The United States spends more on its military
than the next six ranked nations combined.
| Country | Military Expenditures (ME), 1999 (Millions of US Dollars; Percent of Central Government Expenditures) |
Nonmilitary Expenditures (NME), 1999 (Millions of US Dollars) |
Population, 1999 (Millions) |
ME per capita, 1999 |
Gross National Product (GNP), 1999 (Millions of Dollars) |
Percent ME of GNP, 1999 |
| United States | 281,000 (15.79%) |
1,499,000 | 273 | 1029.30 | 9,260,000 | 3.03% |
| China (People’s Republic) | 88,900 (22.23%) |
311,100 | 1,250 | 71.12 | 3,930,000 | 2.26% |
| Japan | 43,200 (6.12%) |
662,800 | 126 | 342.86 | 1,106,000 | 0.98% |
| France | 38,900 (5.88%) |
623,100 | 59.1 | 658.21 | 1,440,000 | 2.70% |
| United Kingdom | 36,500 (6.87%) |
494,500 | 59.4 | 614.48 | 1,450,000 | 2.52% |
| Russia | 35,000 (22.44%) |
121,000 | 147 | 238.10 | 625,000 | 5.60% |
| Germany | 32,600 (4.70%) |
661,400 | 82.6 | 394.67 | 2,090,000 | 1.56% |
Of these nations, China and Russia devote higher proportions of their government spending to military spending.
The United States ranks 5th in the world in military spending per capita.
Countries that spend more per capita are Israel ($1,526.32), Qatar ($1,514.29), Kuwait ($1,415.79),
and Singapore ($1,100.00). On average, the developed world spends $517 per capita.
Source: U.S. State Department. “World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT 1999-2000).” 6 Feb 2003.
13 Jun 2004
http://www.state.gov/t/vc/rls/rpt/wmeat/
But it is China’s defense spending,
which according to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, threatens the balance of power in Asia. “‘Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: why this growing investment?’ Mr. Rumsfeld asked.”