QUIZ: How Much Do We Spend on the Military?

Estimates vary, but our country spends more on the military than (at least) the next 8 countries (China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom) combined.

Estimates vary, but our country spends more on the military than (at least) the next 8 countries (China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom) combined.

If we consider the average military budget to be around $700 billion and the average pint price to be about $4, then you’d be able to buy 175 million pints with all that Pentagon cash.

If we consider the average military budget to be around $700 billion and the average pint price to be about $4, then you’d be able to buy 175 million pints with all that Pentagon cash.

Some estimates suggest that it could cost as much as $150 billion to establish a human colony on Mars. With a military budget of around $700 billion, we could set up four!

Some estimates suggest that it could cost as much as $150 billion to establish a human colony on Mars. With a military budget of around $700 billion, we could set up four!

A single fighter jet costs the US government $95 million. By contrast, providing housing and social services to a single homeless person for a full year costs just $10,000. So, one fighter jet = a year of housing and services for 9,500 homeless people.

A single fighter jet costs the US government $95 million. By contrast, providing housing and social services to a single homeless person for a full year costs just $10,000. So, one fighter jet = a year of housing and services for 9,500 homeless people.

The average cost per year of private college is about $33,480, so you have to drop about $133,920 for a four-year degree. With the military’s $700 billion budget, we could help 5.2 million kids get their degrees.

The average cost per year of private college is about $33,480, so you have to drop about $133,920 for a four-year degree. With the military’s $700 billion budget, we could help 5.2 million kids get their degrees.

The UN estimates that the cost of ending world hunger for a year would be $30 billion. Believe it or not, you could do all those other things, including ordering the flying cars, for a lot less than that.

The UN estimates that the cost of ending world hunger for a year would be $30 billion. Believe it or not, you could do all those other things, including ordering the flying cars, for a lot less than that.

There are about 3.2 million public school teachers working today. With an extra $350 billion, our hard-working teachers could be taking home $109,375 each!

There are about 3.2 million public school teachers working today. With an extra $350 billion, our hard-working teachers could be taking home $109,375 each!

The US spends about $183 billion on anti-poverty programs, so assuming a military budget of around $700 billion, we spend almost 4 times more on the Pentagon than we do on our friends and neighbors who need help the most.

The US spends about $183 billion on anti-poverty programs, so assuming a military budget of around $700 billion, we spend almost 4 times more on the Pentagon than we do on our friends and neighbors who need help the most.