Top 10 Countries by Military Spending (1870-2020)

This video will compare the top 10 countries by military spending from 1870 to 2020.
To witness events that have shaped our globe today, and watch empires rise and fall, be sure to watch this video. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!
Datasources: Our World In Data, World Bank, The Correlates of War Project, SIPRI, Wikipedia, Eh.net
Music: Heart of Iron 4

[@RankingCharts]

*Only 0.6% of people watching this video are subscribed, so if you enjoyed this video and want to see more, be sure to click that subscribe button! It would be greatly appreciated! This is the largest video on this channel so far, and it will compare the top 10 countries by military spending from 1870 to 2020. Enjoy!

[@2weekofflinepeavine98]

Yes

[@Darkerio]

K

[@commentator4547]

I like your new video. Congratulations 👍

[@mbathroom1]

great job. I love this topic

[@ThemeParkAvenue]

Great video!

[@SamMaalouf]

USSR: Okay, I'm going away, you can cut military spending. USA: _no_

[@Lyu_HX]

After the USSR passed away, the USA is like a man who already drew his sword out but doesn't know where his enemy is.

[@candicoated2001]

I mean we did have War on Terrorism next so.. Edit: - Yes I know it wasn't an actual war. -Yes I know it was about oil. -Yes I know it was America using money to make terrorist fight other terrorist -Yes, I know you dont need that much money to fight. -Yes I know about the atrocities I never said any of those things weren't true or didn't happen. Jesus Christ, it's funny how a one sentence comment can be misinterpreted.

[@theinsomnia9282]

China : LEZZ GOOOO

[@kordellswoffer1520]

Well as percentage of gdp it has been cutting back spending for like 30 years.

[@CC-dk5di]

@@candicoated2001 Yea US trained a bunch of terrorists and fought them. That's because they don't have an enemy so they gotta make one

[@SC-lc5wg]

*Everyone gangsta until Germany suddenly increase thier military spending*

[@TheWagonroast]

:0

[@iris3865]

...oh no-

[@user-cc3iu4mp7x]

@@Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee what does it have to do with Germany's millitary spending?

[@Tosse901]

@@Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee even if germany could, they wouldn't. We live in a free europe, we are peaceful, we are one of the most stable democracies in this planet, I mean what a childish worldview do you have? You think people here are the same as when the nazis were in charge?

[@user-cc3iu4mp7x]

@@Tosse901 do you actually not understand it was a joke?

[@christophermccoy151]

As a Canadian, seeing Canada up there is a trip. I mean I know our position in ww2, but its such a contrast to the 4 tanks we have now.

[@the_milkmann]

As an Aussie I was taken aback by the fact Australia at one point had managed to reach the top 10.

[@dumbhuman1109]

As a brit, I'm shocked my ancestors used to own both of yall

[@juliandacosta6841]

Surprised that it wasn't on the graph during WW1, but that might be because the UK was technically in charge of our foreign affairs at that time.

[@dumbhuman1109]

@@juliandacosta6841 *laughs in British*

[@__KursK__]

Same with germany. Using one half of the Tank fleet as part storages and the other doesnt work

[@thombaz]

As a Hungarian It's crazy to see how fast other countries recovered, we fallen apart in 1918 and still kinda falling.

[@AEIOU05]

Trianon was a bitch, that treaty really unfairly put Hungary to the knife, which was even worse considering how it suffered from WW1

[@fish5671]

@@AEIOU05Hungary really got the germany treatment

[@AEIOU05]

@@fish5671 Versailles was nothing compared to Trianon and St. Germain. Germany was a big country and able to recover whereas Austria and Hungary only survived due to foreign loans

[@KR0TE7]

You guys got the same treatment as germany which was unfair but it's been over a 100 years germany went to another world War had their country destroyed occupied by 2 superpowers and is now prosperous so idk

[@personalmobile9421]

So you don't know about Kurdistan , we became nothing after the collapse of Afsharyd Empire , we are weak enough , even Iran and Turkey claim the name of Empire for themselves . A word of advice for you , keep your distance from Turks , they have nothing to lose

[@krios396]

You know there is a world war when germany is on top

[@harshadbrown2312]

More like when America goes..GAS GAS GAS

[@fuss7414]

And the war end when USA go brrrrrrr

[@Sailinator2303]

1923?

[@cmds5604]

@@harshadbrown2312 and ussr go down. And again GASS GASSS GAASSSSSSSSS

[@Sailinator2303]

1887

[@mateuskievel5357]

I like how Germany always appears with different "clothes" from time to time

[@jordanplays-transitandgame1690]

German Empire, Nazi Germany, East/West Germany, Germany

[@Fabi-ni5im]

@@jordanplays-transitandgame1690 and Weimarer Republic

[@Mincraftdude]

DEUTSCHLAND Das sind wir lol 🇩🇪

[@PW218]

European Union

[@padoraye]

China as well

[@Brandon-ih8mg]

Very interesting, You can literally predict what countries are preparing for war, defending and offensive.

[@guywithknife]

Would love to see this with inflation adjusted dollars so we can better compare spend throughout the years and not just relative spend to other countries

[@odizzido]

It would also be interesting to see the actual purchase power of each dollar spent. One dollar in the soviet union is worth more than one dollar in the states.

[@Mike-ij4rq]

USA at the beginning of a world war: *I’m too weak* USA at the end of a world war: *UNLIMITED SPENDING*

[@fuleinist]

Show me the money 😅

[@handlemonium]

America would make Palpatine proud.

[@elturro3308]

History of any shonen anime

[@erickolb8581]

Obamanation: give everything to the communists in China. Hopefully him and Biden finally decide to give their families over to the communists too. Obama bin Biden

[@Very_Nice_and_Polite_Person]

@@erickolb8581 Conservative madlibs, repeat Fox News talking points but mix up the order to the point where it sounds hilarious and makes no sense. Seriously dude, are you drunk or just really, really stupid? Probably both, right?

[@gryf92]

Nazi Germany: has 9 times the budget of France France: the Maginot Line will hold....

