15 Countries with the Highest Military Spending, Totaling Tens of Thousands of Trillions

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Global military spending continues to rise sharply amid escalating geopolitical conflicts, from the war in Ukraine to tensions in the Middle East.

The latest data shows that just 15 countries have contributed US$2.6 trillion, or about three-quarters of the total global military expenditure.

Here are the 15 countries with the largest defence budgets in the world.

The United States remains the dominant player with a vast lead over others. With a budget of nearly US$1 trillion or Rp15,781.34 trillion, the United States spends almost four times more than China. In fact, the total exceeds the combined budgets of several major countries.

Increase in Budgets in the European Region

European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have experienced significant increases in defence budgets.

This surge is inseparable from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has prompted European countries to strengthen their defence systems.

In the Asian region, the increase in defence budgets is driven by China’s rise as a global power. Countries like Japan, India, and South Korea have also increased military spending in response to changes in the regional balance of power.

Indonesia’s Defence Budget

Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s defence budget posture has again recorded a surge. Indonesia’s defence function budget jumped 168.3% from Rp125.8 trillion in 2021 to Rp337 trillion in 2026.

Referring to the 2026 State Budget, the strategic outputs for the Defence Function in the 2026 fiscal year include:

• Procurement of defence equipment and non-defence equipment;

• Maintenance/upkeep/improvement of defence equipment and non-defence equipment;

• Construction of military housing and border security posts;

• Development/procurement of defence infrastructure;

• Strengthening of main, reserve, and supporting components, including the addition of battalions and regional commands; and

• Defence operations.