Five charts that show the rise of global militarisation

Global military spending has increased, with the world's militaries spending $2.88 trillion in 2025, a 2.9 percent rise from the previous year. The US tops the list, accounting for more than half of global military spending, with its $954 billion expenditure exceeding the combined spending of the next six countries. This pattern of rising military spending has been consistent, with spending increasing during wartime and falling during more peaceful periods.