Global military spending surged to an unprecedented $2.7 trillion in 2024, but this massive expenditure has failed to deliver peace or stability, according to a stark new report from the United Nations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the launch of the report, criticised the growing arms race, saying that excessive military spending “does not guarantee peace” and instead diverts vital resources away from the world’s most urgent human needs.
“The world is spending far more on waging war than on building peace,” Guterres said, highlighting that military budgets now outweigh efforts to fight poverty, improve education, and strengthen healthcare systems by a staggering margin.
While military budgets grew across all five global regions in 2024 — marking the steepest year-on-year rise in three decades — the report warns that even a fraction of this expenditure could dramatically alter the global development landscape.
For instance, the UN estimates that redirecting a small portion of military funds could: put every child in low and lower-middle-income countries into school, provide primary healthcare to millions in vulnerable communities, eliminate child malnutrition, and help fund climate adaptation in the developing world.
“Redirecting even a fraction of today’s military spending could close vital gaps – putting children in school, strengthening healthcare, and protecting the most vulnerable,” Guterres emphasised.
The report also points out a troubling contrast: the $2.7 trillion spent on militaries is 750 times larger than the UN’s annual operating budget, and almost 13 times more than the total global development aid disbursed by OECD nations in 2024.
Experts say the world is caught in a vicious cycle: economic instability, poverty, and underdevelopment fuel violence, which in turn leads to more military investment — further draining resources from social and economic development.
UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu echoed the urgency of realigning global priorities.
“Rebalancing global priorities is not optional – it is an imperative for humanity’s survival,” she said.
With only one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track for achievement by 2030, the report urges a fundamental shift in thinking — away from militarisation and toward diplomacy, cooperation, and sustainable development.
“Investing in people is investing in the first line of defence against violence in any society,” Guterres concluded, calling for a new, human-centred approach to global security.
Published on September 10, 2025