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12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The United States spends more on its military than rest of the top 15 nations with the highest military expenditure. The rest of the list includes China ($119 bn), UK ($59.6 bn), France ($59.3bn), Russia ($58.7bn), Japan ($54.5bn), Germany ($45.2bn), Saudi Arabia ($45.2bn), India ($41.3bn), Italy ($37bn), Brazil ($33.5bn), South Korea ($27.6bn), Australia ($24bn), Canada ($22.8bn) and Turkey ($17.5bn). The US spends $698 billion. (Figures courtesy Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).

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12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The total known land area occupied by US bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles -- bigger than Washington DC, Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined.

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
By 2033, the US will be paying $59 billion a year to its veterans injured in the wars

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
Defence spending is higher today than at any time since the height of World War II

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The yearly cost of stationing one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
In 2008, the Pentagon spent more money every five seconds in Iraq than the average American earned in a year

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
Decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US Defence Department still has more than 40 generals, admirals or civilian equivalents based in Europe

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The amount the government has spent compensating radiation victims of nuclear testing ($1.5 billion) could fully educate 13,000 American kids

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety

12 interesting FACTS you didn't know about US military

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 08:18 IST
The US has 5 per cent of the world's population -- but almost 50% of the world's total military expenditure