[@Davi_Vilhena]

Germany: *passing by Belgium*

[@turdferguson3803]

The French had been building up their military since the 1920s, Germany only started serious rearmament in the mid 1930s. The Maginot Line would have held if the French had adequately defended the Ardennes, their army was much larger, more motorized, and they even had better tanks for the most part.

[@turdferguson3803]

@Lile Stojkovic They were better armored and had more firepower along with having similar mobility. Tanks like the Char B1 and the Somua S-35 were far superior to the Panzer I and II which still made up the bulk of German armored forces at the time. The Panzer III and Panzer IV would end up being much better later on, but in 1940 they were still underquipped to go up against them. France's military equipment wasn't oudated lol, the French had more modern tanks than the Germans did in 1940. When Germany actually started the war in 1939 they only had enough equipment to equip 3/4ths of their army. France didn't believe that Germany's main attack would be through the ardennes, had they prepared for a major attack the German invasion would have at least stalled or at worst ended in complete disaster. The Germans left their flanks completely exposed and used made panzer divisions keep advancing without artillaery support in order to push through in the first place, had France prepared its armored divisions effectively they could have easily cut off the German spearhead or have stopped the attack dead in its tracks. Even German generals like Guderian said that the Battle of France shouldn't have been a German victory, the French Army was more than equipped enough to stop the German invasion.

[@hman8338]

@@turdferguson3803 this. They believed the Ardennes was naturally impenetrable

[@dominikobora5385]

@@hman8338 thats the problem the french high command was uesless and their tactics outdated, they actually spotted germen columns going through the ardeness but didnt believe it, they could of sent more troops there or bombed the germen columns Also defeatism was a huge problem and due to the very low morale most divisons would just sit in their posisitikns to afraid to so anything, i would have to find the exact source(its midnight rn for me) but a french incursion of 1000 into the ruhr was stopped by 2 machine gunners and a couple riflemen, they just had little to none will to fight

[@Teelie_]

the fact that in the middle of ww2 the peak spending was around 5 bil says a lot about how large the world economy has grown, most of europe was sitting at over 15 in the 1990s

[@goldeagle8051]

I think you're forgetting about inflation.

[@DinnyDonbas]

Buddy did you not watch the video?? Both Germany and USA were at about 50 bil in 42

[@subify14]

@yeeeeeeeeeee78 yeeeeeeh it affects our fart due to WatchData is a fart Edit LIKE

[@ballerVRofficialpoo]

I had imagined these numbers to go bonkers during ww1 lol. Did not disappoint, especially after the Lusitania event 💀

[@martin840909]

In 1943 Germany spent 47 Billion, now UK spent 48 Billion in 2020. Considering US inflation of 17 times from 1940 until now, Germany spent almost 800 Billion in 1945 compared with now, even more than US spending in 2020.

[@godalfred2266]

Power of dictatorship 😂😂😂

[@ryanertime]

The yanks tend to fight the poor, where as the Nazis fought everyone.

[@jout738]

Yes I dont know why US wasting 700 billion nowdays to their poor leftist feminist Lgbtq army, when now major war conflict going on, so in world wars only its best to spend a lot money on military then.

[@ryanertime]

@@jout738 because as global military hegemon they get to exploit the resources of the world as they like and make sure no one tries any other type of govt.

[@MrSpartanspud]

I am pretty sure all the amounts are measured in today's money. Otherwise most of the money in the world today would have been spent on military spending in 1940 if those numbers are before inflation is factored in.

[@anzerepse269]

The fact how fast Germany restored its military and economy from ww1 to ww2 is just incredible

[@anzerepse269]

@@chaimlakota13 true

[@bospaladin8007]

@@chaimlakota13 That's true for many crazy leaders, crazy leaders are actualy good leaders untill they get too crazy.

[@larochejaquelein3680]

@@chaimlakota13 The Nazis were hostile to the idea of social welfare in principle, upholding instead the Social Darwinist Natural Selection concept that the weak and feeble should perish. Also, The German government funded much of its military effort through plunder, especially plundering the wealth of Jewish citizens and the like, both at home and in the conquered territories

[@rakisuta1100]

Hitler spend so much money in those years. One of the main reasons he choose to attack others countries was to loot them

[@lilijhonston]

@@chaimlakota13 he wasn't an amazing leader he was a skilled speaker who used his abilities to bring germany and its neighbours to ruin. You can't really discount the horrible things he did from an assessment of his worth as a leader.

[@labonnesociete]

Wow! Fantastic animated graphics. I think I should invest in military conglomerates ;-)

[@sgx9874]

It would be helpful to have some indication as to what conflict or event is going on as well, as that would greatly explain the rise and fall in spending level for each country.

[@Grooove_e]

Having a basic knowledge of history would do this for you....

[@Mahmood0419]

@@Grooove_eyou shouldn’t embarrass anyone like that

[@Grooove_e]

@@Mahmood0419 Why not? World is too soft these days. People need to be called out.

[@Mahmood0419]

@@Grooove_e it was just a joke

[@hejalll]

@@Grooove_eYou’re misguided if you think the average person is gonna know more than the date of ww1 and ww2 in this period of time

[@sab_mein_expert2214]

"Sir our estimation says we need 10 of these weapons" USA: Hmm ye but give me 100

[@thatoneeagle7895]

America has it's own measurement system so it can have it's own logic system as well ;)

[@levihamm6640]

Backups, soldiers beat the shit out of their weapons, I imagine this is twice as true for us

[@yuqizhao6508]

Meanwhile in USSR, better be 1000 for me.

[@reclusiarchgrimaldus1269]

Never enuff dakka

[@josephc.9520]

Pilot: Sir, may I have a new helmet? I accidentally poured juice into mine and it short circuited. Senior officer: No problem, lemme get you a new one The helmet manufacturer: Ah, another 400k coolly pocketed

[@mr.h4294]

The US has a unique ability to inflate the defense budget to any number it feels like during wars

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

After soviet union collapsed global military spending was reduced quite significantly that you can see in this video as well but sadly after 2001 it exploded again!! Normally i don't believe conspiracy theories at all but a single incident changing people's mindset so severely and making US pro-military, pro-war again couldn't be explained with anything else...

