Chinese, Russian and Saudi Arabian defense spending increased the most last year, while U.S. expenditure declined, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
China's defense spending rose 9.7 percent from a year earlier to $216 billion, and Russia's increased 8.1 percent to $84.5 billion, the research group said in its annual report on global defense spending adjusted for inflation. Saudi Arabia had the biggest percentage increase among the top 15 spenders worldwide, rising 17 percent to $80.8 billion.
Japan stood out in Asia with its relative decrease in spending. Its 2014 expenditure was down 3.7 percent on 2005's figure, although this likely reflected the effect of a weak yen.