{"id":9362,"date":"2025-06-27T05:30:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T05:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunnewsusa.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/27\/how-much-do-nato-members-spend-on-defense-these-are-the-countries-that-spend-the-most-and-the-least\/"},"modified":"2025-06-27T05:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T05:30:35","slug":"how-much-do-nato-members-spend-on-defense-these-are-the-countries-that-spend-the-most-and-the-least","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunnewsusa.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/27\/how-much-do-nato-members-spend-on-defense-these-are-the-countries-that-spend-the-most-and-the-least\/","title":{"rendered":"How much do NATO members spend on defense? These are the countries that spend the most \u2014 and the least"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NATO leaders agreed on Wednesday to an increased defense spending goal of 5% of each country’s economic output by 2035, more than doubling the previous target of 2%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

President Trump praised the new defense agreement, calling it<\/a><\/span> a “monumental win for the United States” during a speech at the NATO summit in the Netherlands. Mr. Trump has repeatedly demanded<\/a><\/span> that NATO allies boost their defense spending, arguing that other countries disproportionately rely on the U.S..<\/p>\n

In 2024, NATO member countries spent an average of 2.61% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but the figures vary widely across the alliance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to NATO estimates<\/a>, 22 of the alliance’s 32 members met or exceeded the 2% benchmark, with nine falling short of the goal. Iceland is not included in the estimates as it has no armed forces.<\/p>\n

What NATO countries spend on defense\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Defense spending covers a nation’s armed forces, including personnel, equipment, ammunition and more.<\/p>\n

NATO estimates show Poland spent the highest percentage of its GDP on defense and was the only country estimated to spend more than 4%. Estonia and Latvia followed, each allocating around 3.4%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The United States, by comparison, was estimated to spend 3.2% of its (much larger) GDP on defense.<\/p>\n

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Nine countries did not reach the alliance’s previous 2% target, which had been agreed to<\/a>\u00a0at a summit in 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Canada, Portugal and Italy each spent an estimated 1.5% of their GDP on defense. Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg came in a bit lower.<\/p>\n

Spain allocated the smallest share of its GDP, at 1.2%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the summit on Wednesday, President Trump singled out Spain for criticism over its spending level, saying “they want a little bit of a free ride.” Mr. Trump threatened<\/a><\/span> to make Spain “pay twice as much” during trade negotiations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez said<\/a> his country will not meet the 5% defense spending goal, calling the 2% target “sufficient” and “realistic” for the country.<\/p>\n

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Since NATO set its defense spending targets in 2014, overall average spending among member states, excluding the United States,\u00a0has risen from 1.4% of GDP to 2% in 2024. The targets, however, are not legally binding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rachel Rizzo of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center said<\/a> the language of the 5% agreement “may leave just enough wiggle room for some allies (such as Spain) to opt out.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

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