At a recent campaign event in South Carolina, former President Donald Trump suggested that under his administration, certain NATO member-states would not receive U.S. support if attacked. The remarks generated widespread backlash and represent a stark departure from what has been a cornerstone of American foreign policy for 75 years.
NATO is a collective defense alliance, and under Article 5 of its founding treaty, an attack against one member-state is an attack on all. To better ensure military readiness, NATO members agreed in 2006 to commit at least 2% of gross domestic product to defense. However, of the 31 NATO members, only eight — including the United States — met this benchmark in 2022. To Trump, the 23 NATO countries with defense spending below 2% of GDP are undeserving of American aid if attacked.
While Trump has long been an outspoken critic of NATO, he is not the only U.S. president to express frustration with military spending among member-states. Both former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama regularly urged NATO members to boost defense spending for the collective good. Notably, however, neither Bush nor Obama ever issued an ultimatum, or called America’s commitment to the alliance into question.
Using 2022 data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 24/7 Wall St. identified the NATO countries that are not paying their fair share. We ranked all 31 NATO member-states on defense spending as a share of GDP, from the biggest spenders, to the smallest. GDP figures are from the World Bank and are noted in 2022 U.S. dollars. All other supplemental data is from SIPRI.
While most NATO members spend less than 2% of their GDP on defense, nearly every country in the alliance has ramped up military spending in recent years. While Turkey’s military budget has contracted by 31% in the last five years, in every other country, defense spending has climbed by at least 5%, and by as much as 82%. With the exception of Iceland, the only country in the alliance without a standing military, every NATO ally has reported increased military spending over the last 10 years.
The controversy sparked by Trump’s recent comments is due in no small part to America’s outsized role within NATO. Not only did the U.S. spend 3.5% of its GDP on defense in 2022, at nearly $877 billion, America’s military budget is by far the largest in the world, and more than double the $360.2 billion in combined defense spending among every other NATO ally. (Here is a look at the world’s largest active military forces.)
Should the U.S. back down from its commitments to NATO under a second Trump presidency, the integrity of the entire alliance would be compromised. Such an action may also embolden Russia in its European territorial conquest. (This is how Russia’s military strength compares to NATO’s.)
31. Greece
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 3.7%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $8.1 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $217.6 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +44.4%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +69.0%
30. United States
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 3.5%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $876.9 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $25.4 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +10.2%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +2.7%
29. Lithuania
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.5%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $1.7 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $71.0 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +44.3%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +353.1%
28. Poland
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.4%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $16.6 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $688.1 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +34.4%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +94.7%
27. United Kingdom
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $68.5 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $3.1 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +15.4%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +9.7%
26. Croatia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $1.3 billion
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $71.6 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +36.0%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +49.9%
25. Estonia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.1%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $810.9 million
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $38.1 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +14.8%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +55.5%
24. Latvia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 2.0%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $848.8 million
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $40.9 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +8.4%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +186.2%
23. France
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.9%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $53.6 billion (approx. $1.9 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $2.8 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +7.2%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +15.0%
22. Slovakia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.8%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $2.0 billion (approx. $315.1 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $115.5 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +42.9%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +109.2%
21. Romania
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.7%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $5.2 billion (approx. $827.1 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $300.7 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +11.5%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +123.8%
20. Finland
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.7%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $4.8 billion (approx. $835.0 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $282.9 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +30.7%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +28.7%
19. Italy
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.7%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $33.5 billion (approx. $7.5 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $2.1 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +18.8%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +23.6%
18. Norway
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.6%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $8.4 billion (approx. $3.2 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $579.4 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +17.2%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +46.5%
17. Montenegro
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.6%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $98.0 million (approx. $26.6 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $6.2 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +26.3%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +56.3%
16. North Macedonia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.6%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $225.0 million (approx. $46.3 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $13.6 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +81.6%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +89.1%
15. Albania
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.6%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $288.7 million (approx. $89.6 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $18.9 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +53.8%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +40.7%
14. Netherlands
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.6%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $15.6 billion (approx. $4.6 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $1.0 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +31.9%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +53.4%
13. Hungary
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.5%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $2.6 billion (approx. $974.5 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $177.3 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +71.7%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +148.4%
12. Bulgaria
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.5%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $1.3 billion (approx. $471.0 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $90.4 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +28.1%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +66.5%
11. Spain
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.5%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $20.3 billion (approx. $8.1 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $1.4 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +13.5%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +28.4%
10. Denmark
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.4%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $5.5 billion (approx. $2.5 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $400.2 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +21.6%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +43.2%
9. Germany
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.4%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $55.8 billion (approx. $25.9 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $4.1 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +18.0%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +32.5%
8. Czechia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.4%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $4.0 billion (approx. $1.8 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $290.5 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +23.9%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +63.6%
7. Portugal
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.4%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $3.5 billion (approx. $1.6 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $255.2 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +10.4%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +19.7%
6. Canada
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $26.9 billion (approx. $15.9 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $2.1 trillion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +4.7%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +48.9%
5. Turkey
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $10.6 billion (approx. $7.5 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $907.1 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: -30.6%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +14.9%
4. Slovenia
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $735.2 million (approx. $466.1 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $60.1 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +38.2%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +58.0%
3. Belgium
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 1.2%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $6.9 billion (approx. $4.8 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $583.4 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +38.8%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +33.9%
2. Luxembourg
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 0.7%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $564.6 million (approx. $1.1 billion short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $81.6 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +56.5%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +155.5%
1. Iceland
- Defense spending as a share of GDP, 2022: 0.0%
- Total defense spending, 2022 USD: $0 (approx. $561.3 million short of 2% threshold)
- Gross domestic product, 2022 USD: $28.1 billion
- 5-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +#DIV/0!%
- 10-yr. change in defense spending, constant USD: +#DIV/0!%
Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
