The world spent nearly $2.9 trillion, or approximately 1.74 trillion CFA francs, on military expenditures in 2025. This figure marks the eleventh consecutive year of growth amid multiple conflicts, according to the benchmark report published this Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The three main contributors—the United States, China, and Russia—accounted for more than half of the global total, with a combined $1.48 trillion, or 888 trillion CFA francs.

The military burden is at its highest since 2009

Overall spending increased by 2.9% in one year, despite a temporary decline in US expenditures. Lorenzo Scarazzato, a researcher at SIPRI, explained to AFP that this growth is driven by Europe and Asia in a context of wars and escalating tensions. The share of global GDP devoted to military spending, known as the military burden, is now at its highest level since 2009. All indications are that the world feels less secure and is investing more in its armed forces to cope with the current geopolitical situation.

The central role of the United States and Europe

The United States remains in the lead with $954 billion, or 572.4 trillion CFA francs. Although this figure is down 7.5% compared to 2024, due to the absence of new aid budgets for Ukraine in 2025, a significant increase is already projected. US spending could reach 900 trillion CFA francs ($1.5 trillion) in 2027 if the budget proposed by Donald Trump is adopted.

In Europe, defense spending jumped 14% to reach $864 billion, or 518.4 trillion CFA francs. This surge is due to the war in Ukraine, but also to the relative disengagement of the United States, which is pushing European countries to take greater responsibility for their own defense. Germany, ranked fourth in the world, increased its defense budget by 24% to reach 68.4 trillion CFA francs. Spain also made headlines with a 50% increase in its budget, exceeding 2% of its GDP for the first time since 1994.

Focus on Asia and the Middle East

Russia increased its spending by 5.9% to reach 114 trillion CFA francs (US$190 billion), while Ukraine allocated 50.46 trillion CFA francs, or 40% of its national GDP. In Asia-Oceania, the increase was the largest since 2009, totaling 408.6 trillion CFA francs. China remains the region's leading spender, with 201.6 trillion CFA francs projected for 2025, prompting an immediate response from Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, which increased their budgets due to security concerns.

In the Middle East, spending increased by only 0.1%, totaling 130.8 trillion CFA francs. Israel reduced its spending by 4.9% to 28.98 trillion CFA francs after the ceasefire with Hamas in January 2025. In Iran, despite a nominal increase, the real budget fell by 5.6% to 4.44 trillion CFA francs, a decrease primarily caused by record inflation of 42%.