• Sub-Saharan Africa raised defense spending by 19% in 2025 to $23.6 billion, according to IISS.
• Nigeria nearly doubled its defense budget to $2.29 billion, while South Africa cut spending by 2.5%.
• Global defense spending rose 2.5% to $2.63 trillion, with Europe posting a 12.6% increase.

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa spent $23.6 billion on defense in 2025, representing a 19% increase from 2024, according to a report published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The London-based think tank said in its report titled The Military Balance that worsening security conditions and the spread of armed conflicts primarily drove the double-digit increase.

Several conflicts illustrated the trend. Forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan continued fighting the Rapid Support Forces backing rival commander Mohamed Hamdan Dogolo in Sudan. Meanwhile, clashes persisted between the M23 rebel movement and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, fragile peace agreements weakened further in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Nigeria emerged as one of the main contributors to higher defense spending south of the Sahara. The West African country faced a multidimensional security crisis marked by a jihadist insurgency in the northeast and widespread banditry nationwide. As a result, Nigeria nearly doubled its defense budget to 3.1 trillion nairas ($2.29 billion) in 2025 from 1.58 trillion nairas ($1.17 billion) in 2024.

South Africa, which historically holds the region’s largest defense budget, moved in the opposite direction. The country cut defense spending by 2.5% in 2025 to 56.8 billion rand ($3.6 billion).

Defense spending also increased in the Middle East and North Africa region. MENA countries raised military outlays by 4.5% in 2025 to $219 billion, excluding U.S. foreign military financing. Regional conflicts, including Israel’s war with Hamas and the so-called 12-day war between Iran and Israel, drove the increase. Algeria and Israel together accounted for nearly 70% of the region’s annual rise.

Global defense spending continues to rise

Global defense spending reached $2.63 trillion in 2025, up from $2.48 trillion in 2024. Spending rose 2.5% year on year, marking a slower pace than the 7% to 8% growth recorded in recent years.

The United States spent $921 billion on defense in 2025, down from $968 billion in 2024. Lower military aid to Ukraine and tighter constraints on President Joe Biden’s defense budget drove the decline.

Russia increased defense spending by 3% to $186.2 billion. Moscow improved efficiency in its military-industrial system while balancing heavy defense commitments against broader budget constraints.

Europe continued to raise defense spending to record levels. European countries allocated nearly $563 billion to defense in 2025, reflecting a 12.6% increase from the previous year. The region now accounts for more than 21% of global defense spending, compared with 17% in 2022.

Asia also posted higher defense spending in 2025. The region spent $573 billion, representing a 5.7% increase. However, spending growth slowed to 3.7% when analysts excluded China, whose base defense budget reached an estimated $251.3 billion.

This article was initially published in French by Walid Kéfi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum