World military spending reached an all-time high of $2.1 trillion in 2021, the seventh straight year that spending increased, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The world has no shortage of hot spots and border disputes. The five largest spenders — the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and Russia — accounted for 62% of global expenditure. But considering countries have different size borders, which spend the most per border mile?
To determine the nations spending the most to defend their borders, 24/7 Wall St. ranked countries by military expenditures per land border mile. 2021 military expenditures data is from the SIPRI and is expressed in constant (2020) U.S. dollars. Land border length came from the CIA World Factbook. Only 133 countries with land borders had military expenditure data. Population and land area data came from the World Bank.
The United States, with the world’s highest total military expenditure of $767.8 billion, and South Korea, which shares the world’s most tense border with North Korea, have the among the highest military expenditures per land border mile of any country on the list. (These are 40 countries spending the most on war.)
Speaking of the world’s hot spots, nations or regions involved in low-boil conflicts or shooting wars are on the list. These include the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where there is an ongoing dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. More broadly, Greece and Turkey may be members of NATO, but the long-time adversaries had a recent flare-up, accusing each other of violating each other’s air space.
Israel spends almost $34 million per mile on its borders to maintain an uneasy peace with some of its Arab neighbors, and a hostile border with others. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s land border is only 310 mile long, as it is mostly an island. (Several island nations did not make the list for this reason.)
Qatar, on the Arabian Peninsula, spends an eye-watering $208,382,426 per mile for its 54-mile border — the shortest on the list — with Saudi Arabia. Qatar and Saudi Arabia had been in conflict beginning in 2017 because the Saudis claimed Doha supported terrorism.
Many NATO members are on the list. They have been cajoled, and sometimes browbeaten. by U.S. presidents to follow the organization’s guidelines of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. One of those nations, Denmark, spends almost $59 million to protect its 87-mile border.
Also on the list are China, Russia, and India, all of which face a daunting task of defending their extended borders. While neighboring Russia and China — each with almost 14,000 miles of border to defend — have experienced a rapprochement in recent years, border tensions between India and China have risen. India also continues to have sporadic conflicts with Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region. (This is the country with the largest military.)
Click here to see which countries are spending the most defending their borders
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30. Ireland
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $3,933,178 per mile (304 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $1.2 billion – #58 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $45,023 per sq. mile – #42 of 133 countries
> Land area: 26,599 sq. mile – #97 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $240.2 per person – #41 of 133 countries
> Population: 4,985,674 – #100 of 133 countries
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29. Indonesia
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $4,333,539 per mile (1,838 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $8.0 billion – #24 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $10,988 per sq. mile – #69 of 133 countries
> Land area: 724,914 sq. mile – #13 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $29.1 per person – #91 of 133 countries
> Population: 273,523,621 – #4 of 133 countries
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28. Canada
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $4,344,459 per mile (5,525 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $24.0 billion – #11 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $6,934 per sq. mile – #81 of 133 countries
> Land area: 3,461,634 sq. mile – #4 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $631.0 per person – #20 of 133 countries
> Population: 38,037,204 – #34 of 133 countries
27. Russia
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $4,559,705 per mile (13,923 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $63.5 billion – #4 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $10,040 per sq. mile – #73 of 133 countries
> Land area: 6,323,145 sq. mile – #1 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $440.6 per person – #25 of 133 countries
> Population: 144,104,080 – #9 of 133 countries
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26. Norway
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $4,596,707 per mile (1,594 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $7.3 billion – #27 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $51,991 per sq. mile – #36 of 133 countries
> Land area: 140,969 sq. mile – #52 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $1,362.4 per person – #6 of 133 countries
> Population: 5,379,475 – #97 of 133 countries
25. Iran
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $4,798,802 per mile (3,662 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $17.6 billion – #15 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $27,947 per sq. mile – #52 of 133 countries
> Land area: 628,868 sq. mile – #15 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $209.2 per person – #43 of 133 countries
> Population: 83,992,953 – #15 of 133 countries
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24. Switzerland
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $5,058,550 per mile (1,100 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $5.6 billion – #32 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $364,649 per sq. mile – #10 of 133 countries
> Land area: 15,257 sq. mile – #107 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $644.2 per person – #18 of 133 countries
> Population: 8,636,561 – #84 of 133 countries
24/7 Wall St.23. Cyprus
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $5,060,636 per mile (97 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $490.5 million – #78 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $137,501 per sq. mile – #17 of 133 countries
> Land area: 3,568 sq. mile – #131 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $406.3 per person – #28 of 133 countries
> Population: 1,207,361 – #127 of 133 countries
22. Sweden
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $5,223,427 per mile (1,374 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $7.2 billion – #28 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $45,632 per sq. mile – #41 of 133 countries
> Land area: 157,263 sq. mile – #49 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $693.1 per person – #16 of 133 countries
> Population: 10,353,442 – #73 of 133 countries
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21. Oman
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $5,679,926 per mile (970 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $5.5 billion – #34 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $46,103 per sq. mile – #39 of 133 countries
> Land area: 119,499 sq. mile – #57 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $1,078.9 per person – #7 of 133 countries
> Population: 5,106,622 – #98 of 133 countries
20. Portugal
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $6,147,222 per mile (761 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $4.7 billion – #41 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $132,187 per sq. mile – #18 of 133 countries
> Land area: 35,369 sq. mile – #88 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $454.0 per person – #24 of 133 countries
> Population: 10,297,081 – #74 of 133 countries
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19. Poland
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $7,303,792 per mile (1,780 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $13.0 billion – #18 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $109,992 per sq. mile – #21 of 133 countries
> Land area: 118,213 sq. mile – #58 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $343.1 per person – #34 of 133 countries
> Population: 37,899,070 – #35 of 133 countries
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18. Belgium
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $7,374,295 per mile (806 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $5.9 billion – #30 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $508,339 per sq. mile – #7 of 133 countries
> Land area: 11,691 sq. mile – #111 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $514.8 per person – #22 of 133 countries
> Population: 11,544,241 – #67 of 133 countries
17. India
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $8,525,845 per mile (8,630 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $73.6 billion – #3 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $64,092 per sq. mile – #31 of 133 countries
> Land area: 1,147,955 sq. mile – #6 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $53.3 per person – #75 of 133 countries
> Population: 1,380,004,385 – #2 of 133 countries
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16. Turkey
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $9,549,083 per mile (1,750 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $16.7 billion – #16 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $56,229 per sq. mile – #34 of 133 countries
> Land area: 297,156 sq. mile – #33 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $198.1 per person – #47 of 133 countries
> Population: 84,339,067 – #14 of 133 countries
15. Greece
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $11,227,560 per mile (690 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $7.7 billion – #26 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $155,598 per sq. mile – #16 of 133 countries
> Land area: 49,769 sq. mile – #79 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $723.7 per person – #15 of 133 countries
> Population: 10,700,556 – #71 of 133 countries
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14. Spain
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $15,171,192 per mile (1,213 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $18.4 billion – #14 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $95,429 per sq. mile – #23 of 133 countries
> Land area: 192,898 sq. mile – #44 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $388.7 per person – #31 of 133 countries
> Population: 47,363,419 – #26 of 133 countries
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13. China
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $19,350,293 per mile (13,954 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $270.0 billion – #2 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $74,203 per sq. mile – #28 of 133 countries
> Land area: 3,638,898 sq. mile – #2 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $191.4 per person – #49 of 133 countries
> Population: 1,410,929,362 – #1 of 133 countries
12. Netherlands
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $19,891,707 per mile (654 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $13.0 billion – #17 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $1,001,166 per sq. mile – #5 of 133 countries
> Land area: 13,000 sq. mile – #108 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $746.2 per person – #14 of 133 countries
> Population: 17,441,500 – #55 of 133 countries
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11. Saudi Arabia
