U.S. military spending in 2024 was at or very near its lowest percentage of GDP since 1940 (an 84 year low). It declined incrementally during the Biden administration.
From here.
In 2022 it was 3.45% of GDP. The all time low on this chart was 3.09% in 1999. The percentage is probably a lower in 2023 and 2024 with a projected 3.3% in 2023, and 3.0% in 2024.
From here.
The number of active duty U.S. military personnel is also at or near a record low since 1940 (without adjusting for population which has grown 2.54 times since then). There are currently 1,288,549 active duty U.S. military personnel.
The Army at 443,444 is at the lowest level since 1940.
The Navy is at 328,774, and was lower in 2012-2015 and in 2017-2018, when it fell to as little as 321,300 in 2013, but is close to the bottom.
The Air Force is 326,065, and was lower in 2015-2018, when it fell to as little as 312,195 in 2015 (it was also lower in 1941 as part of the Army), but is still close to the bottom.
The Marine Corp was 168,032. It was lower for some period between 1945 and 1955, with a force of 74,279 in 1950.
Adjusting for population, the current number of U.S. active duty personnel is equivalent to 507,303 in 1940, when the actual number of active duty military personnel was 508,274.
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