India’s defence spending rose by around six percent in 2022, making it the world’s fourth largest spender on military affairs. This information comes from a report by Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report states that around 23% of India’s spending was towards equipment and infrastructure, including that along the China border where tensions continue. However, a large part of the spending went towards salaries and pensions.
India spent USD 81.4 billion on military expenditure in 2022. This represents a six percent increase from 2021 and a 47 percent increase from 2013. The report suggests that the increase in spending is due to border tensions with China and Pakistan. Capital outlays, which fund equipment upgrades for the armed forces and military infrastructure along its disputed border with China, accounted for 23% of total military spending in 2022. Personnel expenses, such as salaries and pensions, remained the largest expenditure category in the Indian military budget, accounting for around half of all military spending.
The United States was the top spender on military affairs in 2022, accounting for 39% of the world’s military spending. China was the second highest spender (13%), followed by Russia (3.9%), India (3.6%), and Saudi Arabia (3.3%). Together, these five countries accounted for 63% of total global military spending in 2022.
