Pakistan’s military spending rose by 11 percent to $11.9 billion in 2025, according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This made Pakistan the 31st largest military spender in the world.
The increase was mainly due to new orders for aircraft and missile systems from China. These purchases came after a short armed conflict with India in May 2025. Payments for older defence contracts that were nearing completion also added to the higher costs.
The May 2025 clash, which lasted a few days and involved aircraft, drones, and missiles, raised tensions between the two neighbours. India responded by increasing its own military budget by 8.9 percent to $92.1 billion. This placed India as the world’s fifth-largest military spender.
Pakistan has long depended on China for most of its weapons. SIPRI data shows China supplied about 80 percent of Pakistan’s major arms imports in recent years. The new deals in 2025 helped modernise Pakistan’s forces after the conflict.
Global military spending reached $2,887 billion in 2025, up for the 11th year in a row. Regional security concerns in South Asia pushed both Pakistan and India to spend more on defence. Experts say such rises reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen military readiness in a tense neighbourhood.