[@mr.h4294]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 we're just bored with the other countries and wanna fight some aliens

[@stalinsaysgulagtime2350]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 Thousands of Americans were killed on our soil. American blood was spilt on American soil by terrorists. That is a reason to go to war.

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

@@stalinsaysgulagtime2350 American blood was split on American soil by terrorists who got funded and armed against soviets between 1979 and 1989 by CIA under Operation Cylone!! Don't forget metioning the last part please...

[@stalinsaysgulagtime2350]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 I'm aware of that, but our "friend" became our enemy. We need to eliminate all terrorists, and never fund them again to fight our enemy.

[@G6JPG]

Fascinating: I watched at quarter speed! One point however: since it's scaled by the top spender, it can be misleading - a bar getting shorter despite that country increasing spend, or vice versa. Maybe it'd be better not to adjust continuously, but use a fixed scale, perhaps jumping by a factor of two whenever the top spender exceeded a (doubling) threshold.

[@200131356]

I’m interested in seeing an updated version of this all the way to 2023

[@R-BURQUENO]

I am as well. I would guess China & Russia definitely had a big uptick in spending these last three years. I'm also surprised not to see Israel somewhere in the Top 10, at least recently throughout this timeline. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ukraine somewhere on this list, and if so, that should count towards the United States/United Kingdom spending. We all know The United States, Poland, United Kingdom ect, are the ones propping up Ukraine. Not advocating for or against it, just stating the obvious. Very interesting.

[@norcofreerider604]

What I find really interesting to think about is that during the 70's and 80's, while military spending by the Soviet Union and the U.S., in terms of dollars, was fairly on par, as a percentage of GDP, the Soviets spent about 25% on the military, while the U.S. was around 4%.

[@kerotomas1]

There is no contest when the US can have any amount of spending and therefore national debt (which is already over a year’s worth of gdp) they choose thanks to the petrodollar

[@ivario]

@@kerotomas1 Are you seriously trying to say that the Soviets couldn't print money with even more freedom in their state-controlled economy 😀

[@kerotomas1]

@@ivario guess what happened? the USSR collapsed because they couldn't pay back the foreign loans - that was used to cover their money printing guess what the US doesn't do? paying back the foreign loans - that is being used to cover their money printing - see? kinda same with the exception that because of the petrodollar the US is not in a hurry paying back any kind of money but it will collapse eventually (when electric vehicles and sht like that is gonna be the mainstream and US's rule over the oil is gonna be useless)

[@Zalmoxesuwu]

@@kerotomas1 the ussr didn’t collapse because of that lol.

[@x_ruevit_x2895]

@@Zalmoxesuwu The USSR collapsed due to many factors, this is just one of them.

[@featuresnobodyaskedfor]

Would be a nice addition to have off to the side a footnote of relevant conflicts at the time. It's always fascinating seeing the massive shifts during times of war.

[@vonsopas]

What’s more interesting IMHO is how the budgets shifted during the 90’s during the immediate Post- Cold War and then the rise of China as the new superpower and the rearmament of Russia. Goes to show how the world order hasn’t really settled down (and is still settling as shown a few days ago)

[@bena9369]

Yesss watching the video i kept thinking like 1898 Spanish American war and things like that

[@billfearnside834]

@@vonsopas right

[@ymj5161]

time stamp is enough for it i think.

[@janknoblich4129]

Yeah what happened with Russia in 1870s?

[@finisbeauchamp6864]

Incredible video. Loved it!

[@ashishchawla90]

Out of curosity..Which software do you use to visualise this data? @Rankingcharts

[@tobias9913]

You can't say anything but Germany's recovery abilities are legendary

[@Thebeepboopman]

Germany after loosing 2 wars, inflation, being cut in half, loosing huge amounts of territory and people: Tis but A scratch

[@kohrona7356]

@@Thebeepboopman lol

[@selambenn]

I agree

[@jaideep2509]

@@Thebeepboopman I wouldn't say Germany lost ww2 yes at the end the result was failure but they left a huge mark

[@Thebeepboopman]

@@jaideep2509 you just said something that supports the fact that germany lost while you were trying to say that it didn't lost. Germanys loss is that huge mark you mentioned. That huge mark was a divided germany, millions of dead german citizen and soldiers, huge economic problems and the loss of territory. And yet according to you it didn't lost?

[@Dragoon45]

The fact it is measured in US Dollars gives a hint to the ending

[@nasrinsultana2202]

Least liked verified comment I ever found. From a ACTUAL CONTENT CREATOR. ONLY 34 LIKES?

[@TheForge10]

so it should be renminbi or the rouble ?

[@joshwhite522]

yo dragoon, i love your content, yoy are truly the goodest and soupiest content creator

[@alexyu8951]

wtf how did i find *you* here and why did I find you only from 20 hrs ago

[@piotrdymek9713]

Only 6 replies, I'M GONNA BE 7TH!

[@DarkMatterX1]

The casual effortlessness of the US rocketing straight to the top any time it needs to is a sight to see.

[@DarkMatterX1]

@@Jk-qx7gm That has zero to do with this video, you absolute butterbrain. This graph shows economic power. The US has the most flexible, dynamic economy on the planet and always has. It's why we became the largest economy on Earth a century after being formed and have remained so for 130 years. Go be an asschapped litttle yuro somewhere else.

[@yuluoxianjun]

yes,biggest terrorist that everyone is fear and hate

[@mho...]

yeah & all they have to do is ignore healthcare, education & freedoms, easy!

[@5top5-tv7mf]

thank you for video.what is program?

[@tylercastano7753]

*Russia spending three times as much as Japan in 1904-5 and still losing the war*

[@98cents]

In all fairness, Russia is huge, and most of their fleet and army was in the west where a majority of the country lived. Those borders were far more important. They hadn't taken Japan serious until the war was practically over for them.

[@delacroixx]

And then it's using 3x less than Germany in ww2 and winning. I guess winning the war is not only about the budget

[@nicknamenick9448]

Actually they won

[@j2174]

Military budget does not mean winning. The US has arguably lost most wars, and yet has nearly always had the or one of the largest budgets. And even in wars they were on the winning side of, it was as allies and they entered late.

