Global Day of Action on Military Spending background material

Embargo: 11 April 2011, 00:00 AM CET

Contact: Stephanie Blenckner
Communications Director
Tel: +46 8 655 97 47
Mobile: +46 70 86 55 360
Email: blenckner@sipri.org

New SIPRI military expenditure data, 2010

Growth in world military expenditure slows
 World military expenditure increased slightly in 2010 and is now estimated at roughly $1.6
trillion.
 The rate of growth in 2010 slowed considerably compared to the annual average increase in
2001–2009.
 The top 10 spenders in 2010: 1. USA (small increase since 2009); 2. China (large but reduced
increase); 3. UK (small fall); 4. France (significant fall); 5. Russia (small fall); 6. Japan (small
increase); 7. Saudi Arabia (small increase); 8. Germany (small fall); 9. India (small fall);
10. Italy (no change).

The United States still exceptional in military spending

 Although the rate of increase in US military spending slowed in 2010, the global increase in
2010 is almost entirely down to the United States.
 It now accounts for over 40 per cent of the global total.
 It spends a higher proportion of its GDP on the military than any other country outside the
Middle East.

Impact of the crisis

 In many cases, the falls or slower increases represent a delayed reaction to the global financial
and economic crisis that broke in 2008.
 In Europe, soaring budget deficits forced substantial cuts
 In Asia, slower economic growth in 2009 explains slower expenditure increases in 2010

Regional picture varies considerably

Change in
military
expenditure Top 5 spenders in Big increasers and decreasers
Region since 2009 2010 (>10% in real terms in 2010)
Central Rapid increase Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Increasers: Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay,
and South Mexico, Argentina Peru
America Decreasers: Belize, Jamaica, Venezuela
Africa Rapid increase Algeria, South Africa, Increasers: Angola, Burkina Faso, CAR, DRC,
Angola, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia
Nigeria Decreasers: Chad, Madagascar, Seychelles,
It is probable that Sudan would be in Uganda
the top 5 were data available.

Middle Modest Saudi Arabia, UAE, Increasers: Iraq

East increase Israel, Iraq, Kuwait Decreasers: none
It is highly probable that Iran would
be in the top 5 were data available.

Asia and Modest China, Japan, India, Increasers: Bangladesh, Indonesia,

Oceania increase South Korea, Australia Mongolia, Philippines
Decreasers: Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Timor Leste
Europe Fall UK, France, Russia, Increasers: Armenia
Germany, Italy Decreasers: Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia,
Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia