Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in military spending per person

Kazakhstan ranks first among Central Asian countries in per capita military spending. According to the 2026 Global Firepower findings cited by Energyprom, the figure stands at $288.1 per person annually, outpacing its regional neighbors.

By comparison, Turkmenistan spends $254.7 per capita, Uzbekistan $170, while Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan trail with $106 and $43.3, respectively.

Globally, military expenditures continue to rise. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that the world’s defense budget has surpassed $2.6 trillion, increasing steadily amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

When measured per capita, countries with a strong focus on defense top the ranking. Israel leads with $3,700 per person per year, followed by the U.S. at $2,400 and Australia at $2,100.

Notably, Germany and Russia, despite differences in economic size and total military budgets, report similar per-capita spending of around $1,500, while the U.K. and Ukraine each report roughly $1,300 per person.

In contrast, populous countries show much lower per-capita figures. For example, China spends about $214 per person and India spends about $77. A similar pattern is seen in Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt, where per-capita defense spending remains minimal due to large populations.