[@AntonDDimov]

@@j2174 they deny that

[@tigrecito48]

you should do a timeline of gdp vs military spending to get a % of wealth each nation spends on military

[@j2174]

Yes, that would certainly be more interesting and relevant.

[@quzuqbotak]

Nice

[@hawk5394]

The US would still be on top lol we are war hungry

[@prosterdbz9663]

@@hawk5394 Nope, Russia and North Korea and a few more spend more in terms of %.

[@vincemarenger7122]

@@prosterdbz9663 Yea, North Korea even has the biggest % of population recruited into the military.

[@jellysquiddles3194]

It would be nice to have another bar showing the inflation of the USD alongside.

[@seanrahn2842]

And that folks is the Military Industrial Complex in action!

[@purity_control]

Based

[@mrxsatyr8459]

WW2: *exists* Countries: You wanna see some real speed?

[@juhannusruusu]

Europe*

[@cmds5604]

1914 to 1991

[@desaifamily8239]

@@juhannusruusu The US on this chart whenever we enter a war *Allow us to introduce ourselves*

[@randomclouds4404]

@@juhannusruusu In other news, Japan is now in Europe.

[@daniele5349]

Italy in ww1 and ww2 , why I am so weak? Spent nothing

[@shinizuko]

All nations in 2000s': We only need a army for self-defence USA: *laughs in cowboy*

[@beojack4592]

Russia: Laughs while spraying the Ukrainian tears it was drinking everywhere.

[@chrisblack6258]

I don't see China as self-defence country 😂

[@kilik5713]

@@chrisblack6258 Still only spends a third of the US military budget a year

[@chrisblack6258]

@@kilik5713 Not really. China doesn't count a lot of stuff like research costs into the military spending as US do as far as I understand. The actual spending is much higher than the data shown in the video.

[@kilik5713]

@@chrisblack6258 Does it come close to the US though there is still almost 500 billion in between

[@openyourlies]

Been constipated for the last 5 days and watching this just unblocked me. Very dramatic - but very grateful! 😉🤣

[@ahedsheif]

I like how the United States skyrocketed its military spending during the major wars. It's astonishing to see that.

[@shanelewis5147]

It really is the whole sleeping giant idea

[@bow_wow_wow]

Got a taste of the cherry and never looked back

[@Kruppt808]

Those billion dollar slingshots ate not gonna build themselves :p

[@alexanderjones8914]

All paid for by the loans it was selling the UK to defend democracy

[@Liam_Daly]

It's interesting to see how the US stayed relatively stable in spending growth, from 1870 to 1896. This is really does showing for the first major wars in Europe that the US did have a mentality of it not being their war

[@awanderer3047]

And seeing how the US dominated military spending after that, almost the big brother "You mess with them, you mess with me" mentality Edit: you know what, you people suck and I'm putting it back to my original comment.

[@anime_ymri_blin]

@@awanderer3047 rather, the mentality of a robber and a tyrant

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

@@anime_ymri_blin Putin sure brainwashed you good

[@sugandesenuds6663]

@@awanderer3047 well after ww2 the US military doctrine changed. basically, we build bases around the world, so if any threat to us comes up, we can cut it out before it grows

[@talusn9405]

All know Germany was sponsoring by USA :)

[@demekagamine]

I was gonna sarcastically remark "ah yes moving lines for 10 minutes, very interesting" but then I remembered I play hoi4 for hours at a time.

[@Gwebb74]

1 province at a time

[@BLINDrOBOTFILMS]

I just played the video on 1.5 speed. Still perfectly understandable though the music sounds like the conductor's on cocaine.

[@SteventheOrigin]

_A fellow player who stares at maps for hours. A welcome surprise_

[@TrulyAndasen]

I don't know how but a glorified map staring game is so fun to play

[@Georges_IV]

@@TrulyAndasensame

[@MagisterVeritas]

Everyone's getting a bit nervouse when Germany's like 'I'll have a go at it'

[@LumityShipper-ff3ec]

You can tell what wars were happening when. 1898, US spending skyrocketed for the American-Spanish war. 1903, Russian and Japanese spending were high for the Russo-Japanese… then… world war 2.

[@shaansingh6048]

plus it collapsed during the 1905 revolution

[@Dubanx]

Just some fun years to watch. 1898- Spanish American War 1904- Russo Japanese war. 1905- HMS dreadnought launches, sparking the naval race. 1912- Balkan War (You see the Ottoman empire surge). 1913/1914- WWI and its buildup. 1917- US Joins WWI. 1917-1923- Communist revolution in Russia & Polish-Soviet war. 1933- Hitler takes power. 1939- WWII 1942- US joins war (technically it was December 1941, but 1942 is when you really start to see the budget change). 1949- Russia tests first nuclear bomb. 1950- Korean war 1979-1989- Soviet Afghan war. 1989-1991 Collapse of the Soviet Union> 2001- 9/11 2003- Iraq Invasion. Vietnam's ramp up was so slow that I excluded it. It wasn't actually that interesting to watch.

[@Oeggonom]

Thx Sir. Really interesting.

[@payaso216]

The first one isnt even a war

[@Rescel1]

1871 Franco-Prussian War

[@KushManeLucio]

All that money Soviet union spent on the afghan war just to lose

[@AngelSanchez-fn7qg]

Its curious how usa starts spendig more money before 1898, like they had calculated that war to "liberate" cuba

[@rudolfaerofare2683]

The U.S. reminds me somewhat of how I play RTS games: build up a gargantuan economy first while focusing on defence, then go all-out with an endless, relentless offense and pour a lot into military research/tech. XD

[@idsfxtm5759]

Rts?

[@justinengle7907]

Have you played polytopia? That kind of strategy is really good in that game

[@rudolfaerofare2683]

@@idsfxtm5759 Real-time strategy e.g. Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, Rise of Nations, World in Conflict, Company of Heroes, Total War, etc. :-)

[@rudolfaerofare2683]

@@justinengle7907 Nope! I think it's the first time I've heard of it. I'll check it out, thanks!

