Defense Spending (% of GDP) (Americas)

Overview

Defense spending as a percentage of GDP reveals how much of a nation’s economic output is devoted to military purposes. NATO members aim for 2% of GDP, while nations facing security threats often spend considerably more. This metric helps compare military commitment across economies of different sizes.

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🇺🇸 United States
Leading Country
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25
Countries Ranked
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Defense Spending (% of GDP) — Top 10 ranking infographic 2026
Defense Spending (% of GDP) — Top 10 ranking infographic 2026
# Country % GDP
1 🇺🇸 United States 3.42%
2 🇨🇴 Colombia 3.36%
3 🇨🇺 Cuba 2.88%
4 🇺🇾 Uruguay 2.31%
5 🇪🇨 Ecuador 2.22%
6 🇨🇱 Chile 1.58%
7 🇭🇳 Honduras 1.58%
8 🇧🇴 Bolivia 1.37%
9 🇨🇦 Canada 1.31%
10 🇯🇲 Jamaica 1.27%
11 🇸🇻 El Salvador 1.19%
12 🇧🇷 Brazil 0.97%
13 🇵🇦 Panama 0.97%
14 🇵🇾 Paraguay 0.93%
15 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago 0.92%
# Country % GDP
16 🇵🇪 Peru 0.91%
17 🇧🇿 Belize 0.90%
18 🇲🇽 Mexico 0.89%
19 🇬🇾 Guyana 0.87%
20 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 0.78%
21 🇦🇷 Argentina 0.62%
22 🇳🇮 Nicaragua 0.55%
23 🇻🇪 Venezuela 0.50%
24 🇬🇹 Guatemala 0.37%
25 🇭🇹 Haiti 0.07%