US Military Spending: 1971
$588.9B
588.9 billion in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars
$588.9B
Total Budget
0.1%
% of GDP
Nixon
President
Vietnam War
Active War
📊 Compared to 1970
▼ 10.0%Decrease of $65.6B from $654.5B
💰 What $589B Could Have Bought Instead
Teachers' salaries (avg $65K)9,059,738
Affordable homes built2,355,532
Full college scholarships11,777,660
Years of healthcare for families21,031,535
Clean water systems for towns588,883
🏛️ Historical Context
In 1971, under President Nixon, the United States spent approximately $588.9 billion on its military, representing 0.1% of GDP. The Vietnam War was actively underway, driving elevated defense expenditures. Spending fell 10.0% from the previous year.