Global arms expenditures

WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, after many years of growth in the Cold War period, decreased from US $1,200 billion in 1985 to $809 billion in 1998, reflecting cuts in every region except Asia (where spending was up by more than a quarter during the 1990s). During this time, the number of military personnel, weapons production and stockpiles of weapons were all reduced. The United States, which accounts for the single largest piece of the global spending pie, dropped its military spending by onethird during the decade 1989-1999. The Russian Federation also reduced arms expenditures in that time: in 1998 it spent one-fifth of what the Soviet Union had spent ten years earlier.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions