Graphic detail | Bang for buck

How countries rank by military spending

Our analysis shows how NATO allies match up against their rivals

TO ASSESS THE state of international affairs, a good rule of thumb is to follow the flow of money or weapons. Defence budgets handily track both. A tally released by SIPRI, a think-tank based in Stockholm, suggests that governments are worried: 102 of the 173 countries included in the study increased their defence budgets last year. Globally, spending in real terms was up by 6.8% from 2022, the largest year-on-year increase since 2009.

Explore more

Discover more

The world’s most innovative country

A ranking of 133 countries shows that the global innovation boom is stalling

Who is really in charge of Lebanon?

A visual guide to the country’s tattered political system


The states that will decide America’s next president

Insights from our election forecast model


Want to win an argument? Use a chatbot

AI appears to do a better job of countering conspiracy theories than humans do

What makes Australia so liveable?

The country has some of the highest-ranked cities in EIU’s liveability index 

Should euthanasia be allowed for those with mental illnesses? 

Legislators and doctors are struggling to define who should have the right to die