Germany - military spending 2006-2021

Military spending in Germany has increased in recent years. In 2021, it amounted to almost 56 billion U.S. dollars. Military spending is regulated by a military budget, otherwise referred to as a defense budget.

German army

Germany is known for having had comparatively low military expenditure in recent years. Based on definitions provided by NATO, military or defense spending is supported not only by the military budget, but also by the Foreign Office for peacemaking and peacekeeping measures. Germany has a Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium der Verteidigung). The current Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Her duties include not only being the commander in chief of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) in times of peace. She is also heading the German army administration and overseeing civilian staff in the military.

International operations

Based on a survey among the population regarding Germany’s international relations, 43 percent of respondents considered that current dangers and threats necessitated increased military spending from the government. The largest number of German soldiers participating in international operations was stationed in Afghanistan, followed by Mali and Syria or Iraq.