Military Expenditure in Ireland, 1960-2022

Ireland maintained relatively low military expenditure, beginning at 1.3% in 1960. Spending declined gradually, reaching 1.1% by the late 1980s as the country prioritized neutrality and economic growth over military investments.

Consistent with its non-aggressive defense policy, expenditure remained below 0.5% from the 2000s onwards. Modest increases in recent years, reaching 0.4% by 2022, reflect heightened European defense cooperation and emerging security concerns.