global Defense

Members of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom used red poker chips as a symbol of global military spending, redistributing them as they saw fit. Photograph: Mir Grebäck von Melen/WILPF

The Guardian: Peace activists at The Hague decry $1.8tn global military spend in 2014

Female peacemakers at a conference marking the centenary of the 1915 Congress of Women want money diverted away from weapons and into public services.

There is no mistaking Anne Scott’s opinion of nuclear weapons. Standing outside a conference hall in The Hague on a chilly Tuesday lunchtime, the secretary of the Scottish branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) sported a bright blue T-shirt with the words “NHS Not Trident” defiantly emblazoned on the front.

Scott, from Edinburgh, had taken a handful of red poker chips from a table and placed them on a tarpaulin, marked “health”, as a symbolic gesture of where she would like government spending on the military to be diverted.

WNU Editor: Only $1.8 trillion spent last year?

Global Military Spending To Fall In 2015. Will Rise In Asia And The Middle East

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Wall Street Journal: Global Military Spending Set to Fall in 2015

Research Predicts Defense Spending Will Resume Decline After Growth in 2014

LONDON—Global military spending could fall again this year after an uptick in 2014, as tepid growth forecasts and low oil prices prompt countries to curtail defense budgets, a leading British research organization said Wednesday.

Spending on defense rose 1.7% last year in real terms after three years of decline, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said Wednesday in London. More money spent by Russia, China and Saudi Arabia helped offset declines in other regions, Giri Rajendran, the think tank’s defense economist said.

Update: Chart: U.S. defense spending still dwarfs the rest of the world (Washington Post)

WNU Editor: Global military spending may be set to fall .... but it is rising in Asia and the Middle East .... Military Spending Rises in Asia, Middle East (Voice of America).

The IISS report is here.