Ukraine Becomes World’s No. 7 Military Spender As War Drives Record 40% of GDP to Defense

Ukraine ranked seventh in the world for total military expenditure in 2025, surpassing Saudi Arabia, as defense spending reached a historic high both in absolute terms and as a share of the country’s economy.

Ukraine ranked seventh in the world for total military expenditure in 2025, surpassing Saudi Arabia, as defense spending reached a historic high both in absolute terms and as a share of the country’s economy.

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on April 27, Ukraine’s military spending increased by around 20% in 2025 to $84.1 billion. SIPRI data shows that this amount accounted for approximately 40% of Ukraine’s GDP—the highest ratio recorded globally.

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SIPRI figures indicate that Ukraine’s defense spending has grown significantly over the past decade, rising by more than 1500% compared to 2016 levels. In global rankings by total expenditure, Ukraine placed behind the United States, China, Russia, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom.

The United States remained the largest military spender in 2025 with $954 billion, followed by China at $336 billion and Russia at $190 billion. Germany and India reported $114 billion and $92.1 billion respectively, while the United Kingdom spent $89 billion.

According to SIPRI, Russia’s military expenditure increased by 5.9% in 2025 and reached approximately 7.5% of its GDP. In comparison, Ukraine allocated a significantly larger share of its national output to defense, reflecting the ongoing demands of the war.

Globally, total military spending rose to $2.887 trillion in 2025, marking the highest level ever recorded by SIPRI and the eleventh consecutive year of growth. SIPRI data shows that NATO member states accounted for $1.582 trillion, or about 55% of global military expenditure.

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Spending increased across most regions, with Europe identified as the primary driver. According to SIPRI, military expenditures in Europe—including Ukraine and Russia—grew by 14% to $864 billion.

Separate data cited by Ukrainian media indicates that defense spending accounted for 63% of Ukraine’s total government expenditures in 2025. For comparison, Russia allocated approximately 20% of its state budget to military needs.

Ukraine’s defense budget remains the largest component of its public spending, with more than 2.8 trillion hryvnias allocated for security and defense in 2026.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled more than 50 domestically developed weapons systems, including long-range missiles, strike drones, robotic platforms, and naval drones, highlighting the rapid expansion of Ukraine’s defense industry.

According to his April 14 address, dozens of these systems are already in active use, with unmanned platforms alone carrying out over 22,000 missions in recent months.

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