In 2024, arms spending increased by 9.4% compared to the erstwhile year. Over 100 countries in the planet have increased their efforts and the upward trend is noticeable in all region of the world. We've seen an increase in arms spending for 9 years in a row. The study of the Stockholm Institute for Peace investigation (SIPRI) leaves no illusions – we have entered a new, unprecedented era of arms since the Cold War, which is just tempoping.
"The increase of 9.4 percent in 2024 was the biggest increase of the year to the year at least since 1988", we learn in a short introduction encouraging us to read the report. The planet is changing in front of us – people lived in 1988. past spins a circle, and we are again not certain of the coming years. While the planet War did not break out after 1988 and military spending was reduced in the following years, 2024 was a re-turn to the unknown.
Latest study "Trends in planet Military Expenditure 2024"was published in April 2025. It was worked by six experts from various technological backgrounds. They gained their education at prestigious global universities – the Paris Sorbonne or Beijing Beijing abroad Studies University. The report's authors are based on open sources and the data presented in the study are expressed in US dollars (course of 2023).
Record year 2024
In the last year surveyed, the full expenditure exceeded the GDP of all African countries – over $2.7 trillion. In this respect, 2024 is simply a evidence year, and the explanation of this trend is not as simple as it may seem. The authors at the beginning of the study mention the most crucial events that had a decisive impact on the current state of expenditure growth. This is primarily a war in Ukraine, as well as events in the mediate East – a conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The creators add that the tense global situation will keep the upward trend of arms in the future.
The top 5 countries were the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India, accounting for around 60% of global spending. Importantly, the SIPRI study lacked Venezuela – it was likely that no reliable data could be obtained due to the regime's cover-up. North Korea was not ranked either.
American hegemon and Chinese chase
The full total expenditure of China and the US is almost half of global expenditure.
China as the only country in the planet has the possible to challenge the future of US hegemony in arms spending.
The study shows this as follows: The People's Republic of China allocates $314 billion to arms, which already accounts for 1/3 of US spending. The increase in Chinese spending by 59% compared to 2015. During the same period, the US increased its expenditure “only” by 19%. The rising China is simply a increasing challenge for the United States. Authors besides note this. This is the 30th consistent year of raising arms spending. Chinese spending increased by 7% year-on-year (2023 – 2024). The study informs – the main axis of Chinese spending are fresh combat aircraft and unmanned vehicles and vessels. The field of common competition is besides transferred to space and digital space. Emotions are besides sparked by the fact that these countries have mass demolition weapons – atomic warhead missiles.
North Atlantic Alliance - Two-speed Europe
Over the years, most European NATO countries have not spent more than 2% of GDP on reinforcements, which began to gradually change in 2014. Since then, expenditure has increased rapidly. In 2024, US European allies spent $454 billion on armaments, accounting for about 30% of NATO spending (it should be noted that Canada is besides in the Alliance).
Despite the fact that the fresh years of arms spending have been a breakthrough for Europe, it is hard not to see differences in this process. SIPRI experts indicate that Belgian military spending was only 1.3% of GDP, with 1.4% of Spain and 1.6% of Italy (European average of 2.2% of GDP). There were countries like Denmark (2.4%), Romania (2.3%) and Greece (3.1%) at a completely different pole. The increase in spending in the European part of NATO remains uneven and the perception of possible threats from the east does not affect NATO countries equally.
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How much is war? Military budgets of Russia and Ukraine
Russia's failure to implement a "three-day peculiar military operation" in Ukraine has led to increased redeployment.
Russia increased its military spending by 38% compared to 2023.
Since 2015 it has been an even bigger increase – even twice. It appears that the seizure of Ukraine and the destabilisation of NATO is only a minimum objective, at least that is how SIPRI data can be interpreted.
In 2024, 19% of Russian government spending accounted for military spending. This translates into 7.1% of GDP – the authors of the report, however, point out that these data appear to be understated. This is due to additional sources of backing outside the state budget and partial data retention.
1 251% – a number worthy of attention! This is the change in arms spending (2015 – 2024) of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is besides a country with the highest GDP spending on the military worldwide
- It's a staggering 34%. The defence against the Russian aggressor made Kiev allocate to the war with Russia all funds which in 2024 contributed to the state's budget from taxes. If we besides added the military aid Ukraine received during the period under consideration, spending of 125 billion shifts it to the 4th position in the SIPRI ranking world.
On the 2 sides of the Suwałki Corridor – expenses of Poland and Lithuania
What about the increase in arms spending in Poland and Lithuania? Here the key year was 2022 – a Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was then that decisions were made to make military capabilities in both countries.
Compared to 2023, in 2024 Warsaw spent 9 billion more on armaments, which totals $38 billion.
Poland ranked 13th in the SIPRI study (before Poland was Israel); 4.2% of GDP spent on the military is the highest in the full region of Central and east Europe.
The Lithuanian authorities have besides taken crucial steps to strengthen defence capacity. Lithuania is within the scope of 34% of GDP spent on the military – this is the only information that can be read from the SIPRI report. The Lithuanian government is constantly expanding the number of armed forces. Lithuania besides strengthens relations with its closest allies. A contract was signed with the German government in 2024. By 2027 in the Lithuanian Rudniki barracks for the 45th Litauen Armored Brigade will be built.
The migration crisis on the border with Belarus, Russian and Belarusian cyber attacks and attempts to sabotage in Poland and Lithuania show the scale of problems common to Warsaw and Vilnius cooperating.
What are we gonna do?
The advanced level of increase in arms spending has been visible for many years, as confirmed by data. Anticipating experts leaves no illusions, there is no anticipation on the horizon that the largest players in the planet can reduce their arms, or this option is peculiarly hard to imagine.
It can be said that the planet has fallen into a kind of fresh trap of mutually wound weapons. However, it is only the next years that will confirm the correctness of these statements.
Charles Wright Mills put it very well in his book entitled “The Causes of planet War Three” – “The 3rd planet war will origin preparations for it.” It is certain that countries do not operate in vacuum. This is besides reminded by the authors of the report. Sustainable expenditure increases over the long word lead to a simplification of expenditure in another sectors, resulting in expanding economical and social inequalities.
The Stockholm Institute for Peace investigation (SIPRI) all year contributes to a better knowing of processes related to armed conflicts and arms control. SIPRI's work was appreciated by the prestigious award – in 2023 the Institute received the Luxembourg Peace Prize for "the unchanging accomplishment of its mission, which aims to further advance peace through research, dialog and promotion of multilateral cooperation".
