In 2024, the military expenditure global reached 2,718 billion dollars, with an increase in 9.4% in real terms compared to the previous year. According to the data recently published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the five countries with the major investments in the military sector (United States, China, Russia, Germany And India) cover 60% of global expenditure, with a total combined of 1,635 billion dollars. Italy stands out of the top positions: it is in the 14th place with 38 billion dollars (33 billion euros), growing compared to last year.
The military expenditure of Italy
With this figure, Italy represents the1.4% of the global total (one of the lowest in Europe), with a combined expenditure of 1,635 billion dollars. The figure of 33 billion is in line with what was declared by the financial statements of the Ministry of Defense in 2025, equal to 32, with an increase of about 2 billion compared to 2024 and a general increase of 60% in the last ten years. Considering the last ten years, our nation has spent an overall annual sum for the defense which varies between 25 and 30 billion euros, a record.
Every year the funds intended for military and defense spending undergo variations, but for the 2025 budget, direct costs, in particular those for the staff of the armed forces, constitute one of the most relevant items of expenditure. It is expected that:
- About 6 billion euros are intended for the army;
- 2.8 billion at the Air Force;
- 2.3 billion to the Navy.
To these amounts are added about 1.21 billion for the military missions Abroad, 4.5 billion for the military pension system, in addition to the costs for military bases and participation fees as a member of the EU and NATO. As for the armaments, it is estimated that the expenditure for 2025 reaches almost 13 billion euros.
Currently, Italian military spending represents about the1.5% of GDPhowever, remaining below the average of the European Union, which is around 2%. Since 2014, the NATO member countries have undertaken to allocate at least 2% of the GDP to the defense, while the President of the United States, Donald Trump, proposed to increase this 5% threshold of the GDP of the Member States.
The world ranking
The increase in military spending was found in all regions of the world, with a particularly rapid growth in Europe And Middle East. 2024 marks the tenth consecutive year of increasing military spending in the world, with all the first 15 countries in the ranking that have increased their military budget, leading the total expenditure to represent 2.5% of the world GDP.
- United States: 997 billion dollars (+5.7%)
- China: 314 billion dollars (+7.0%)
- Russia: 149 billion dollars (+38%)
- Germany: 88.5 billion dollars
- India: 86.1 billion dollars (+1.6%)
- England: 81.8 billion dollars (+2.8%)
- Saudi Arabia: 80.3 billion dollars (+1.5%)
- Ukraine: 64.7 billion dollars (+2.9%)
- France: 64.7 billion dollars (+6.1%)
- Japan: 55.3 billion dollars (+21%)
- South Korea: 47.6 billion dollars (+1.4%)
- Israel: 46.5 billion dollars (+65%)
- Poland: 38 billion dollars (+31%)
- Italy: 38 billion dollars (+1.4%)
- Australia: 33.8 billion dollars (+1.9%)
The data of other countries
Xiao Liang, researcher of the military spending program and the production of sipri weapons, said
More than 100 countries have increased their military expenditure in 2024. Since governments are giving increasing priority to military security, often at the expense of other sectors of the budget, these economic and social decisions could have significant impacts on companies in the coming years.
Military spending in Europe, including Russia, increased by 17%, reaching 693 billion dollars, contributing significantly to the global increase in 2024. With the war in Ukraine, the third year, military spending continued to grow across the continent, exceeding the levels recorded at the end of the Cold War. In particular, the Germany It saw a 28%increase, reaching 88.5 billion dollars, thus becoming the country with the highest expenditure in central and western Europe. Also the Poland It saw a significant increase of 31%, with an expense of 38 billion dollars.
Very high figures also for the Russia149 billion dollars in 2024 and an increase of 38% compared to the previous year, double compared to the 2015 levels. The greatest growth had it though Israel: +65% and 46.5 billion dollars in 2024.
