Ireland spends least on defence among 38 European nations, study finds
The current strength of the Defence Forces is 7,557, almost 4,000 short of the 11,500 target. File picture: Colin Keegan / Collins Photo Agency Dublin
Ireland has the lowest spend on defence as a proportion of its economic wealth out of 38 European states, according to a new study.
It shows Ireland spends less than other neutral countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, neither of which have a navy or huge maritime areas to monitor and safeguard.
The analysis follows comments by Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the need to increase defence spending and dramatic statements by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that the US was pulling back from commitments to Europe’s security and funding Ukraine's defence.
The announcement — echoed by US President Donald Trump — is set to fuel existing plans to boost military expenditure in Europe, amid fears that the shift in US security strategy potentially emboldens Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand his aggression.
A global study, The Military Balance 2025, conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, reveals Ireland is at the bottom of the European table of 38 countries for defence spend as a percentage of GDP.
The analysis shows:
- Ireland's defence budget in 2024 (€1.29 billion) equates to 0.24% of its GDP;
- Average of 38 European countries is 1.74%;
- Malta, also neutral, is second lowest, spending €90 million or 0.38%;
- Austria’s defence budget in 2024 (€5.1bn) represents 0.99% of GDP;
- Switzerland spent €6.24bn on defence in 2024 or 0.69% of GDP
The 530-page report said European defence spending surged by almost 12% in real terms in 2024.
It said this was driven both by national responses to Russia’s war in Ukraine — particularly in the Nordic states and former Eastern bloc countries — and by the commitment of Nato members to spend 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.
The report noted that Ireland’s defence spend ratio dropped dramatically since 2010, at the time of austerity, from 1.24% of GDP to 1% in 2015, rising slowly thereafter before dipping in 2021.
After the publication of the Commission on the Defence Forces report, in February 2022, the Government adopted the second of three investment options (LOA2) recommended.
The budget rose from €1.12bn in 2022 to €1.22bn in 2023 and to €1.29bn in 2024. The budget for 2025 reached a record €1.35bn. The Government said it will reach €1.5bn by 2028.
The current strength of the Defence Forces is 7,557, almost 4,000 short of the 11,500 target by 2028.
The Taoiseach told the Irish Examiner last week that Ireland was “blissfully unaware” of the real fear across eastern and northern Europe of war and Russian aggression — and said some countries, such as the Baltics, were increasing defence spending to 4-5% of GDP.
Addressing a conference in Dublin Castle on Thursday regarding Ireland’s preparations for assuming the EU presidency in 2026, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all EU member states have examined and re-examined their foreign, security and defence policies.
“This is also the case for Ireland,” he said. "We recognise the very real sense of threat felt by many of our fellow member states. And we must respond to that. It is our duty and our obligation to take our own security, and our responsibility towards our like-minded partners, more seriously than ever.”
