Described as “exceptional” by one international research organization, U.S. military expenditures in 2010 continued to eclipse those of all other nations, even growing powerhouse China.

 

Last year, China spent an estimated $119 billion on its military forces, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The U.S. spent almost six times as much as its Communist rival, with nearly $698 billion allocated for American defense.

 

Since 2001, the U.S. has increased its military spending 81%, while the rest of the world’s expenditures went up 32.5%. The United States now accounts for 43% of the world’s total military spending. Despite the recent attention given to reducing government spending, the U.S. is expected to spend more on its military in 2012 than it did in 2010.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

Background Paper on SIPRI Military Expenditure Data, 2010 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) (pdf)