Key Takeaways
- The global defense market size reached USD 598.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 791.7 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.75%.
- Global military expenditure totaled $2,443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase from 2022.
- The aerospace and defense sector generated $837 billion in revenue worldwide in 2023.
- Defense spending by the United States reached $916 billion in 2023, accounting for 37% of global total.
- China’s military expenditure grew by 6.0% to $296 billion in 2023.
- Russia increased defense spending by 24% to $109 billion in 2023.
- Lockheed Martin reported $67.6 billion in defense revenue for 2023.
- RTX (Raytheon) generated $68.9 billion in net sales in 2023, with defense segment at $40.6 billion.
- Northrop Grumman’s 2023 sales reached $39.3 billion, primarily defense.
- Global R&D spending in defense reached $108 billion in 2023.
- US DoD R&D budget for FY2024 is $145 billion.
- Hypersonic weapons market projected to grow from $5.1 billion in 2023 to $12.2 billion by 2030.
- Global defense industry employed 3.5 million people directly in 2023.
- US defense sector supported 2.9 million jobs in 2023.
- Global arms exports totaled $238 billion in 2018-2022 period, averaging $47.6 billion annually.
The global defense industry is growing significantly, driven by rising military spending worldwide.
Employment and Exports
Employment and Exports Interpretation
Government Spending
Government Spending Interpretation
Major Companies
Major Companies Interpretation
Market Size and Growth
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
R&D and Technology
R&D and Technology Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Global Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-defense-industry-statistics
David Sutherland. "Global Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-defense-industry-statistics.
David Sutherland. 2026. "Global Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-defense-industry-statistics.
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