Armenia and Azerbaijan Among the Top Ten Countries with Highest Military Burden in the World

Azerbaijan and Armenia have found themselves in the top ten countries with the highest military burden in the world, according to a report by SIPRI.

According to expert data, the share of military expenditures in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the two countries in the South Caucasus significantly exceeds the global average, which is projected to be 2.5% in 2025.

In the global rankings of military expenditure intensity, Azerbaijan ranks 6th in the world, with defense expenditures making up 6.5% of its GDP. Armenia follows closely behind, ranking 7th globally with a GDP share of 6.1%.

SIPRI analysts note that Azerbaijan has also been among the countries with the most significant increase in military burden over the year, raising this indicator by 1.4 percentage points.

In the global context, it is highlighted that the South Caucasus exhibits a level of militarization in its economy comparable to active conflict zones and regions with traditionally high defense budgets.

For comparison, the top five countries with the highest military burden in 2025 are as follows: Ukraine at 40%, Algeria at 8.8%, Israel at 7.8%, Russia at 7.5%, and Saudi Arabia at 6.5%.