Poland spends more of its economy on defence than America
Defence spending as a share of GDP, NATO estimates for 2026, with 2014 as markers. Selected allies.
Poland's estimated defence spending in 2026, against 3.17% for the US.
Poland's share has risen from 1.86% in 2014; the US fell from 3.71%.
Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Greece are all expected to beat the US share in 2026.
the numbers
| Share of GDP (%) | 2014 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lithuania | 5.33 | 0.88 |
| Estonia | 5.11 | 1.90 |
| Latvia | 4.92 | 0.97 |
| Poland | 4.68 | 1.86 |
| Greece | 3.65 | 2.24 |
| United States | 3.17 | 3.71 |
| Germany | 2.69 | 1.16 |
| United Kingdom | 2.56 | 2.14 |
| NATO Europe & Canada | 2.53 | 1.40 |
| France | 2.22 | 1.82 |
source notes & method
2026 country values are NATO estimates released 7 July 2026, taken from Reuters' report of the NATO data (Estonia 5.11% per ICDS, July 2026); the NATO PDF itself could not be retrieved. 2014 values are from NATO's 2025 edition (shares of real GDP, 2021 prices) and may differ slightly from the 2026 edition. Lithuania is the highest spender; Poland is highlighted as the largest European army on the eastern flank. In NATO's 2025 edition, Poland was 4.48% and the US 3.22% for 2025. 'Europe & Canada' is NATO's aggregate.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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