Military spending in United States
United States: Military spending was 929.16 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
929.16 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
down 7.5%
World rank
1st
of 162 countries
All-time high
1.06 trillion constant 2024 US$
in 2010
All-time low
181.10 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1949
Years of data
77
1949–2025
Military spending in United States, 1949–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in United States is 929.16 billion constant 2024 US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in United States peaked at 1.06 trillion constant 2024 US$ in 2010 and was at its lowest, 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$, in 1949.
That places United States 1st out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 77 years of available data.
Military spending in United States, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1950 | 194.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1951 | 416.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | +114.0% |
| 1952 | 586.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | +40.9% |
| 1953 | 603.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 521.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | -13.7% |
| 1955 | 493.27 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1956 | 499.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 513.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 510.93 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1959 | 514.51 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 501.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 523.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 566.78 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1963 | 559.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 540.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 542.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 641.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | +18.2% |
| 1967 | 736.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1968 | 760.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 727.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 673.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1971 | 606.25 billion constant 2024 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1972 | 605.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 575.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 567.80 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 536.61 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1976 | 522.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1977 | 541.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 545.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 548.27 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 547.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 609.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1982 | 720.59 billion constant 2024 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1983 | 703.68 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 740.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 793.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 845.89 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 838.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 821.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 814.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 780.58 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 689.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 726.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 687.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 652.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 609.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1996 | 575.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 572.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 559.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 561.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 583.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 587.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 660.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 751.20 billion constant 2024 US$ | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 818.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 856.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 868.80 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 891.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 956.87 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 1.03 trillion constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 1.06 trillion constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.05 trillion constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 990.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 914.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2014 | 858.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 838.87 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 836.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 827.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 852.59 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 901.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 943.45 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 933.33 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 922.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 943.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 1.00 trillion constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2025 | 929.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 929.16 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.82 billion constant 2024 US$, 136.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | +114.0% | 194.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | 416.42 billion constant 2024 US$ |
| 1952 | +40.9% | 416.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | 586.60 billion constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
| 1950s | 485.51 billion constant 2024 US$ | 194.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | 603.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 610.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | 501.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | 760.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 572.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | 522.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | 673.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 743.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | 547.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | 845.89 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 641.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | 559.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | 780.58 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 800.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | 583.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.03 trillion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 913.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 827.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.06 trillion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 946.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | 922.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.00 trillion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in United States?
- Military spending in United States was 929.16 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 trillion constant 2024 US$ in 2010.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 181.10 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1949.
- How does United States rank for military spending?
- United States ranks 1st out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 77 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.