Charted: The U.S. Dominates NATO Defense Spending
January 24, 2026
By Bruno Venditti
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Key Takeaways- The U.S. accounts for 62% of NATO’s total $1.59 trillion defense spending.
- In 2025, all NATO members were estimated to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and renewed concerns about global security, NATO members have accelerated military investment after years of underfunding.
This visualization ranks NATO countries by their estimated defense spending in 2025, highlighting how military budgets vary widely across the alliance. While all members now meet NATO’s 2% of GDP guideline, the absolute dollar amounts reveal stark differences in scale and capacity.
The data for this visualization comes from the latest NATO report on spending. Germany’s figure reflects 2024 spending, the most recent data available.
NATO Countries Ranked by Estimated Spending in 2025
The United States remains the backbone of NATO’s military power, with an estimated $980 billion in defense spending. This represents roughly 62% of NATO’s total defense budget, far exceeding any other member.
Rank
Country
2025e Spending (USD, millions)
—
?? NATO Total
1,587,999
|
| 1 | ???? United States | 980,000 | | 2 | ???? Germany* | 93,747 | | 3 | ???? United Kingdom | 90,508 | | 4 | ???? France | 66,531 | | 5 | ???? Italy | 48,800 | | 6 | ???? Poland | 44,314 | | 7 | ???? Canada | 43,886 | | 8 | ???? Spain | 35,670 | | 9 | ???? Türkiye | 32,573 | | 10 | ???? Netherlands | 28,107 | | 11 | ???? Norway | 16,490 | | 12 | ???? Sweden | 15,207 | | 13 | ???? Denmark | 14,303 | | 14 | ???? Belgium | 13,739 | | 15 | ???? Romania | 9,308 | |
*Germany spending data is from 2024.
While European allies have increased spending significantly, the U.S. still provides the bulk of the alliance’s capabilities, from advanced weapons systems to global force projection.
Europe’s Largest Military Spenders
Among European members, the United Kingdom ($90.5 billion), Germany ($93.7 billion), and France ($66.5 billion) lead the pack.
Germany’s rapid rise in defense spending marks a historic shift, as the country moves away from decades of military restraint. Poland also stands out, with spending of $44.3 billion, reflecting its frontline position and heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe.
Smaller Members, Shared Commitment
Smaller NATO members contribute far less in absolute terms, but many are now spending a significant share of national resources on defense. Countries such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—each spending under $4 billion—have among the strongest commitments relative to GDP.
Outside Europe, Canada ($43.9 billion) and Türkiye ($32.6 billion) play key strategic roles within the alliance. |
