Global military spending hits record as Europe and Asia drive growth

Global military spending rose for an 11th consecutive year in 2025, reaching $2.887 trillion, as countries across Europe and Asia accelerated defense outlays in response to wars, regional tensions and a shifting security landscape, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The share of global economic output devoted to military spending rose to 2.5%, its highest level since 2009, SIPRI reported on Monday. The increase of 2.9% in real terms was more modest than the sharp rise recorded a year earlier, but it masked a broader pattern: spending continued to climb rapidly outside the United States, even as American outlays declined.

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