[@idsfxtm5759]

@@rudolfaerofare2683 my favorites favorite strategy game is Hoi4 and Eu4

[@keliaaineteleri1419]

Quite the little US spike from 1896-8 for the Yaqui and Spanish-American wars. It would be interesting to see this as a percentage of GDP or Per Capita.

[@frankfranco3626]

Thank you! I was wondering why.

[@heavyd777]

If you know some history this is like a time machine.

[@KrwawyLeon]

1938, Poland and the USA have an equal military budget. Crazy times.

[@shturm9391]

The US didn't have any treats.

[@turdferguson3803]

Poland had a very large army and considerable airforce, they weren't a pushover like people think they were. They were just isolated from all their allies so they were helpless once war started.

[@shturm9391]

@@turdferguson3803 just the US had and pretty small army, they didn't have literally any treats like I said. Polish army was nothing compared to the other European forces

[@JohnnyReb1976]

They were doing OK before communism screwed them over.

[@lordpolish2727]

@@shturm9391 literally nothing? The Polish army was over a million strong, and who is this “other European forces”?

[@nickdettmer6967]

In the early periods, you can actually majorly tell when the US was at war. The budget would go from “just enough” to “you have chosen death” really fast. After world war 2, though, I just sort of stayed at that elevated state. EDIT: Okay, guys, seriously. Break it up. I was just trying to make a lighthearted observation. Please stop arguing over the modern state of the United States.

[@lordomacron3719]

this in part why Amdrail Yamato said "I can give you 6 months of Victory" i think he also referanced the USA as a Sleeping dragon it was its Economic power he feared more that its Millitary

[@michaelswartz4903]

The policy after world War 2 was to be able to fight off a minimum of 2 other nations at once. Since world War 2 we fought on 2 fronts reapectively... Europe and Asia (yes I know Africa but that falls under the European side pushing them back to europe) we have essentially maintained the ability to strategically hold a prolonged War with the next 2 strongest nations ever since... Russia and China and fight them both at once

[@bodhijitbiswas6282]

@@michaelswartz4903 at this point the US can take on the rest of the world combined in a conventional war if it was a defensive engagement.

[@michaelswartz4903]

@@bodhijitbiswas6282 5000 years of military doctrine has taught us that one does not defend there way to victory. And the us is in a bad place. We would be hard pressed to fight a war with just one other super power right now let alone 2. China and Russia. Russia being the most modernized to us atm with equivalent equipment. The Chinese have had only small engagements in recent history but capabilities are not far off.

[@MyBrainGlows]

@@michaelswartz4903 half of russian war material doesnt even work properly. They just builded some new flagships to look cool, a lot of money went a loooong way down to generals or ministers privat bank accounts.

[@john2000young]

Where did you get the data?

[@FantasyFrames-007]

Cool to see the development

[@stuartmynard]

These are amazing. It would be cool to include the major conflicts and wars that were happening on a timeline of some sort. You can see major events like WWI and WWII and the Cold War but it's really interesting to see the expenditure build up well before those events. Great work as always and thank you!

[@burgherwithfrenchspies]

Just know the years of most of these major conflicts and your good

[@LycanFerret]

You can also see 9/11 where the U.S spending massively shoots up during late 2001.

[@RandomDudeOne]

Interesting that at the end of the video US is spending more on defense than the other countries combined, but military spending as a percentage of US GDP, it is a fraction of what the US was spending during the Cold War. That's just how massive the US economy is.

[@tejedestinos-petonboostead6733]

Or you can go read something instead of watching EVERYTHING on yt

[@LycanFerret]

@@tejedestinos-petonboostead6733 What's the difference between reading a compilation of what someone found and then wrote about, and watching a compilation of what someone found and then made a video about? Both are secondary and tertiary sources. Just a different medium. And unfortunately for us, a primary source on military spending over 100 years ago will be impossible to find. We barely have news articles from that time period still around. Things just weren't documented as well, so the majority of the human race consumes what other people found and takes the knowledge as their own. Really that's how learning works if you think about it. Because if we all had to relearn how to do stuff with no help from our progenitors we'd never have passed the stone age. Just watching and reading things others have found and made into a more consumable format, for hundreds of millions of years. Only a rare few each century making a new invention or find using primary sources.

[@joellugg9183]

I would be really interested in seeing defense spending as a percentage of GDP, in similar graph form.

[@lorainisrael]

It would be more interesting for me to see it against minimum wages. Because in Russia the minimum pay might be lower comparing to GDP than say in the UK. It is one thing to spend a lot on military when your people are wealthy, another thing when they are kept poor no matter how much money the country has.

[@scufidon]

@@lorainisrael Then it is necessary to compare all laws and social programs. In general, it seems to me that most of the data from the video, as well as GDP, have a very large error

[@Mika-85]

@@lorainisrael there's absolutely no point. And it's not possible. As many countries, such as the US don't even have a nationwide minimum wage.

[@RunPJs]

@@lorainisrael it's possible to compare similar defence equipment. Definitely get more for the $ in poorer countries

[@HTMangaka]

What fascinates me is: China, a country with 5 times our population, has a military 1/4th as advanced as ours. O_O

[@toniee98]

love how Brazil does quick appearances in the list just to go down again

[@saransathish321saran9]

I need the preprocessed data for my visualization purposes so please help me with the data set

[@snickerpls5111]

As an italian, it's incredible to me how Italy remained in this top 10 for at least half the time. I'd have never imagined that we'd be this much dispensing when it comes to military

[@baespa]

Poor Italy had to be forced into war by their leader

[@konvoker]

Yes that's amazing.... But thinking about how our troops where equipped during the first world war with cardboard boots and this kind of stuff makes me wonder... The money where "put" there but as always in our country most of it ended up in a few pockets I guess

[@CraigMCox]

Do you still have to keep receipts for buying coffee in Italy? I remember that rule when I was there. Was an anti-corruption measure

[@snickerpls5111]

@@CraigMCox I remembered being a thing like... 10 years ago or something, but as of right now it's mostly not required. It technically still IS required to acquire it after purchase, but not to hold it

[@snickerpls5111]

@@konvoker Un po come si sta rivelando essere l'invasione russa in ucraina. Tutto fumo, poco arrosto a causa di fondi monetari nascosti/rubati dagli alti ranghi

[@jackscully7986]

This is mind-boggling. Imagine if we, as a species, could direct these resources to something more fruitful.

