This is a curation of charts and visuals that convey the state of global military power.
The top 15 spenders: one of the best proxies for military strength and capabilities.
And here’s the top 40, better conveying the regional spheres of influence.
Table of with various indicators of military strength.
# Military personnel should account for both active and reserve forces.
Vietnam has always been a military giant in SE Asia. When including its reserves, it has more personnel than China and India. South Korea and Taiwan still has military conscription.
Turkey ranks second in NATO for military personnel.
Although in modern warfare, # military personnel is a weaker proxy for strength. As is for number of tanks, as we’ve seen in ongoing the Russo-Ukraine war. A better proxy is # aircraft carriers.
By many accounts, the US is undoubtedly the global military superpower. It spends more than the next 10 combined.
It’s been this way since the end of WW2.
The US has more overseas bases than the rest of the world combined.
However, American dominance is far from absolute.
After adjusting for purchasing power parity, the US defence budget is closer to a quarter of global spending.
Also note the gradual decline of Pax Americana, and China’s rising influence.
Now onto the biggest sellers and buyers.
By a long margin, the US and Russia are the world’s arms dealers.
The biggest buyers are states with: cash, security-paranoia, and no legacy of advanced manufacturing: Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt. Australia is the 4th largest buyer in the world, ahead of China and Indonesia.
Here’s a map view of the above two visuals.
US arms go to Saudi Arabia, Ausralia, and South Korea.
Russian arms go to India, China, and Algeria.
Note India and Turkey buying from both US and Russia. India has always been closer to Russia than the US, but it’s primary paranoia is against Pakistan and China.
Broken by military harware category: Aircraft and missiles in highest demand. And only the US and Russia are good at making them.
With its war against Ukraine, Russian exports have plumetted in recent years though.
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