About DefenseBudget Dash
Transparent, accessible data on global military spending — powered by open sources and built for the public interest.
Our Mission
DefenseBudget Dash exists to make global military spending data accessible, transparent, and easy to understand. We believe citizens deserve clear visibility into how their nations allocate resources to defense. By presenting authoritative data in an interactive format, we aim to foster informed public discourse on defense policy and government spending priorities.
Data Sources
Our data is compiled from two of the most respected open-data institutions in the world:
- SIPRI Military Expenditure Database — The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute maintains the most comprehensive and widely cited dataset on military expenditure worldwide, covering 170+ countries from 1949 to the present.
- World Bank Open Data — GDP figures, population statistics, and military expenditure as a percentage of GDP are cross-referenced with World Bank datasets to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Methodology
All spending figures are presented in current US dollars (billions) to allow straightforward comparison. GDP percentages reflect each country's defense expenditure as a share of its gross domestic product, providing a size-normalized view of military commitment.
Active military personnel figures represent the total number of active-duty service members, excluding reserves and paramilitary forces, unless otherwise noted.
Rankings are computed dynamically based on the selected metric. Data is updated periodically as new figures become available from our source institutions.
How to Use
- Compare — Head to the Compare page to select up to 8 countries and view them side by side across different metrics.
- Rankings — Visit the Rankings page for a full sortable table of all countries. Click any column header to sort.
- Share — Use the share button on the Compare page to copy a URL with your selections pre-loaded, making it easy to share your analysis with others.
Contact & Contribute
DefenseBudget Dash is an open-data project built for the public interest. If you have feedback, spot a data discrepancy, or would like to contribute, we would love to hear from you.
Reach out via taeshinkim11@gmail.com or open an issue on our GitHub repository.