[@jozsefkati9342]

Unfortunately there is a saying...peace doesn't pay.

[@biggusdickus1792]

Oddly enough, many technologies are a direct result of war, like the telegram. War is in our blood, always has been.

[@Bouhlvay]

Peace sells... But who's buying?

[@tylertrii9865]

It is, we have learned so much science do to war.

[@j.c.denton2312]

@@Bouhlvay the US military actually funded the creation of the internet

[@trees3987]

crazy how they recovered so fast, they were very advanced in a lot of fields but we don’t learn about it

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

4:49, I saw this graph and all of a sudden the song Over there started playing from some unknown source.

[@sparky6899]

US Citizens: How about some healthcare? US Gov: How about some missiles instead?

[@Stevenlee-vl7rx]

We have healthcare. You mistake free healthcare for good healthcare.. When they are not one on the same

[@carval51]

the problem is not that you don't have budget for healthcare. but your healthcare is corrupted and had alot of lobbying to the point that it had unreasonable prices. just look at prices in Usa compared to every other country

[@sparky6899]

@@Stevenlee-vl7rx No healthcare is free. It's just that some countries prioritise the health of their citizens over making instruments of war.

[@carval51]

@@MegaTeeruk people really need to see this chart the military spending of Usa literally smaller than education or even healthcare.

[@Stevenlee-vl7rx]

@@sparky6899 you clearly cant read. Lets try one more time. Free healthcare... Is not the same... As good healthcare.

[@beastchode4916]

Germany: *Raises military spending* Rest of the World: 👀

[@BabsJohnson111]

We did so again since 2022 but I promise we are on the good side this time

[@VSMSusi]

@@BabsJohnson111 **does blitzkrieg**

[@akhandbharat1593]

@@BabsJohnson111 you have no gas to get through winter, we aren't even concerned about Germany anymore

[@nein236]

@@BabsJohnson111 Bevor wir wirklich in den Krieg ziehen, haben wir hier einen Bürgerkrieg. "Gute Seite". Keine Seite ist hier gut. Wir sind Ami-Puppen, selber wird in Deutschland sowieso nichts entschieden. Und Bolschewismus ist der gleiche Dreck wie Nationalsozialismus. Warum Lenin?

[@SpaceRaptor510]

@@BabsJohnson111 I mean I would mind a german world dictatorship personally

[@Disturbedmelloow]

I get increasing, but did they sell too? Since it's decreasing often?

[@user-xo9kz7he4i]

Russia: We have a working hypersound and underwater nuclear drones. USA: We have a dozen aircraft carriers and a starlink - but fuck knows how to fight them...

[@genericusername568]

Poland being in top 3 for any amount of time is impressive Edit: I hate these people to but wow I have never got 50 likes before and I get 1.9k!? Thanks so much

[@exocet8834]

Basically 1947-50

[@bidehelfensiemir4538]

any amount of time, shure 🤪🤡 are you on drugs?

[@Ledzinskii]

@@exocet8834 the fuk u talking about xd 1965 1973

[@Ledzinskii]

@@exocet8834 its like most of the time top 10

[@rom2387]

в составе СССР))

[@LesLess]

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed...The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities." President Dwight Eisenhower (1953)

[@gybx4094]

Eisenhower was a rare man. A 5-star General who learned to despise war. He warned us in his farewell speech.

[@skyguytomas9615]

@@gybx4094 Eisenhower may have been a rare one, but he wasn't anti war in office. Most of his involvements were followed the anti-communist rhetoric of the day, which saw little opposition domestically.

[@muse2182]

Words are cheap. Quotes are cheaper

[@alucardcount9478]

Boo hoo

[@spiritualawakening2675]

@@muse2182 with your bar set that high, who have you voted for in recent presidential elections? There hasn't been a presidential candidate with character in 50 years. They've all been sworn in on empty words.

[@G6JPG]

It'd be interesting to see one showing such spend as percentage of GDP.

[@aaronwhite1929]

Do the spending numbers include military aid sent to other countries?

[@rebellionplaysyt6038]

Ottoman: hello me rich Also ottoman a minute later: bye

[@TheJewishNazi69]

they would’ve been on or near the top for about 400 years prior to this timeline

[@subhashishbagchi3191]

Top 5 countries according to their military expenditure in 2020 1. USA - $731 Billion 2. China - $261 Billion 3. India - $71 Billion 4. Russia -$65 Billion 5. Saudi Arabia- $ 61 Billion

[@eliwhite5548]

Top 10 countries according to military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1. Oman 10.9% 2. Saudi Arabia 8.4% 3. Algeria 6.7% 4. Kuwait 6.5% 5. Israel 5.6% 6. Azerbaijan 5.4% 7. Jordan 5% 8. Armenia 4.9% 9. Morocco 4.3% 10. Russia 4.3% Bonus: 16. US 3.7%

[@tyty-xm8fw]

@@eliwhite5548 yeah I feel like people overestimate how much money the US is spending on its military. It's not spending very much compared to its GDP.

[@bangladeshball5644]

2022( Recent) 1. USA= 801 Billion 2. China=292 Billion 3.India=76 Billion 4.Russia= 64 Billion 5. United Kingdom = 59 Billion

[@ProtiumPower]

Germany is now going to be 3rd.

[@tyty-xm8fw]

@@wontonz6129 yes but the United States also fights conflicts all over the world. The US military also has huge research and development pushes.

[@DeeJay2715]

During the 2nd Boer War, UKs' military spend went into overdrive.

[@Luckypew]

It's also very interesting that there are other countries that are spending less than a third than what the US is, and still their military power is coming close. If this budget was cut in half We would still almost the same as the other topic countries combined

[@Me-fm9zk]

Everyone spend their military budget on national defense, US does not. US military is an exportable national product that they sell to other countries, and they profit from it. Don’t be fooled, no one gives anything for free, or spends something without benefiting from it. US is the biggest capitalist country in the world.

[@bluntcabbage6042]

Because US workers and personnel are paid more, and the American dollar goes further in other countries. Rudimentary knowledge on currency helps when you're comparing budgets.

[@akshat8252]

India after 2014 : This seems interesting, imma going to join this

[@akshat8252]

@Ashish Mishra so you want china to rule us

[@eternaldragon7392]

@@akshat8252 if you are saying that we should wage a war against china We can't Not beacuse we can't win Beacuse of No first attack policy We have a 100 billion dollar trade with China wich would be sanctioned if we wage wars Non participation of allies because we waged war Various geo politics involved with war China can (will) wage war against us but we are far more prepared then we were during indo-sino war Borders have fortified Equipments upgraded Military entrenched Also I would like to say IAF is much more advanced than Chinese air force along our borders

[@akshat8252]

@@eternaldragon7392 we have defence because of that it might be challenging for them to defeat us if they attacked us. We have seen what happened to Tibet. We need best army

[@akshatpiyush2835]

@@akshat8252 Your name is same as me bro 😊

[@wh2960]

@@akshat8252 spend money on the military so hard that your people go into poverty

[@shturm602]

I just love how throughout the late 90s and early 00s Japan, a country whose constitution technically prohibits it from having a military, had the second highest spending

[@birdofgrey6542]

They're not prohibited from a having a military. They just can't have a standing army.

[@TysonJensen]

They are prohibited from spending more than 1% of their money on defense. They spend the full amount allowed each year. What the chart shows is the massive economic engine Japan had built!

[@corbintodd9339]

@@birdofgrey6542 also not true. They can’t have an “offensive” military. But they’re actually amending their constitution to allow for that now

[@XXX3155]

@@birdofgrey6542 Isn't a standing army the same thing as a military

[@TheAmbex]

They were prohibited from having a military that was geared towards offense, hence why its called the JSDF or Japanese Self Defense Force.

[@belgik]

The US during the ends of WWI, WWII and 1991 onwards: Did you try to outslay ✨Selenurrrr✨????!?!

[@badassat69]

Masterpiece!!! One of the 3 best videos I have seen this year so far. It is like watching, during 10 minutes, the military evolution of 1 1/2 centuries, it's like watching history unfold. Thank you, RankingCharts.

[@soerensans2375]

Germany over night: Hold my 100 Billion

[@eHun963]

wars financed by bankers, great video

[@teteeheeted]

The point when Greece got up to the top nations in spending was amazing

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

I mean to my country its chump change but have fun down there is like #7 that one time bro. That is impressive tbh. Not as impressive as usa but impressive for such a small place nonetheless

[@skylinelover9276]

Greece is still the no.2 most spending nation in NATO (but interms of per Capita)

[@skylinelover9276]

Greece has only 10m people but they have 12 frigates, 11 submarine, 200 fighter jets, 1200 tanks etc.... That's uncommon to the nations that have only 10million people

[@Inderastein]

China: slowly climbing* USA: You heard something hon? Russia: Must've been the wind.

[@nemura7578]

China rising isnt really surprising seeing how she has 1.2 billion people not to mention the US that always threaten war with china which is very ironic. The US saying its because of human rights violation while the US literally has dozens and dozens of war crimes in the arabian peninsula as well as in central and south america

[@cortster12]

@@nemura7578 China always threatens war with Taiwan and theit power creep in the South 'China' sea, soooo we have to tell them to knock it off.

[@user-qg9yy1yg5u]

@@cortster12 What war? Which war ? What do you mean your " always" ? What do you know about Taiwan ?

[@sirhu3633]

@@cortster12 Maybe the Chinese couldn't solve the Taiwan issue 30 years ago, but it's different today

[@hikalankgraviphoton2106]

@@cortster12 Taiwan is China’s inherent territory, this is a civil war🤗

[@tjek12345]

That drop in the USSR's spending from 1988 to 1989 was intense

[@jakeiota]

Considering what was happening then in the country - it is not surprising

[@tgburn6984]

Because of Gorbachev he focused on people's happiness than strengthening the military but it bite him in the back

[@tgburn6984]

@@Wicker_ I would love to see gorbachev ruling ussr than what happened after dissolution of ussr

[@2298839082508923859]

@@tgburn6984When are creating artificial famine and total destruction of Soviet industry and economy became "people happiness"? My relatives were riding over 200 km to my parents every week just to take some food, because there wasn't any in the cities. Gorbachev and his "perestroika" killed thousands and ruined lives of billions in Russia and all ex-Soviet republics. Literally worst thing that happened with russians, even Hitler's invasion was less devastating...

[@pavelmorozov6599]

Because you know the Soviet union was collapsing.

[@MrCho14]

Absolute numbers are neat to look at. How about spending as a percent of GDP? Or per capita?

[@ThePhoenixAscendant]

This would be interesting if it were adjusted for inflation so it can make more sense in the modern economy. Also it would be interesting to see the top countries by per capita military spending...

[@emiljeziorski9923]

The film indicates that Poland in 1938 had military expenditures of $1,000,000,000. But that's probably a mistake. The entire Polish budget in 1938 was about $500,000,000. So it was 1,000,000,000, but PLN. In 1971, for example, it is correct. But you have to remember that the expenses are converted according to the official $/PLN exchange rate. $1 for 4 PLN, when on the black market it was about 100 PLN for one dollar.

[@herisuryadi6885]

Eh might've been adjusted to today's dollar

[@10054]

It's been adjusted to today's current inflation.

[@PBMS123]

The values appear to have been adjusted for inflation, so these are showing relative spending in today's dollars.

[@emiljeziorski9923]

@@PBMS123 I don't think so, because the 1971 value for Poland is marked correctly. That's what it was in dollars without taking inflation into account.

[@emiljeziorski9923]

@@PBMS123 Polish military budget in 1938 was PLN 1,000,000,000. Which is about $191,000,000 in 1938. Adjusted for inflation, by 2021 it should be $3,500,000,000.

