Singapore spent more on defence than Pakistan between 2000 and 2008. This is shown by figures in the military expenditure database of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).
The Swedish think tank listed Singapore among the world's top 10 arms importers, noting the defence build-up in Southeast Asia. The chart above, based on the Sipri's arms transfer database, shows the top 10 importers' transactions between 2005 and 2009. China tops the list followed by India, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Israel, Singapore, America, Algeria and Pakistan.
But arms imports constitute only a part of military expenditure. A look at Sipri's military expenditure database shows China's defence spending is second to America's. Britain, France, Germany and Japan also spend substantial amounts. Russia used to outspend all except America but has spent less than Japan, Britain and France in recent years.
This chart, based on Sipri's military expenditure database, shows how much each country spent between 2000 and 2008. Apparently, Pakistan spent less than Singapore.
China spent between1.8 per cent and 2.1 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence from 2000 to 2007, according to Sipri. Here is how much other countries spent:
- America 3.1 per cent to 4 per cent
- Russia 3.5 per cent to 4.3 per cent
- Japan 0.9 to 1 per cent
- South Korea 2.4 per cent to 2.6 per cent
- India 2.5 per cent to 3.1 per cent
- Pakistan 3.1 per cent to 3.9 per cent
- Malaysia 1.6 per cent to 2.6 per cent
- Singapore 4.1 per cent to 5.1 per cent
- Indonesia 1 per cent to 1.4 per cent
- Israel 7.7 per cent to 9.2 per cent
- Britain 2.4 per cent to 2.5 per cent
- France 2.3 per cent to 2.6 per cent
- Germany 1.3 per cent to 1.5 per cent
- Greece 3.1 per cent to 4.1 per cent
- Algeria 2.7 per cent to 3.8 per cent.
The United Arab Emirates' defence spending would be considerably higher if the military expenditure of its seven constituent emirates is taken into account, says Sipri.
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