Ireland Military Spending
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1958–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$1.5 billion
Ranked #72 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
0.2%
Ranked #159 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $1.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$1.6 billion
Reached in 2027
Ireland Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Ireland is estimated to have spent $1.5 billion on military and defense, representing 0.2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Ireland is the #72 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $1.5 billion to $1.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 1.7% in 1980. The historical average military budget is 0.9% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 0.26% | $1,610M |
| 2026(estimate) | 0.24% | $1,537M |
| 2025 | 0.22% | $1,464M |
| 2024 | 0.22% | $1,333M |
| 2023 | 0.22% | $1,298M |
| 2022 | 0.21% | $1,301M |
| 2021 | 0.24% | $1,358M |
| 2020 | 0.26% | $1,302M |
| 2019 | 0.27% | $1,284M |
| 2018 | 0.28% | $1,224M |
| 2017 | 0.30% | $1,197M |
| 2016 | 0.33% | $1,191M |
| 2015 | 0.33% | $1,183M |
| 2014 | 0.45% | $1,179M |
| 2013 | 0.49% | $1,183M |
| 2012 | 0.51% | $1,190M |
| 2011 | 0.54% | $1,256M |
| 2010 | 0.58% | $1,325M |
| 2009 | 0.60% | $1,391M |
| 2008 | 0.58% | $1,409M |
| 2007 | 0.51% | $1,360M |
| 2006 | 0.51% | $1,350M |
| 2005 | 0.54% | $1,361M |
| 2004 | 0.57% | $1,344M |
| 2003 | 0.59% | $1,324M |
| 2002 | 0.63% | $1,381M |
| 2001 | 0.70% | $1,438M |
| 2000 | 0.69% | $1,325M |
| 1999 | 0.75% | $1,291M |
| 1998 | 0.82% | $1,248M |
| 1997 | 0.92% | $1,238M |
| 1996 | 0.99% | $1,169M |
| 1995 | 1.02% | $1,109M |
| 1994 | 1.11% | $1,101M |
| 1993 | 1.14% | $1,076M |
| 1992 | 1.20% | $1,068M |
| 1991 | 1.25% | $1,079M |
| 1990 | 1.20% | $1,030M |
| 1989 | 1.11% | $908M |
| 1988 | 1.20% | $918M |
| 1987 | 1.28% | $923M |
| 1986 | 1.42% | $988M |
| 1985 | 1.42% | $962M |
| 1984 | 1.41% | $933M |
| 1983 | 1.49% | $964M |
| 1982 | 1.59% | $1,029M |
| 1981 | 1.58% | $1,016M |
| 1980 | 1.67% | $1,061M |
| 1979 | 1.58% | $1,008M |
| 1978 | 1.48% | $913M |
| 1977 | 1.53% | $853M |
| 1976 | 1.62% | $838M |
| 1975 | 1.63% | $811M |
| 1974 | 1.41% | $668M |
| 1973 | 1.31% | $659M |
| 1972 | 1.33% | $616M |
| 1971 | 1.24% | $519M |
| 1970 | 1.16% | $460M |
| 1969 | 1.10% | $407M |
| 1968 | 1.13% | $390M |
| 1967 | 1.19% | $379M |
| 1966 | 1.23% | $372M |
| 1965 | 1.33% | $391M |
| 1964 | 1.30% | $379M |
| 1963 | 1.24% | $339M |
| 1962 | 1.29% | $335M |
| 1961 | 1.32% | $330M |
| 1960 | 1.33% | $318M |
| 1959 | 1.42% | $299M |
| 1958 | 1.45% | $285M |