The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report on April 28, 2025, detailing global military expenditure in 2024. A key finding was that India's military spending was nearly nine times that of Pakistan's, totaling $86.1 billion compared to Pakistan's $10.2 billion. This significant difference comes amidst rising tensions between the two countries.
The top five global military spenders (United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India) accounted for 60% of global spending ($1,635 billion). China saw a 7% increase in spending to $314 billion, marking three decades of consecutive growth. European military spending (including Russia) increased by 17% to $693 billion, primarily due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This pushed European spending beyond Cold War levels.
Russia's military expenditure reached an estimated $149 billion, a 38% increase from 2023. Ukraine's military spending reached $64.7 billion, representing 43% of Russia's spending. Germany's military spending increased by 28% to $88.5 billion, becoming the largest spender in central and western Europe. Poland saw a 31% increase in spending, reaching $38 billion.
The report highlights the growing disparity between India and Pakistan's military capabilities. It also underscores the impact of the Ukraine war on European military spending and Russia's increased investments in its military.