Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland
Ireland: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 1.38 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.38 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 11.6%
World rank
142nd
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.38 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
11.70 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Ireland is 1.38 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.6% on the previous year and up 52.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ireland peaked at 1.38 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.70 million current LCU, in 1960.
That places Ireland 142nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.70 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 12.50 million current LCU | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 13.22 million current LCU | +5.8% |
| 1963 | 13.70 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 16.35 million current LCU | +19.3% |
| 1965 | 17.73 million current LCU | +8.4% |
| 1966 | 17.38 million current LCU | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 18.25 million current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1968 | 19.65 million current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1969 | 22.02 million current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 26.98 million current LCU | +22.5% |
| 1971 | 33.12 million current LCU | +22.8% |
| 1972 | 42.73 million current LCU | +29.0% |
| 1973 | 50.95 million current LCU | +19.3% |
| 1974 | 60.40 million current LCU | +18.5% |
| 1975 | 88.60 million current LCU | +46.7% |
| 1976 | 108.00 million current LCU | +21.9% |
| 1977 | 125.00 million current LCU | +15.7% |
| 1978 | 144.00 million current LCU | +15.2% |
| 1979 | 180.00 million current LCU | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 224.00 million current LCU | +24.4% |
| 1981 | 258.00 million current LCU | +15.2% |
| 1982 | 306.00 million current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1983 | 317.00 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 333.00 million current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 362.00 million current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1986 | 386.00 million current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 372.00 million current LCU | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 378.00 million current LCU | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 389.00 million current LCU | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 456.00 million current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1991 | 493.00 million current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1992 | 503.00 million current LCU | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 514.00 million current LCU | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 538.00 million current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 556.00 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 596.00 million current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 641.00 million current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 662.00 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 696.00 million current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 754.00 million current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 858.00 million current LCU | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 862.00 million current LCU | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 855.20 million current LCU | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 887.40 million current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 920.70 million current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 948.90 million current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 1.00 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 1.08 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 1.02 billion current LCU | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 962.10 million current LCU | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 935.40 million current LCU | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 900.90 million current LCU | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 900.60 million current LCU | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 899.00 million current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 899.00 million current LCU | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 905.70 million current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 913.60 million current LCU | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 938.00 million current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 993.90 million current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 1.00 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 1.07 billion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.11 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 1.17 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 1.38 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.38 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 8% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.38 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.40 billion current LCU, 16% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +46.7% | 60.40 million current LCU | 88.60 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.25 million current LCU | 11.70 million current LCU | 22.02 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 85.98 million current LCU | 26.98 million current LCU | 180.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 332.50 million current LCU | 224.00 million current LCU | 389.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 565.50 million current LCU | 456.00 million current LCU | 696.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 918.85 million current LCU | 754.00 million current LCU | 1.08 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 924.82 million current LCU | 899.00 million current LCU | 993.90 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.16 billion current LCU | 1.00 billion current LCU | 1.38 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More public sector data for Ireland
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 11.86 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -74.29 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Ireland?
- Military expenditure in Ireland was 1.38 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.70 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Ireland rank for military expenditure?
- Ireland ranks 142nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)