Military Expenditures in North Africa: Algeria and Morocco at the Forefront for 2025
In the evolving landscape of military expenditures in North Africa, Algeria has emerged as the largest spender in 2025, followed closely by Morocco. This dynamic reflects the escalating military rivalry between these two nations, which is primarily fueled by their longstanding dispute over the Sahara region. According to a recent report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), military spending in Africa has seen a significant increase for the third consecutive year, reaching a total of $58.2 billion, marking an 8.5% rise from 2024 and a remarkable 45% increase from 2016. This upward trend highlights a long-term trajectory of increased military investment across the continent, starting from North Africa.
In the context of this regional escalation, the collective military expenditures of North African countries totaled $35 billion in 2025, which represents a 9.3% increase compared to the previous year and a staggering 67% rise since 2016. This sharp increase underscores a rapid acceleration in military armament within the region. Algeria, in particular, has taken the lead, with military spending surging by 11% to reach $25.4 billion, solidifying its status as the continent's largest military spender. Notably, Algeria allocates about 25% of its government expenditure to military funding, ranking it second globally, following Ukraine, amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Morocco, while trailing behind Algeria, continues to be a significant player in military spending, with a budget of $6.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 6.6% increase. This growth is indicative of Morocco's ongoing efforts to bolster its defensive capabilities in a region marked by tension, particularly in light of the military competition with Algeria. The report attributes the defense expenditures of both countries largely to their historical tensions, particularly regarding the Sahara issue.
On a global scale, military spending rose by 2.9% to reach $2.887 trillion in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth. Over the decade from 2016 to 2025, global military expenditures have increased by 41%, although the growth rate in 2025 was the slowest observed since 2021. Despite a decline in spending by the United States, the world's largest military spender, significant increases in Europe and continued growth in Asia and Oceania have compensated for this downturn. Consequently, global military expenditures, excluding those of the United States, saw a 9.2% increase in 2025.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
