Record 2025 Global Military Spending Signals New Era of Militarisation
Global military expenditure rose to a record $2.88 trillion in 2025, led by the United States at $954 billion and representing about 58% of the world total; per-capita spending varies greatly across nations, with some small states like Qatar and Israel among the highest, and Ukraine showing the largest per-capita increase. The US remains the dominant arms exporter, while the global arms trade is concentrated among a few countries. The report also notes how military budgets interact with healthcare and education spending, and highlights evolving warfare tech—AI, autonomous systems, and cyber capabilities—as defence shifts expand in the modern era.