Military expenditure (current USD) in Ireland
Ireland: Military expenditure was 1.33 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.33 billion current USD
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
79th
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.58 billion current USD
in 2008
All-time low
25.80 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Ireland, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Ireland stood at 1.33 billion current USD.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Ireland peaked at 1.58 billion current USD in 2008 and was at its lowest, 25.80 million current USD, in 1960.
Ireland ranks 79th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Ireland, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.80 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 27.56 million current USD | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 29.16 million current USD | +5.8% |
| 1963 | 30.21 million current USD | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 36.05 million current USD | +19.3% |
| 1965 | 39.09 million current USD | +8.4% |
| 1966 | 38.31 million current USD | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 39.69 million current USD | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 37.14 million current USD | -6.4% |
| 1969 | 41.63 million current USD | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 50.99 million current USD | +22.5% |
| 1971 | 63.49 million current USD | +24.5% |
| 1972 | 84.04 million current USD | +32.4% |
| 1973 | 98.31 million current USD | +17.0% |
| 1974 | 111.20 million current USD | +13.1% |
| 1975 | 154.36 million current USD | +38.8% |
| 1976 | 152.84 million current USD | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 171.73 million current USD | +12.4% |
| 1978 | 217.47 million current USD | +26.6% |
| 1979 | 290.14 million current USD | +33.4% |
| 1980 | 362.51 million current USD | +24.9% |
| 1981 | 327.04 million current USD | -9.8% |
| 1982 | 342.05 million current USD | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 310.26 million current USD | -9.3% |
| 1984 | 284.27 million current USD | -8.4% |
| 1985 | 301.50 million current USD | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 409.08 million current USD | +35.7% |
| 1987 | 435.38 million current USD | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 453.49 million current USD | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 434.22 million current USD | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 594.01 million current USD | +36.8% |
| 1991 | 624.93 million current USD | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 674.03 million current USD | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 597.72 million current USD | -11.3% |
| 1994 | 633.70 million current USD | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 702.04 million current USD | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 750.99 million current USD | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 765.31 million current USD | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 742.40 million current USD | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 741.51 million current USD | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 694.67 million current USD | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 767.78 million current USD | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 811.26 million current USD | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 965.20 million current USD | +19.0% |
| 2004 | 1.10 billion current USD | +14.2% |
| 2005 | 1.14 billion current USD | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 1.19 billion current USD | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 1.37 billion current USD | +15.3% |
| 2008 | 1.58 billion current USD | +15.4% |
| 2009 | 1.42 billion current USD | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 1.27 billion current USD | -10.0% |
| 2011 | 1.30 billion current USD | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 1.16 billion current USD | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 1.20 billion current USD | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 1.19 billion current USD | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 997.01 million current USD | -16.4% |
| 2016 | 1.00 billion current USD | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 1.03 billion current USD | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 1.11 billion current USD | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 1.11 billion current USD | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.14 billion current USD | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 1.27 billion current USD | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 1.16 billion current USD | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 1.27 billion current USD | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 1.33 billion current USD | +4.8% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.33 billion current USD is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 20% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.33 billion current USD is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 billion current USD, 51% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 34.47 million current USD | 25.80 million current USD | 41.63 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 139.46 million current USD | 50.99 million current USD | 290.14 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 365.98 million current USD | 284.27 million current USD | 453.49 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 682.66 million current USD | 594.01 million current USD | 765.31 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 billion current USD | 694.67 million current USD | 1.58 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.14 billion current USD | 997.01 million current USD | 1.30 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.24 billion current USD | 1.14 billion current USD | 1.33 billion current USD | 5 |
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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Ireland?
- Military expenditure in Ireland was 1.33 billion current USD in 2024, 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 1.58 billion current USD in 2008.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.80 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Ireland rank for military expenditure?
- Ireland ranks 79th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)