斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Trends-in-world-military-expenditure-2017_8页_361kb

Summary of Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2017

Core Content

World military expenditure reached an estimated $1739 billion in 2017, the highest since the end of the Cold War. This represents a 1.1 per cent real-term increase from 2016. The global military burden, defined as military expenditure as a share of GDP, was 2.2 per cent in 2017, down from a post-Cold War high of 3.3 per cent in 1992 and a low of 2.1 per cent in 2014.

The top five military spenders in 2017 were the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and India, collectively accounting for 60 per cent of global military spending. The United States spent $610 billion, unchanged from 2016, while China increased by 5.6 per cent to $228 billion, Saudi Arabia by 9.2 per cent to $69.4 billion, India by 5.5 per cent to $63.9 billion, and Russia decreased by 20 per cent to $66.3 billion.

Main Trends by Region

Global Overview

• Total global military expenditure increased by 1.1 per cent in real terms in 2017.
• Military expenditure as a share of GDP was 2.2 per cent, indicating a moderate burden on the global economy.
• Regional trends showed mixed outcomes:
  • Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Central and South Asia, East Asia and Central and Western Europe saw increases.
  • North Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, Oceania and Eastern Europe experienced decreases.
  • North America and South East Asia remained unchanged.

The Americas

• Military expenditure in the Americas was $695 billion, representing 40 per cent of global military spending.
• North America (USA and Canada) accounted for 91 per cent of the total, with the USA spending $610 billion and Canada $20.6 billion.
• South America saw a 4.1 per cent increase to $57.0 billion, the first rise since 2014.
• Central America and the Caribbean experienced a 6.6 per cent decrease to $7.6 billion, still 39 per cent higher than in 2008.
• Mexico was the largest contributor to the subregion's spending, accounting for 76 per cent.

Asia and Oceania

• Military expenditure in Asia and Oceania reached $477 billion, a 3.6 per cent real-term increase from 2016.
• This region accounted for 27 per cent of global military spending, up from 17 per cent in 2008.
• China was the largest spender in the region, contributing $228 billion (48 per cent of the regional total), followed by India ($63.9 billion), Japan ($45.4 billion), South Korea ($39.2 billion), and Australia ($27.5 billion).
• Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam had the largest relative increases in military spending (over 300 per cent in some cases).
• Only five countries (Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, Fiji, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam) saw a decrease in spending over the decade 2008–2017.

Europe

• European military expenditure totaled $342 billion, representing 20 per cent of global spending.
• It fell by 2.2 per cent in real terms in 2017, the first annual decrease since 2008.
• Western Europe (France, UK, Germany, Italy) accounted for 10 per cent of global spending, down from 15 per cent in 2008.
• Central Europe saw a 12 per cent increase in spending, while Eastern Europe experienced an 18 per cent decrease, mainly due to Russia's spending decline.
• Romania had the largest real-term increase in Europe (50 per cent), while South Sudan had the largest decrease (-56 per cent).

Africa

• Africa's total military expenditure was $42.6 billion, representing 2.5 per cent of global spending.
• The region saw a 0.5 per cent decrease in 2017, continuing a three-year decline.
• Sub-Saharan Africa had a 0.9 per cent increase to $21.6 billion, but still 6.8 per cent lower than in 2008.
• Algeria had the largest decrease in Africa (-5.2 per cent), while Sudan saw a 35 per cent increase.
• Nigeria decreased its spending by 4.2 per cent, and Angola decreased by 16 per cent.

Middle East

• Total military expenditure in the Middle East could not be estimated due to incomplete data from Qatar, Syria, UAE and Yemen.
• Available data showed a continuous increase from 2009 to 2015, followed by a 16 per cent decrease between 2015 and 2016, and a 6.2 per cent increase in 2017.
• Saudi Arabia was the largest military spender in the region, with $69.4 billion in 2017.
• Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Bahrain had the highest military burdens, with Oman at 12 per cent of GDP and Saudi Arabia at 10 per cent.

Key Information

• Military expenditure in the top 15 countries accounted for 80 per cent of global spending, with China, Saudi Arabia, India, Russia, Australia, South Korea and Brazil seeing the largest increases.
• The USA had the highest military expenditure at $610 billion, but its burden as a share of GDP fell to 3.1 per cent, the lowest among the top five.
• Japan had the lowest military burden in the top 15 at 0.9 per cent of GDP, while Saudi Arabia had the highest at 10 per cent.
• Russia was the fourth largest global military spender in 2017, but its spending fell by 20 per cent.
• NATO members accounted for 48 per cent of global military spending, with the USA, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Canada and Turkey being the largest contributors.
• The SIPRI Military Expenditure Database is the primary source for these figures, updated in May 2018 to include 2017 data.

Conclusion

The global military expenditure in 2017 reached a post-Cold War high, with significant regional variations. While some regions like Asia and Oceania saw continuous growth, others like Africa and Europe experienced declines. The USA remained the largest military spender, but China and Saudi Arabia were the fastest-growing. The military burden varied widely across regions, with Middle Eastern countries having the highest shares of GDP. These trends reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic conditions, and strategic priorities.