Ukraine ranked seventh in the world in military spending, surpassing Saudi Arabia.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published a report on global military spending trends for 2025. Babel analyzed the report.
In 2025, Ukraine’s spending increased by approximately 20% (and by 1,501% compared to 2016) and amounted to $84.1 billion, or 40% of GDP.
This is the highest level of military spending in the history of independent Ukraine and the highest ratio to GDP in the world (Algeria ranks second at 8.8%).
The top positions in terms of spending are held by the United States ($954 billion), China ($336 billion), Russia ($190 billion), Germany ($114 billion), India ($92.1 billion), and the United Kingdom ($89 billion).
Russia’s military spending last year increased by 5.9%, and by 96% compared to 2016.
Total global military spending rose by 2.9% to $2.887 trillion. It has been rising for 11 consecutive years.
This is the highest amount ever recorded in SIPRI studies.
The combined spending of NATO Member States totaled $1.582 trillion—55% of global spending.
Over the year, spending increased in all regions of the world except America.
Europe (including Ukraine and Russia) was the main driver of growth. Spending there increased by 14%—to $864 billion.
Ukraine’s defense budget for 2026 amounts to over UAH 2.8 trillion, which is a priority area of spending to support the military and the security sector.
