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Russia spends 7.50% of GDP on its military. The EU spends 2.18%. No year since 2010 closes that gap

By Peter Wilding,

Published on Oct 26, 2026   —   5 min read

European Uniondefence spendingmilitary expenditureWorld Bank WDIsmart power
Bar comparison of military expenditure as a share of GDP in 2025 from the World Bank WDI series: Russia 7.50%, United States 3.12%, European Union 2.18%, China 1.72%

Summary

World Bank WDI to 2025: Russia 7.50% of GDP on the military against the EU27 aggregate's 2.18% — a 3.44:1 gap with no crossover since 2010, scored across plan, policy and performance.

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Peter Wilding

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