Ireland Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Ireland's military spending was 0.22% in 2025, ranked 147th globally. This represents a 8.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Ireland's military spending stood at 0.22% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.22% by 2025. Ireland ranked 147th globally.
Ireland's military spending has exhibited a declining trend over the past few decades. With a current ranking of 147 globally and a military expenditure of 0.22% of its GDP, the country has significantly reduced its defense spending since its peak in 1980 when it reached 1.67% of its GDP. This downward trajectory is also evident when compared to peer countries such as Kazakhstan, which shares the same ranking and military expenditure percentage. In contrast, Ireland's military spending has fallen below that of Mauritius, which has a significantly lower ranking of 184 globally and a military expenditure of 0.14% of its GDP. The current trough of 0.21% in 2022 marks the lowest point in Ireland's military spending history, spanning 66 years. As the global security landscape continues to evolve, a sustained increase in global security threats or a shift in Ireland's foreign policy priorities may alter the trajectory of its military spending, potentially leading to an increase in defense expenditures in the years to come.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.21% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.21% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.22% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.22% | −0.02% | #147 |
| 2024 | 0.24% | +0.01% | #3 |
| 2023 | 0.23% | +0.02% | #4 |
| 2022 | 0.21% | −0.03% | #3 |
| 2021 | 0.24% | −0.02% | #3 |
| 2020 | 0.26% | −0.01% | #3 |
| 2019 | 0.27% | −0.01% | #3 |
| 2018 | 0.28% | −0.02% | #3 |
| 2017 | 0.30% | −0.03% | #3 |
| 2016 | 0.33% | −0.00% | #4 |
| 2015 | 0.33% | −0.12% | #4 |
| 2014 | 0.45% | −0.04% | #7 |
| 2013 | 0.49% | −0.02% | #13 |
| 2012 | 0.51% | −0.03% | #9 |
| 2011 | 0.54% | −0.04% | #14 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The provided headlines discuss a potential Iran war and UK domestic politics, among other unrelated topics. None of these news developments directly mention Ireland or its military spending, which is currently 0.22% of GDP. Therefore, no direct relationship or impact on Ireland's defense budget can be inferred from these specific reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's military spending was 0.22% in 2025. Ranked 147th globally. This represents a 8.0% decrease from the previous year.
Ireland's military spending peaked at 1.67% in 1980.
The lowest military spending in Ireland was 0.21% in 2022.
Ireland ranks 147th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's military spending is projected to reach 0.22% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Ireland in 2025 was 0.22%. This ranks 147th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_military-spending,
title = {Ireland Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}