What percentage of GDP does the UK spend on defence?
The standard source for defence spending as a share of GDP is NATO's annual defence expenditure tables, which use one definition for all members so countries can be compared. They are published in PDF and Excel each year.
In February 2025 the Government committed to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027. At the 2025 Hague summit, NATO allies agreed to spend 5% of GDP by 2035: 3.5% on core defence and up to 1.5% on wider security-related investment. The previous NATO guideline, set in 2014, was 2%.
NATO's figures are often estimates for the latest year and are revised. National totals that include intelligence or other items differ from NATO's, so compare like with like.
When is the next figure out?
MOD, FCDO and Home Office statistics are pre-announced on the GOV.UK research and statistics calendar and published at 9:30am. Personnel statistics come out quarterly; provisional aid figures in April and final ones in the autumn; NATO's tables usually appear around its summer summit. The terrorism powers release is moving to a six-monthly cycle.
Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.
Where the figures come from
- Defence, foreign aid and counter-terrorism statistics (MOD, FCDO, NATO, OECD, Home Office)Where to find official UK defence spending, armed forces numbers, NATO comparisons, foreign aid (ODA), arms export licences and terrorism statistics.
Related questions
- How much does the UK spend on defence?
- How big is the UK economy (GDP)?
- How does UK GDP compare with other countries?
This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about defence, security and foreign aid: all Defence, security and foreign aid questions.