15 Countries With Highest Defense Spending and Largest Military Budgets

10. South Korea

Military Spending: $36.8 Billion

Being bordered on the North by one of the most unstable countries in the world, it’s not surprising that South Korea’s military spending ranks it among the 15 countries with the highest defense spending and largest military budgets, amassing 2.7% of its GDP. In addition to North Korea, tensions abound between many neighboring countries, such as between China and Japan, and India and Pakistan. Even though between 2007 and 2016, South Korea’s military expenditures increased by 35%, its spending as a percentage of GDP remained largely the same, helped by economic growth that allowed an increase in spending without over-burdening the budget.

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