🛡️
The UK spent £60.2bn on defence in 2024/25 — equivalent to 2.33% of GDP, meeting the NATO 2% guideline every year since 2006. The government has committed to reaching 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, rising to 3.5% by 2035. Personnel figures are updated quarterly by MOD; spending data annually.
Key Indicators
Latest availableTotal Armed Forces
182,060
Oct 2025 (all service)
Regulars + Reserves + Other
Regular Forces
147,300
Full-time only
Army, RN/RM & RAF — Apr 2025
Defence Spending
£60.2bn
↑ £6.3bn vs 2023/24
MOD departmental, 2024/25
% of GDP (NATO)
2.33%
↑ Above 2% NATO target
2024 NATO estimate
Reserve Forces
31,840
Volunteer Reserves
Oct 2025
Target Shortfall
8,590
↓ 6% below target
All three branches below target
MOD Capital Budget
£22.7bn
Largest in govt
Equipment & infrastructure, 2024/25
Regular Forces by Branch
1 April 2025 · Full-time trained & untrainedRoyal Navy & Royal Marines
33,760
British Army
82,240
Royal Air Force
32,730
Spending Charts
UK Defence Spending
Annual total (£bn, real 2024/25 prices)
£60.2bn
2024/25
Loading MOD data…
Real terms, inflation-adjusted
View source ↗
Defence Spending as % of GDP
NATO definition · 2% target shown
2.33%
2024
Loading data…
— 2% NATO target
View source ↗
UK Regular Forces Strength
Full-time personnel (trained & untrained), annual
147,300
Apr 2025
Loading MOD data…
Excludes Gurkhas, reserves & other
View source ↗
Inflow vs Outflow
Personnel joining & leaving UK Regular Forces annually
–1,140
Net 2024/25
Loading MOD data…
Inflow
Outflow
NATO Member Spending — % of GDP
2024 estimates · NATO definitionDefence Expenditure as % of GDP — All NATO Members
Red dashed = 2% minimum · Orange dashed = 3.5% core spending target · 2024 NATO estimates
UK Rank: —
Source: NATO
Loading NATO data…
UK
≥2%
<2%
2% target
3.5% core target
MOD Expenditure by Category
Breakdown of £60.2bn 2024/25 spending — incl. nuclear deterrent
£60.2bn
2024/25
Building chart…
Defence vs Other Departments
Top government departments by total expenditure 2024/25
Rank: 4th
By dept spending
Building chart…
HMT accounting basis, £bn
View source ↗
Defence Spending Trajectory & Targets
Defence Spending % GDP — History & Planned Targets
Outturn + government spending commitments through 2035
3.5%
Target by 2035
Building chart…
Historical outturn
2% NATO minimum
MOD Research & Development
Annual MOD R&D expenditure, £bn
£2.6bn
2023 (latest)
Building chart…
↑ 29% increase 2022→2023
View source ↗
Reserve Forces Strength
Volunteer Reserves total, annual
31,840
2025
Loading MOD data…
Volunteer Reserves only
View source ↗
Equipment & Inventory
As at 1 April 2025 · MOD annual publication
British Army
Challenger 2 Tanks
148↓79
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
1,055↓52
Armoured Personnel Carriers
997↓17
Protected Mobility Vehicles
1,903—
Royal Navy
Aircraft Carriers
2—
Submarines
9↓1
RN Surface Fleet
57—
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
13—
Royal Air Force
Typhoon Fighters
129—
F-35B Lightnings
48↑13
Fixed-Wing Platforms
504↓6
Rotary-Wing Platforms
276↓5
Equipment data: As at 1 April 2025 · MOD Annual Publication
Sourced from the MOD annual "UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations" report. Checks GOV.UK once per day for a new edition; updates automatically each October when the MOD publishes new figures.