Rearmament: is Europe finally spending on its defence?
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Europeans have promised to rearm: a NATO pledge of 5% of GDP by 2035, EU SAFE loans of 150 billion euros. What the public accounts of the Twenty-Seven say, country by country.
Scope: European Union of 27 and main member states, general government defence spending according to Eurostat’s classification of functions (COFOG), annual data to the latest year published.
Key points
- A clear but late rise. EU member states spent €266bn on defence in 2024, or 1.5% of GDP, after a low of 1.1% of GDP in 2014 – 2014. In euros, spending rose 59% in five years and 14.8% in the latest year alone.
- Equipment is speeding up. Military investment (weapons delivered, infrastructure) reaches €54bn in 2024, up 93% since 2019; it makes up 24% of military defence, against 19% five years earlier.
- The eastern flank spends the most. Estonia (3.7% of GDP) and Poland (2.9% of GDP) are well above France (1.9% of GDP), Germany (1.4% of GDP), Italy (1.3% of GDP) and Spain (0.9% of GDP) in 2024.
- A small share of public spending: defence accounts for 3.0% of all EU general government spending in 2024.
How to read these figures
These figures come from the national accounts: the « defence » function of the COFOG classification covers military defence, civil defence, foreign military aid and defence research, spent by central government and other public bodies. They do not match NATO’s figures, whose definition includes in particular military pensions and some paramilitary forces; the 5%-of-GDP pledge made in The Hague in June 2025 (of which at least 3.5% for defence in NATO’s sense) is measured with that other definition.
A weapons system is recorded as investment when it is delivered, not when it is ordered: contracts signed since 2022 will only show up in these series as deliveries arrive. Amounts are in current euros, not adjusted for inflation. The European total starts in 2010; country series go back to 1995.
1. How much Europe spends on defence
After years of stagnation, defence spending by the Twenty-Seven has been rising since 2022, first in euros, then as a share of output.
European Union defence spending, % of GDP
Defence function (COFOG GF02), general government, EU-27.
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | EU-27 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2011 | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2012 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2013 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2014 | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2015 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2016 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2017 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2018 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2019 | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2020 | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2021 | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2022 | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2023 | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2024 | 1.5% of GDP |
European Union defence spending, billions of euros
Current euros, not adjusted for inflation. Latest year: 2024, €266bn.
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | EU-27 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | €150bn |
| 2011 | €145bn |
| 2012 | €143bn |
| 2013 | €142bn |
| 2014 | €136bn |
| 2015 | €143bn |
| 2016 | €154bn |
| 2017 | €157bn |
| 2018 | €162bn |
| 2019 | €168bn |
| 2020 | €176bn |
| 2021 | €185bn |
| 2022 | €207bn |
| 2023 | €232bn |
| 2024 | €266bn |
Share of defence in total public spending
Spending on the defence function divided by total EU general government spending.
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | Share of public spending |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.7% |
| 2011 | 2.6% |
| 2012 | 2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.5% |
| 2014 | 2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.4% |
| 2016 | 2.6% |
| 2017 | 2.5% |
| 2018 | 2.5% |
| 2019 | 2.5% |
| 2020 | 2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.4% |
| 2022 | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 2.7% |
| 2024 | 3.0% |
2. What the money buys
Military defence pays first for pay and salaries. The share of investment, which includes delivered weapons, has risen markedly since 2019.
EU military defence by type of spending, billions of euros
Military defence group (COFOG GF0201). Personnel: compensation of employees; operations: intermediate consumption; investment: gross fixed capital formation; other: the rest (transfers, subsidies…).
