Across the globe, military budgets are increasing.
How does military spending compare with humanitarian aid costs?
And while the bombs fall on countries across Africa, Asia, America and Europe, the number of people who are forced to flee their homes increases. As does the need for humanitarian assistance.
According to the latest figures, 123.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes. In less than 10 years, the figure has doubled.
How much money is spent on global military budgets?
In 2024, the world spent USD 2.7 trillion on military expenditure, a figure that has increased every year for a decade.
The five countries that spend the most money on the military are the US, China, Russia, Germany and India. The US, at the top of the spending list, spent 3.4 per cent of its gross national income (GNI) on their military in 2024.
Norway is in 28th place, spending 2.1 per cent of GNI on the military.
How much money is spent on humanitarian aid?
The total of global foreign aid spending in 2024 was 212 billion. And of this, 25 billion was spent on humanitarian aid.
The UN target for each country to spend on all foreign aid assistance is 0.7% of GNI. Only Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg and Germany have met or exceeded this target in recent years.
How do military budgets compare to humanitarian aid budgets?
Every 24 hours, USD 7.4 billion is spent on military costs worldwide.
This amount could provide:
- 4.5 million people with food for a full year
- 135 million people with safe drinking water for a full year
- 150 million children with education for a full year
- 74 million people with healthcare for a full year
Humanitarian aid saves lives and is little compared to the amount spent on military budgets.
You can make a difference. Support people who are displaced in Gaza, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan and other humanitarian crises. Donate now.