Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2015

World military expenditure totalled almost $1.7 trillion in 2015, an increase of 1% in real terms from 2014, according to new figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published on the 5 April 2016. The data was released to coincide with the start of the Stockholm Forum on Security and Development.

This was the first increase in military spending since 2011. The increase reflectefd continuing growth in Asia and Oceania, Central and Eastern Europe, and some Middle Eastern states. The decline in spending in the West was also levelling off. At the same time, spending decreased in Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Thus, the global military expenditure picture was mixed.

The comprehensive annual update of the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database was accessible at www.sipri.org.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 05.04.16: Russia's EU neighbours boost arms spending https://euobserver.com/foreign/132919

SIPRI: Press Release, 05.04.16: World military spending resumes upward course, says SIPRI http://www.sipri.org/media/pressreleases/2016/milex-apr-2016

Deutsche Welle, 05.04.16: SIPRI: Global military spending rises for the first time since 2011 http://dw.com/p/1IPNr

Sputnik International, 05.04.16: Ten Percent of Global Military Budget Would End World Poverty and Hunger http://sptnkne.ws/aYkw

ESO: Background information: Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/trends-in-world-military-expenditure-2014/

EurActiv, 06.04.16: Global military spending increases, trend predicted to continue http://www.euractiv.com/section/security/news/global-military-spending-increases-trend-predicted-to-continue/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 11.04.16: Trump, NATO, and Europe’s Security http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63292

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