Which European countries spend most on their military?
A ranking of Europe's top military spenders in absolute terms and as share of their GDP (2000-2024, SIPRI)
The first chart tracks changes in European military-spending ranks from 2000 to 2024. The second compares military expenditure as a share of GDP in 2024. Its annotations discuss proximity to Russia, the war in Ukraine, and Greece–Turkey security concerns. Those are contextual interpretations; the spending data alone cannot establish why any country chose its budget.
Sources and methodology
Both charts use the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database 2025. SIPRI reports Ukraine's 2024 military burden at 34% of GDP. The Greek Ministry of National Defence identifies concerns about Turkey in its defence policy, but this does not measure their contribution to 2024 spending. The spending-rank chart uses current U.S. dollars. Rankings are relative: a country's position can change when another country's spending changes. The original Quarto analysis contains the country selection, calculations, and chart construction.