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $20,252,066 per mile (2,654 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $53.8 billion – #6 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $64,770 per sq. mile – #30 of 133 countries
> Land area: 830,000 sq. mile – #11 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $1,544.2 per person – #5 of 133 countries
> Population: 34,813,867 – #37 of 133 countries
10. France
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $21,788,626 per mile (2,458 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $53.6 billion – #7 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $253,341 per sq. mile – #13 of 133 countries
> Land area: 211,413 sq. mile – #42 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $794.9 per person – #13 of 133 countries
> Population: 67,379,908 – #18 of 133 countries
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9. Germany
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $22,867,010 per mile (2,295 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $52.5 billion – #8 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $389,096 per sq. mile – #9 of 133 countries
> Land area: 134,896 sq. mile – #53 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $631.2 per person – #19 of 133 countries
> Population: 83,160,871 – #16 of 133 countries
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8. Italy
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $26,523,113 per mile (1,141 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $30.3 billion – #10 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $263,280 per sq. mile – #12 of 133 countries
> Land area: 114,954 sq. mile – #60 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $509.1 per person – #23 of 133 countries
> Population: 59,449,527 – #21 of 133 countries
7. Kuwait
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $29,375,735 per mile (295 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $8.7 billion – #23 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $1,260,154 per sq. mile – #4 of 133 countries
> Land area: 6,880 sq. mile – #124 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $2,030.2 per person – #4 of 133 countries
> Population: 4,270,563 – #103 of 133 countries
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6. Israel
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $33,905,962 per mile (664 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $22.5 billion – #12 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $2,693,016 per sq. mile – #1 of 133 countries
> Land area: 8,355 sq. mile – #121 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $2,441.7 per person – #2 of 133 countries
> Population: 9,215,100 – #81 of 133 countries
5. Denmark
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $58,775,458 per mile (87 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $5.1 billion – #38 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $331,065 per sq. mile – #11 of 133 countries
> Land area: 15,444 sq. mile – #106 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $876.8 per person – #12 of 133 countries
> Population: 5,831,404 – #93 of 133 countries
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4. United States of America
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $102,951,371 per mile (7,458 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $767.8 billion – #1 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $217,388 per sq. mile – #14 of 133 countries
> Land area: 3,531,839 sq. mile – #3 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $2,316.1 per person – #3 of 133 countries
> Population: 331,501,080 – #3 of 133 countries
3. United Kingdom
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $201,536,579 per mile (310 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $62.5 billion – #5 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $668,981 per sq. mile – #6 of 133 countries
> Land area: 93,410 sq. mile – #65 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $929.7 per person – #10 of 133 countries
> Population: 67,215,293 – #19 of 133 countries
2. Qatar
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $208,382,426 per mile (54 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $11.3 billion – #19 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $2,539,272 per sq. mile – #2 of 133 countries
> Land area: 4,436 sq. mile – #128 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $3,910.0 per person – #1 of 133 countries
> Population: 2,881,060 – #110 of 133 countries
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1. Korea, South
> Military expenditure per land border mile: $323,744,968 per mile (147 miles)
> Total military expenditure: $47.7 billion – #9 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per land area: $1,266,212 per sq. mile – #3 of 133 countries
> Land area: 37,653 sq. mile – #85 of 133 countries
> Military expenditure per capita: $919.7 per person – #11 of 133 countries
> Population: 51,836,239 – #24 of 133 countries
Methodology
To determine the countries spending the most defending their borders, 24/7 Wall St. ranked countries by military expenditures per land border mile. 2021 military expenditures data is from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and is expressed in constant (2020) U.S. dollars. Land border length in kilometers came from the CIA World Factbook and was converted to miles. Only 133 countries with land borders had military expenditure data — all ranks are of 133.
Land area in square kilometers as of 2021 and population figures as of 2020 came from the World Bank World Development indicators. We calculated military expenditures per square miles (after conversion) of area and per capita using those figures.
It is important to note that several island countries did not make the list, including Singapore, Bahrain, Malta, Japan, Seychelles, and Trinidad and Tobago. All six would have ranked in the top 30 had we ranked countries by military expenditures per square mile.
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