In 2012, world military expenditures totaled $1.75 trillion and, once again, the world's biggest military spender by far was the U.S. government, whose outlays for war and preparations for war amounted to $682 billion -- 39 percent of the global total. The United States spent more than four times as much on the military as China (the number two big spender) and more than seven times as much as Russia (which ranked third). Thus, although studies have found that the United States ranks 17th among nations in education, 26th in infant mortality, and 37th in overall health, there is no doubt that it ranks first when it comes to war.