- Other
- Investment
- Operations
- Personnel
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | Personnel | Operations | Investment | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | €71.1bn | €27.4bn | €33.1bn | €2.2bn |
| 2011 | €70.7bn | €28.1bn | €28.9bn | €1.6bn |
| 2012 | €70.2bn | €31.7bn | €23.1bn | €2.3bn |
| 2013 | €70.0bn | €32.5bn | €22.7bn | €2.4bn |
| 2014 | €68.7bn | €31.9bn | €19.3bn | €1.8bn |
| 2015 | €68.0bn | €33.8bn | €22.9bn | €2.7bn |
| 2016 | €69.3bn | €35.7bn | €27.5bn | €4.4bn |
| 2017 | €71.3bn | €38.6bn | €27.3bn | €3.3bn |
| 2018 | €74.4bn | €40.0bn | €26.8bn | €3.4bn |
| 2019 | €76.7bn | €42.8bn | €27.9bn | €3.0bn |
| 2020 | €78.1bn | €43.7bn | €32.5bn | €4.0bn |
| 2021 | €81.1bn | €46.7bn | €35.7bn | €3.5bn |
| 2022 | €83.8bn | €54.7bn | €38.0bn | €3.9bn |
| 2023 | €88.6bn | €61.1bn | €43.1bn | €4.1bn |
| 2024 | €96.4bn | €66.9bn | €53.8bn | €9.7bn |
3. Gaps between countries
Countries close to Russia accelerated from 2015, then again in 2023. The large Western European countries remain at lower levels, France in the lead.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain: defence, % of GDP
Defence function (COFOG GF02), general government.
- Spain
- Italy
- Germany
- France
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | France | Germany | Italy | Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.5% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 1996 | 2.5% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 1997 | 2.3% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 1998 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 1999 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2000 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2001 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2002 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2003 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2004 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2005 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2006 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2007 | 1.8% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2008 | 1.8% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2009 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2010 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2011 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2012 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2013 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2014 | 1.7% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2015 | 1.7% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2016 | 2.0% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP |
| 2017 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2018 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.8% of GDP |
| 2019 | 1.7% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 0.8% of GDP |
| 2020 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2021 | 1.7% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2022 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP |
| 2023 | 1.8% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
| 2024 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP |
Poland, the Baltic states and Finland: defence, % of GDP
Defence function (COFOG GF02), general government.
- Finland
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Estonia
- Poland
Source:Eurostat
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| Period | Poland | Estonia | Latvia | Lithuania | Finland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.4% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP |
| 1996 | 2.4% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.9% of GDP |
| 1997 | 2.3% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.8% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP |
| 1998 | 2.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.8% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP |
| 1999 | 1.4% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2000 | 1.4% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2001 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2002 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2003 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2004 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2005 | 1.5% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2006 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2007 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2008 | 1.9% of GDP | 1.7% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2009 | 1.5% of GDP | 2.2% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP |
| 2010 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.7% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2011 | 1.6% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2012 | 1.5% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2013 | 1.7% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP |
| 2014 | 1.5% of GDP | 1.8% of GDP | 0.9% of GDP | 1.0% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2015 | 1.5% of GDP | 1.9% of GDP | 1.1% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2016 | 1.6% of GDP | 2.3% of GDP | 1.7% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2017 | 1.7% of GDP | 2.0% of GDP | 1.7% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2018 | 1.6% of GDP | 2.0% of GDP | 2.2% of GDP | 1.7% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2019 | 1.6% of GDP | 2.1% of GDP | 2.0% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2020 | 1.7% of GDP | 2.4% of GDP | 2.5% of GDP | 2.3% of GDP | 1.3% of GDP |
| 2021 | 1.6% of GDP | 2.0% of GDP | 2.5% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2022 | 1.7% of GDP | 2.2% of GDP | 2.4% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP | 1.2% of GDP |
| 2023 | 2.2% of GDP | 3.1% of GDP | 2.6% of GDP | 2.3% of GDP | 1.4% of GDP |
| 2024 | 2.9% of GDP | 3.7% of GDP | 2.7% of GDP | 2.6% of GDP | 1.6% of GDP |
What we know, what we don’t
What the figures establish
- Defence spending by the Twenty-Seven has been rising markedly since 2022, in euros as well as a share of GDP.
- Military investment, which includes delivered weapons, is growing faster than pay.
- Poland and the Baltic states spend far more, relative to GDP, than the large Western European countries.
What they don’t tell
- The most recent years: Eurostat’s latest published year predates the rearmament budgets voted in 2025 and 2026.
- The level under NATO’s definition, used to measure the 5%-of-GDP pledge: it differs from the national accounts.
- The effect on military capability: these series measure spending, not forces or equipment available.
Sources
Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.