According to verified reports from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Algeria and Morocco were the leading military spenders in Africa in 2025. Algeria's military expenditure reached approximately $10.4 billion, while Morocco's spending was around $5.8 billion. These figures reflect ongoing regional tensions and modernization efforts.
The SIPRI report, released in early 2026, highlights that African military spending overall increased by 3.2% in 2025, driven largely by North African nations. Algeria's budget is focused on upgrading its air force and navy, while Morocco has invested in missile defense systems and border security.
Other notable spenders include Nigeria ($3.2 billion) and South Africa ($2.9 billion), though their budgets are smaller compared to the North African leaders. The data is based on official government budgets and publicly available sources.