[@teslaromans1023]

I love how you can see the world events happening just by looking at the dynamics of those spendings

[@IBlackE]

Yup...once the 1930s came about I knew Nazi Germany was going to dramatic appearance and sure enough by 1937 it went to the top.

[@dadchin9746]

I love how during bith wirld wars the US is lagging in like 4th ir 5th place abd then bear the end it just *zooms*

[@npkashyap]

How did you make this video?

[@BOMBON187]

1989 USA: Has activated infinite money cheat code

[@Landskron1969]

"Top 10 Countries by Health Care spending."

[@rais1953]

US is the highest. Its results are among the worst in the OECD.

[@maxbond2824]

US is still the biggest spender there.... by far

[@TheEpicLJ]

35 percent the military is only 17

[@wraspita]

Per capita at least, and a kpi for efficiency. Otherwise, the US wins by sheer size.

[@PoloDavey]

Captivating

[@Aref.sayyad]

Amazing statistics 😮😮😮

[@treyalexanderson605]

World: Okay US you won the cold war it’s time to stop US in the 2000s: *Goes Super Saiyan 3*

[@youtwat6525]

France looking at Germany spending $12,000,000,000 and taking Austria in 1938: This is fine

[@louisxcxv1905]

Actually no, and in 1934 our PM will contact the english PM stating that "with the current rise lf the german military, I (French PM) believe that the only option given to us will be war. And we would be wise to do it now, when they have nothing, than to do it when they have regarhered their strengths". The english answer will be clear "Nothing will happen with germany as they have signed diplomatic agreements"... yeah, that worked out...

[@eurobass8665]

Chuckles „im in danger“

[@fkjl4717]

@@louisxcxv1905 what about Munich deal? French PM become stupid pretty fast.

[@louisxcxv1905]

@@fkjl4717 yeah, really not sure you can say that when your PM was Chamberlain... After coming back from the munich treaty Chamberlain clamored to all who could hear "I saved the peace in Europe!" And daladier (french PM) will say when seeing his compatriots congratulate him "fools I bring you war and you dont realize it". The french PM will change before WW2.

[@fkjl4717]

@@louisxcxv1905 it matters what he did, not what he sad. P.S. my PM was Stalin:)

[@Fabidafish]

as a polish person im suprised how much we spent like 50 yrs ago

[@JL-sm6cg]

It's funny how America never left this list, but our neighbors to the north, Canada, briefly blipped into the chart at #10 during the 60s.

[@jamesg9468]

At a time when Canada actually had armed forces. Look at them now.

[@Squidward558]

Biggest problem with this is that it looks like military spending has only increased drastically over the last 150 years but if you account for inflation and percentage of GDP it's actually the lowest in history outside of some outliers.

[@Laharnaman]

Precisely. Needs to be adjusted for inflation or given as percentage of GDP

[@christianhaberle514]

I believe the video was pre adjusted to inflation

[@gamma_dablam]

It actually IS adjusted to inflation

[@Burt1038]

@@gamma_dablam lol no it absolutely is not adjusted for inflation. You really think you can build an entire army for a few million bucks in TODAY's dollars?

[@zaraofficial7871]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baWtonaJi5WUjNk

[@billt8504]

Makes me want to research Italy's military history now, because they were in the top 10 in spending nearly throughout this entire video and what do they have to show for it? Except for some minor victories against a few northern Africa countries just before WWII, I can't think of a single major win for them since before the Middle Ages. Great culture, and the Roman Empire was great, but wow, what a waste of money since 1870.

[@lordcthulhu8472]

Well the campaigns of Victor Emmanuel II on his way to unify Italy, was the highlight of Italian military power. Defating local rival, he won against foreign great powers and even the pope. Most of the time most of the time, he was able to use the great powers squabbling amoung each other to get them to promise him control Italian land either for his neutrality or for war. Bit later on you also have Italy war with the Ottoman empire, just a few years before WW1, where they conquered Libya away from the turks. Or "conquered", Italy mainly controlled the coast of Libya and the big cities. It took until Mussolini before inland was subdued, with brutal and genocidal tactics. Back when Mussolini was seen as more as the incomentent sidekick. There is actually a very good movie about Libya resistance against Mussolini, called "lion of the desert". It surprisingly accurate, even thought it was funded by Gaddafi.

[@MJ-og8tm]

Egypt and Italy have good military

[@danielsomers4025]

South Tyrol, the took and still have a whole region of Austria from WW1.

[@DandyDNA]

The Italian finance minister has similar duties to the Saudi justice minister

[@ThisGuyRides]

Used to be a joke about Italian WW2 rifles for sale, "never fired, dropped once"

[@user-gx6zm5wj8s]

Please compare with BC, does it make sense for 1870?

[@Yt_Pupsik_Yt]

Damn, how supposedly to do this site or attach it???

[@carterzhang2977]

Nice video 👍 thanks for doing it with historical countries

[@williamwyant]

Really helps to show how much the US’s bloated military is a holdover from the Cold War. You can see how once the larger conflicts end other nations would decrease spending to reflect the easing of tensions but US is still spending as if the Soviet Union never went away

[@JeconB]

It also shows that until 2021...the United States has been at constant warfare since the fall of the USSR. Think Gulf War, Iraq War, Afghanistan War...that's been basically continuous since 1991.

[@drh3b]

Have you not been paying attention to the news?

[@chrisparnham]

@@drh3b The news is the same for everyone. His point was that after the Cold War, the need for military spending was less. The Warsaw Pact was no longer an entity in fact most of those countries ended up in NATO. The Soviet Union was no more with several of the countries making that up joining NATO and Russia's military spending was severely reduced. There have been wars that included the US in them but many other countries were involved in the same wars. Military spending is for the most part a waste of money, the vast majority of it going on wages, admin, and maintaining arms, equipment, and facilities. It's a pity for the American people that they didn't get to see some benefits from the ending of the Cold War as the other countries did.

[@astronova3508]

@@chrisparnham China? North Korea? Russia?

[@utkarshg.bharti9714]

The US prints infinite money so it can do that.

[@Deere55]

The Hearts of Iron 4 music was genius for this

[@marcelbandol7296]

Hum, wish you made a video but with the total spending and show the endless money pit.