Infographic Category Government

Grenade or Aid?

By | source: Jun 1st, 2011

With current U.S. military involvement around the world, it is safe to assume that military spending encompasses a large portion of the U.S. budget. But how did it stack up against more positive foreign aid spending in 2010? According to todayâ??s infographic, military spending equaled 20% of the budget while foreign aid accounted for a slim 0.6%.

The numbers aren’t that surprising, but the “average” American misconception of the numbers is fascinating. When asked by a Gallup poll, Americans grossly overestimated the amount spent on foreign aid, even favoring cuts to aid over cuts to the more robust military output. [Via]