The data collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows the development of military spending among the United States (US), Israel, and Iran over 20 years, from 2004 to 2024.
Using constant prices converted to US dollars (US$) in 2024, US and Israeli spending has increased in recent years.
In 2022, US spending amounted to US$896.12 billion, rising to US$916.01 billion in 2023 and US$965.38 billion in 2024.
Similarly, Israel's spending increased from US$23.2 billion in 2021 to US$27.5 billion in 2022 and US$45.33 billion in 2024.
In contrast, Iran's spending decreased in the last year. In 2022, it amounted to US$7 billion, rising to US$7.4 billion in 2023 and falling to US$6.6 billion in 2024.
Among the three countries in conflict, the US clearly have the largest military spending over 20 years, followed by Israel and Iran.
In SIPRI's records, the US is indeed listed as the country with the largest military expenditure in the world.
The constant price (2024) in the latest data for 2024 is recorded as US$968.38 billion, while the current price is US$997.3 billion, or 37% of total global military spending.
Note that all figures for the US refer to the fiscal year (every October 1 of the previous year-September 30 of the written year) and not the calendar year.
US military spending includes a portion of the total National Intelligence Programme, which SIPRI considers to be military-related activities. US figures also include estimated military aid to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, all series of spending for Israel were revised in 2020. Israeli military spending is based on data provided by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Central Bureau of Statistics.
As for the information on Iran, it includes the expenditure for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is defined as a paramilitary force. The figures also include pensions referred to as the Armed Forces Social Security Organization.
The exchange rate used for the conversion from Rial to US$ is based on the NIMA exchange rate launched by the central bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran in April 2018.