North America - Countries with the Highest Military Spending

By  Vince J , views , updated
Categories: World General Americas
Dataset contains 18 data items (see table below).

Overview

Which country spends the most in defense in North America?
The country with the highest defense budget in North America is United States at US$731,751M. At second and third, are Canada with a budget of US$22,198M and Mexico with a military spending of US$6,536M.
The average military spending by countries in North America is around US$58,621.4M.

 Compare United States with Bahamas

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Percentage of GDP on Defense. United States's defence budget makes up 3.40% of its GDP - the highest in North America. On average, countries in North America spend %1.0 of their GDPs on defense.


These are the countries with the highest defense budgets in North America:

United States.

New U.S. Military Power 2020 | The Best Military In The World | How Powerful is USA? (Credit: Youtube/Daily US Military)

United States's defence budget is the highest in the world. United States's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$731,751M (3.40% of its GDP). Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the highest in North America.

With a 2,233,050-strong military, United States has a per-capita ratio of 6.8 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 1,388,100 active personnel (third-largest in the world) and 844,950 reserve personnel.

United States's battle tank force is the largest in North America. On land, United States has a mobile force of 8,850 tanks. For aerial defence, United States has an air force of 14,061 military aircrafts and 3,720 attack helicopters.

United States's naval fleet is the second-largest in the world. United States has a naval fleet of 254 vessels, including 11 aircraft carriers and 70 nuclear submarines. Rounding up the fleet of warships are 21 frigates, 69 destroyers and 27 corvettes.

 

 Compare United States with Jamaica

 Compare United States with Panama


Canada.

Canadian Armed Forces 2019 (Credit: Youtube/The Marine)

The country with the second-highest defence budget in North America is Canada. The defence budget of Canada is estimated at US$22,198M at around 1.30% of its GDP. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the third-highest in North America.

Canada has a military of 107,500 personnel, with 67,400 active (third-largest in North America), 35,600 in reserve and 4,500 from paramilitary forces, making up 3 military personnel per 1000 in population.

Canada has the third-largest battle tank force in North America. On land, Canada has a mobile force of 120 tanks. For aerial defence, Canada has an air force of 95 military aircrafts and 115 attack helicopters.

Canada's naval fleet is the second-largest in North America. Canada has a naval fleet of 16 vessels, including 4 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare Canada with Nicaragua

 Compare Canada with Dominican Republic


Mexico.

Mexican Armed Forces 2018 (Credit: Youtube/The Marine)

Mexico's military force is the third-largest in North America. With a 409,400-strong military, Mexico has a per-capita ratio of 3.3 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 216,000 active personnel (second-largest in North America), 81,500 reserve personnel and 111,900 from paramilitary forces.

For aerial defence, Mexico has an air force of 81 military aircrafts and 65 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Mexico with Nicaragua

 Compare Mexico with Dominican Republic


Guatemala.

The Kaibiles I Special Operations Force Of Guatemalan Army (Credit: Youtube/Defense Daily)

Guatemala has a military of 106,900 personnel, with 18,050 active, 63,850 in reserve and 25,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 6.4 military personnel per 1000 in population.

For aerial defence, Guatemala has an air force of 9 military aircrafts and 2 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Guatemala with Jamaica

 Compare Guatemala with Nicaragua


Check out these military rankings by region and force type:

Gap Analysis  - Ukraine vs Russia | NATO vs Russia

Largest Militaries Worldwide  - by total force | by active force | by force per capita

Largest Militaries (region) - Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

NATO Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines

G20 Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines | Nuclear

ASEAN Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy

Northeast Asia Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines

Gap Analysis - NATO & Russia | Ukraine & Russia | China & Taiwan

Highest Military Budgets - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Largest Navy - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Most Submarines - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Largest Air Force - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Most Battle Tanks - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East

Attributions