Top Five Countries with Highest Military Spending.

Many different factors, such as size of the economy, the number of threats, resources and the priorities of a society, indicate the yearly military or defense spending of a country.  Here is a list of Top Five Countries with Highest Military Spending. Skim through the article, you’ll definitely find it informative J

1. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Spending: $711 Billion

World Share: 41%

Percentage of GDP: 4.7

The army of United States of America consists of armed forces which include Air Force, Navy, Army and Marine Corps.  With 1,456,862 active troops and some 1,458,500 serving as reserve, the US army is one of the largest armies of the world. The president of US also serves as the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces and hence is responsible for appointing its leaders, the defense secretory and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Currently the offices of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff are held by Leon Panetta and General Martin Dempsey.

2. CHINA

Spending: $143 Billion

World Share: 8.2%

Percentage of GDP: 2.0

Not only China is on our list of top five countries with highest military spending but it also has the world’s largest standing army, with 2.3 million active troops currently. The military operates under the Chairman of Central Military Commission, Hu Jintao with General Liang Guanglie as the Minister of National Defense.

3. RUSSIA

Spending: $71.9 Billion

World Share: 4.1%

Percentage of GDP: 3.9

Besides Air Force, Ground Force and Navy, Russia also have three independent arms of service: Russian Space Forces, Airborne Troops and Strategic Missile Troops. Currently they almost 1,027,000 active personnel with another 754,000 reserve personnel and thus is regarded as fifth largest army of the world. The Russian military works under the President namely Vladimir Putin and the Minister of Defense, Anatoliy Serdyukov.     

4. UNITED KINGDOM

Spending: $62.7 Billion

World Share: 3.6

Percentage of GDP: 2.6

Known as Her Majesty’s Armed Forces or the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces consists of Air Force, Army and the Navy. The Queen happens to be the Commander-in-Chief of the forces, an office currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. Rt. Hon Philip Hammond MP is currently serving as the Secretary of State for Defense and the Chief of the Defense Staff is General Sir David Richards. The number of active personnel is almost 227,160 while that of reserve personnel is 174,800.

5. France

Spending: $62.5 Billion

World Share: 3.6%

Percentage of GDP: 2.3

Last country on our list of top five countries with highest military spending is France.  The French Armed Forces include Army, Navy, Ari Force and National Gendamerie. The highest office in French military, ‘Chief of the Military Forces ‘ is held by the President of the nation. Current Chief of the Military Forces is President Francois Hollande and the Minister of Defense is Jean-Yves Le Driam. They‘ve about 251,750 active troops with 70,000 are standing in reserve.

Top Five Countries with Highest Military Spending.