World

India fifth largest defence spender, Pakistan does not feature in top 15: report

World military spending was $1.69 trillion in 2016

News Desk/AFP April 25, 2017

PHOTO: AFP

World military spending was $1.69 trillion in 2016, according to Swedish think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) report ranking countries based on military spending in the last year.

Spending increased for a second consecutive year. Spending grew in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and North Africa. By contrast, military spending fell in Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, South America and sub-Saharan Africa.

NEW SIPRI data launch on trends in world military expenditure: https://t.co/Opctok24Xl #SIPRIFacts #Milex pic.twitter.com/Jak4KwgHoQ
— SIPRI (@SIPRIorg) April 24, 2017

The United States had the highest annual military expenditure in the world. The country's military spending grew by 1.7 per cent. China's military expenditure grew by 5.4 per cent when compared to last year. Russia was the third largest spender with an increase of 5.9 per cent.

Saudi Arabia was the third largest spender in 2015 but dropped to fourth place in 2016 as its expenditure fell by 30 per cent to $63.7 billion, “despite its continued involvement in regional wars”, it added.

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India was the fifth-largest military spender in the world as its expenditure grew by 8.5 per cent, spending $55.9 billion in 2016 on defence.

The 15 largest spenders on military account for $1,360 billion, or 81%, of total global military spending. #SIPRIFacts #Milex #Arms pic.twitter.com/0XZ1JfQCKK
— SIPRI (@SIPRIorg) April 24, 2017

Pakistan spent 3.5 per cent of its GDP on military and did not feature in the top fifteen spenders, which make up 81 per cent of total global military spending.

COMMENTS (9)

Man Without An Honor | 7 years ago | Reply War are not won.by only weapons. That's why US failed in Iraq and Afghanistan. India failed on red corridor and Kashmir.

vinsin | 7 years ago | Reply @Arif Mohammed: In terms of percentage it is true. Pakistan army gets 3.5% of the GDP compared to 2.5% in case of India. In terms of percentage that is even higher than USA and almost double of China. In terms of percentage Pakistan is 9th.

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vinsin | 7 years ago | Reply Headline should be China is second largest defence spender. Anyway their money.

Shah | 7 years ago | Reply Big powers with defense industry monopoly target countries like Hindus-tan who have cash funds. They create militancy conditions on their borders and internally so that those countries panic and buy against cash... no discounting sale or no long term low interest foreign military sales credits; Then they sell ' Trash for Cash ' to these countries with morons as their leaders & government. Most of the equipment is shiny but actually trash and junk; Looks nice and with fancy names and long specs sheets to impress the buyers-public who have no clue of what they are buying, or getting against Hard Cash they dish out for it; Countries like US, Israel, Germany, France, Russia all know very well what trash they dumped on these nations ruled by morons. Once they run out of Cash then big powers dont even have time to look at them;

Humza | 7 years ago | Reply @Sajid Ansari: It's sad that in India over 500 million people don't have access to toilets but they waste billions on weapons. Wouldn't it be easier for India to make peace with all of its neighbors and doesn't it tell Indians something when all of Indian's neighbors don't get along with India - whether Nepal, China, Pakistan or Sri Lanka? If India would just let people in Indian occupied Kashmir vote to show their desire for freedom, there would be no more clashes.

Sajid Ansari | 7 years ago | Reply The country where 60 % of its population living below poverty line, spending billions to keep Kashmir forcibly with her.

Arif Mohammed | 7 years ago | Reply Where do we have the money to spend for defense? Even for fulfilling basic necessities we look for aid. However, Is the army not eating a lot of our money as it is ?.

Adnan Siddiqi | 7 years ago | Reply But when it comes to giving away perks, entitlements, real estate holdings and hefty retirement packages to its officer - I am sure Pakistan Army would be on the top.

XoF | 7 years ago | Reply Thats what local self dependence & production gives you.

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