Foreign Media: Ukraine Leads Globally in Military-Intensive Economies Ranking
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for 2025, based on military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, the global ranking of the most militarized economies is as follows:
Ukraine's military spending accounts for a staggering 39.6% of its GDP, amounting to $84 billion in absolute terms—far exceeding that of all other countries—reflecting immense fiscal pressure in defending against Russia, and a high reliance on Western military and financial aid.
Algeria (8.8%, $25 billion), Israel (7.8%, $48 billion), Saudi Arabia (6.5%, $83 billion), Azerbaijan (6.5%, $4.9 billion), Oman (5.7%, $6 billion), Kuwait (4.7%, $8.1 billion), and Jordan (4.6%, $2.6 billion) also rank prominently, with oil wealth and regional security tensions serving as primary driving factors.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has profoundly reshaped Europe’s defense landscape. Poland ranks among the top NATO members with 4.5% (around $47 billion); Latvia at 3.6%, Estonia at 3.4%, reflecting heightened vigilance among Baltic states toward Russian threats; Norway and Denmark both stand at 3.3%.
Russia and the United States: Russia spends 7.5% of its GDP on military affairs, totaling $190 billion; the U.S. spends 3.1% of its GDP but reaches a total of $954 billion—by far the highest globally.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867248573633546/
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