While investments lag the United States, China accounted for 46% of total mass launched for government programs in 2025. Credit: ESA Space Economy 2026 report
TAMPA, Fla. — European government space spending jumped 12% to 13.5 billion euros ($15.4 billion) in 2025, according to a July 13 European Space Agency report, bucking a 3% global decline on the back of rising national defense budgets.
While lower U.S. defense spending and flat NASA funding dragged global government space spending down to 119 billion euros, ESA said budgets are “projected to increase sharply from 2026 onward by over 20% in one year,” driven by defense programs such as the Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
The United States still represented 58% of global government space budgets in 2025. China ranked second at 15%, followed by Europe at 11%.
Germany has made Europe’s most significant near-term commitment with plans to invest 35 billion euros in space security and defense by 2030, while France is preparing an additional 4.2 billion euros for military space activities between 2026 and 2040.
