Global military spending has reached unprecedented levels, marking the steepest increase since the Cold War. In 2024, military expenditure surged to a record $2.718 trillion, reflecting ongoing conflicts and geopolitical turmoil worldwide. Among the top military spenders, India ranks fifth, allocating $86 billion to its defense budget. This figure is almost nine times more than Pakistan's military expenditure, which stands at $10.2 billion.
India's $86.1 billion military expenditure in 2024 represents a 1.6% increase from the previous year. This investment is part of India's broader objective to modernize its military and strengthen its strategic defenses, particularly in light of regional threats from China and Pakistan. In comparison, Pakistan's defense spending in 2024 was $10.2 billion, a 5.1% dip.
The significant disparity in military spending between India and Pakistan underscores the contrasting economic and strategic priorities of the two nations. India's larger economy and geopolitical aspirations drive its higher defense budget. In the 2025 Union Budget, India allocated ₹6.8 lakh crore for the defense sector for FY 2025-26, including ₹1.8 lakh crore for modernization. This allocation represents 1.9% of India's projected GDP for 2024-25 and 13.45% of the government's total budget. Meanwhile, Pakistan allocated ₹2.12 lakh crore (Pakistani Rupees), equivalent to INR ₹64,082 crore, for its military for FY 2024-25, which is about 1.7% of its GDP.
Despite spending a smaller percentage of its GDP on defense compared to Pakistan, India's significantly larger GDP translates to a much bigger defense budget in absolute terms. This allows India to maintain a larger and more technologically advanced military force. India has a formidable ground force with 4,201 tanks, including advanced T-90 Bhishma and indigenous Arjun tanks, as well as 148,594 armored vehicles. India's air force is equipped with 2,229 aircraft, including advanced fighter jets like Rafale, Su-30MKI and indigenous Tejas. The Indian Navy has a fleet of 293 ships, including two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, and 18 submarines. In comparison, Pakistan has 2,627 tanks, 1,399 aircraft including 328 fighter jets and 121 naval ships with no aircraft carriers.
India's focus on domestic defense production is also noteworthy, with 75% of capital outlay earmarked for indigenous procurement. However, the country still relies on imports for advanced systems like combat aircraft and critical technologies.
While India's military spending is substantially higher than Pakistan's, it is important to note that India also has to contend with China, another nuclear-armed neighbor, which spends almost four times more on its military. China's military expenditure increased by 7% to an estimated $314 billion in 2024, marking three decades of consecutive growth. This continuous investment has enabled China to modernize its military, expand its cyber warfare capabilities, and enhance its nuclear arsenal.