Trending Now - Worldwide Military Expenditure Hits 16-year High Amid European, Asian Increases

WHO:

CNN - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is the organization releasing the report.

CNN - Jade Guiberteau Ricard, researcher with SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, provided insights on military spending.

CNN - Diego Lopes da Silva, senior researcher with SIPRI, commented on military spending trends among US allies in Asia and Oceania.

CNN - Lorenzo Scarazzato, researcher with SIPRI, discussed military expenditure in Russia and Ukraine.

CNN - Nan Tian, Programme Director of SIPRI, commented on the decline in US military expenditure.

WHAT:

CNN - Global military spending reached almost $2.9 trillion in 2025, a 2.9% increase from 2024.

CNN - European defense spending rose by 14% to $864 billion in 2025.

CNN - Military spending in Asia-Oceania increased by 8.1% to $681 billion in 2025.

CNN - The US military expenditure was $954 billion in 2025, a decrease of 7.5% from 2024.

CNN - Russia's military spending grew by 5.9% to $190 billion in 2025.

CNN - Ukraine's military spending increased by 20% to $84.1 billion, or 40% of its GDP.

CNN - Japan's military expenditure rose by 9.7% to $62.2 billion, the highest share of GDP since 1958.

CNN - Taiwan's military spending increased by 14.2% to $18.2 billion, the largest jump since at least 1988.

CNN - India's military spending spiked by 8.9% to $92.1 billion.

CNN - Total military spending in Africa increased by 8.5% to $58.2 billion.

WHERE:

CNN - Military spending data pertains to global expenditures, with specific mentions of Europe, Asia-Oceania, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Taiwan, India, and Africa.

WHEN:

CNN - The report covers military spending data for the year 2025.

CNN - The Trump administration is proposing a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027.

WHY:

CNN - The increase in military spending is attributed to ongoing wars, geopolitical upheaval, and the pursuit of European self-reliance.

CNN - The decline in US military expenditure was primarily due to no new military aid for Ukraine being approved in 2025.

HOW:

CNN - SIPRI's report indicates that military spending as a share of global GDP reached 2.5%, the highest level since 2009.

CNN - The report notes that when excluding the US, global defense spending rose by 9.2% in 2025.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 09:39 UTC)

Global military spending surged to nearly $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking a 2.9% increase from the previous year, with European defense expenditures rising by 14% to $864 billion. Notably, Ukraine's military spending jumped by 20% to $84.1 billion, representing 40% of its GDP, while the US saw a decrease of 7.5% in military expenditure, totaling $954 billion. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's report attributes these trends to ongoing conflicts and geopolitical shifts, and it highlights that military spending as a share of global GDP reached 2.5%, the highest level since 2009.