斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Trends-in-World-Military-Expenditure-2020_12页_668kb

Summary of Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2020

Core Content

World military expenditure in 2020 reached an estimated $1981 billion, marking the highest level since 1988. This represents a 2.6% real-term increase from 2019 and a 9.3% increase from 2011. The global military burden, defined as military expenditure as a share of GDP, rose by 0.2 percentage points to 2.4%.

The top five military spenders in 2020 were the United States, China, India, Russia, and the United Kingdom, collectively accounting for 62% of global military spending. These countries, along with others, contributed to the overall rise in military expenditure, despite the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Main Points

• Global Military Spending:

  • $1981 billion in 2020.
  • 2.6% increase in real terms compared to 2019.
  • 9.3% increase compared to 2011.
  • 2.4% of global GDP in 2020.

• Top 15 Spendings:

  • The top 15 countries accounted for 81% of global military spending.
  • The United States remained the largest spender with $778 billion, followed by China ($252 billion), India ($72.9 billion), Russia ($61.7 billion), and the UK ($59.2 billion).
  • China's military spending increased by 76% over the decade 2011-20.
  • The United States, UK, and Italy saw decreases in military spending compared to 2011.
  • NATO members accounted for 90% of the total NATO military spending and 50% of global military expenditure.

• Regional Trends:

  • Americas: Military expenditure was $853 billion, a 3.9% increase from 2019 and an 8.4% decrease from 2011.
    • The USA, Canada, and Brazil were the top spenders.
    • North America accounted for 94% of the region's total military spending.
  • Asia and Oceania: Military expenditure totaled $528 billion, a 2.5% increase from 2019 and a 47% increase from 2011.
    • China and India were the largest spenders, accounting for 62% of the region's total.
    • Japan ($49.1 billion) and South Korea ($45.7 billion) also saw increases.
  • Europe: Military expenditure was $378 billion, a 4.0% increase from 2019 and a 16% increase from 2011.
    • Western Europe accounted for $273 billion (72% of the region's total).
    • Eastern Europe accounted for $71.7 billion (3.4% increase from 2019 and 31% from 2011).
    • Central Europe accounted for $33.6 billion (6.0% increase from 2019 and 74% from 2011).
  • Africa: Military expenditure was $43.2 billion, a 5.1% increase from 2019 and an 11% increase from 2011.
    • Sub-Saharan Africa had $18.5 billion in military expenditure, a 3.4% increase from 2019 and a 13% decrease from 2011.
    • Algeria was the largest spender in North Africa, and South Africa was the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Middle East: No SIPRI estimate is available for 2015-20, and the data is considered rough.

Key Information

• The global military burden increased across all regions in 2020 due to the economic impact of the pandemic, which led to a decrease in GDP, while military expenditure continued to rise.
• Military spending in the Middle East decreased by 6.5% in 2020, but it is included in the world total.
• Military expenditure data for the most recent year is often based on initial or revised budgets, not actual figures, and may be subject to revisions in future updates.
• The military burden increased in all top 15 countries except China.
• Several countries in Africa, such as Uganda and Nigeria, saw significant increases in military expenditure due to ongoing conflicts and security challenges.
• In the Americas, the USA and Canada were the main contributors to the region's military spending, with Brazil as the third-largest spender.
• In Europe, the largest military spenders were the UK, Germany, and France, with the UK moving up in rank from sixth to fifth in 2020.

Conclusion

The year 2020 saw a global increase in military expenditure despite the economic challenges posed by the pandemic. The Americas and Asia and Oceania accounted for the majority of global military spending, with the top spenders being the United States, China, India, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The data reflects a complex interplay of economic conditions, security threats, and geopolitical tensions.