New Delhi, April 27 (ANI): India, the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025, increased its defense expenditure by 8.9% to $92.1 billion, according to a report released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Global military spending reached $2.887 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth. The five largest spenders—the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India—accounted for 58% of total global expenditure, amounting to $1.686 trillion, SIPRI said in its annual “Trends in World Military Expenditure” report.
The report noted that the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, which involved the use of combat aircraft, drones, and missiles, contributed to the rise in India’s military spending.
Pakistan’s military expenditure increased by 11% to $11.9 billion in 2025. The growth was driven largely by new orders for aircraft and missiles from China following the conflict with India, as well as payments for earlier procurement contracts nearing completion.
Globally, military spending rose by nearly 3% in 2025, driven primarily by increased defense budgets in Europe and Asia. The global military burden—the share of gross domestic product (GDP) devoted to military expenditure—rose to 2.5%, its highest level since 2009, up from 2.4% in 2024.
Military spending accounted for an average of 6.9% of government expenditure worldwide in 2025, compared with 7.0% in 2024. Per capita global military spending stood at $352 in 2025.
Regional trends varied, with West Asia recording only marginal growth despite ongoing conflicts. Military spending declined in the United States but rose sharply in Europe and Asia and Oceania.
U.S. military expenditure totaled $954 billion in 2025, down 7.5% from the previous year, largely due to the absence of new financial military assistance for Ukraine. This contrasted with the previous three years, during which $127 billion in aid had been approved.
Europe recorded the largest increase, with military spending rising 14% to $864 billion. The surge was driven by continued spending by Russia and Ukraine during the fourth year of the war, as well as intensified rearmament efforts by European NATO members. This marked the fastest annual growth in Central and Western Europe since the end of the Cold War.
Military expenditure in Asia and Oceania reached $681 billion in 2025, an 8.1% increase from 2024 and the region’s largest annual rise since 2009.
China, the world’s second-largest military spender, increased its defense budget by 7.4% to $336 billion, marking its 31st consecutive year of growth. SIPRI noted that ongoing efforts to modernize China’s military continue despite a renewed anti-corruption campaign in defense procurement. (ANI)
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