DEFENCE

DATA
2006-2016
More information on the European Defence Agency is available at: www.eda.europa.eu

ISBN: 978-92-95075-37-5
ISSN: 1831-9513
doi: 10.2836/317916

© European Defence Agency, 2017

For reproduction or use of this material, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder.

Responsible editor: Pauline Massart

Printed in Belgium
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

INTRODUCTION

The European Defence Agency (EDA) collects defence data on an annual basis, and has done so since 2006, in line
with the Agency’s Ministerial Steering Board Decision of November 2005. The Ministries of Defence of the Agency’s
27 Member States (MS) 1 provide the data. EDA acts as a custodian of the data and publishes the aggregated figures
in its booklets.

The 2005 data has been collected during the pilot exercise, which included only a limited number of indicators.
A complete dataset is available since 2006, based on the revised list of indicators, including the four collective
benchmarks for investment, approved by the Agency’s Ministerial Steering Board in November 2007.

The focus of this booklet is to provide an overview of defence spending developments over the decade, from 2006
to 2015, therefore most indicators cover these years. For defence expenditure breakdown, 2016 estimations are
also provided. These are marked with ‘e’ throughout the booklet.

The data is presented in graphs, followed by short analysis. Comma is used as a decimal marker and dot as a
thousand separator, as this is the practice followed by the majority of the EDA Member States.

1. All the EU Member States except Denmark participate in the Agency (under Article 5 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty
on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the formulation and implementation of EU decisions and actions which have defence implications).

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. TOTAL DEFENCE EXPENDITURE
1.1 Defence Expenditure (Current Prices): Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 4
1.2 GDP and Defence Expenditure (Current Prices) page 5
1.3 Defence Expenditure (Current Prices) as a Share of GDP and Government Expenditure page 6
1.4 Defence Expenditure in Current and Constant 2010 Prices page 7
1.5 D efence Expenditure: Absolute Values (Constant 2010 Prices) and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 8
(Current and Constant 2010 Prices)
1.6 GDP and Defence Expenditure (Constant 2010 Prices) page 9

2. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN

2.1. Defence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices) page 11
2.2 D efence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices): Percentage Change on Previous Year by Category of Expenditure page 12
2.3 Defence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices): Percentage Shares of Total Defence Expenditure page 13

3. DEFENCE PERSONNEL
3.1 Civilian and Military Personnel: Absolute Numbers and Percentage Shares of Total Defence Personnel page 15
3.2 Military Personnel Breakdown: Absolute Numbers page 16
3.3 Military Personnel Breakdown: Percentage Change on Previous Year page 17

4. DEPLOYABILITY-SUSTAINABILITY
4.1 Deployable (Land) and Sustainable (Land) Forces: Absolute Numbers page 19
4.2 D
 eployable (Land) Forces, Sustainable (Land) Forces and Average Number of Troops Deployed page 20
as a Share of Total Military Personnel/Deployable (Land) Forces
4.3 Costs of Deployed Operations (Current Prices): Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 21
4.4 Average Number of Troops Deployed: Absolute Numbers and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 22
2
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5. DEFENCE INVESTMENT
5.1 Defence Investment Breakdown: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Defence Investment page 24
5.2 Defence R&D Breakdown: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Defence R&D page 25
5.3 Defence R&D Expenditure: Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 26
5.4 Defence R&D as a Share of Total Defence Expenditure and Total Investment page 27
5.5 Defence R&T Expenditure: Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year page 28
5.6 Defence R&T as a Share of Total Defence Expenditure, Total Investment and R&D page 29
5.7 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Capita (Current and Constant 2010 Prices) page 30
5.8 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Military (Current Prices) page 31
5.9 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Military (Constant 2010 Prices) page 32

6. COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT
6.1 N
 ational and Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement: page 34
Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Equipment Procurement
6.2 E uropean Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement: page 35
Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement
6.3 National and Collaborative Defence R&T: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Defence R&T page 36
6.4 European Collaborative Defence R&T: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Collaborative Defence R&T page 37

7. COLLECTIVE BENCHMARKS
7.1 Benchmark 1: Equipment Procurement (including R&D/R&T): 20% of the Total Defence Spending page 39
7.2 Benchmark 2: European Collaborative Equipment Procurement: 35% of the Total Defence Equipment Spending page 40
7.3Benchmark 3: Defence R&T: 2% of the Total Defence Spending page 41
7.4 Benchmark 4: European Collaborative Defence R&T: 20% of the Total Defence R&T Spending page 42

8. NOTES page 44

9. DEFINITIONS page 45
3
 1. TOTAL DEFENCE EXPENDITURE
1.1 D
 efence Expenditure (Current Prices): Absolute Values and Percentage Change on
Previous Year
€ 210 Bln 6,0%
5,3

5,0%
€ 205 Bln 4,3
4,0%

€ 200 Bln 3,0%

1,5 2,0%
2,3
€ 195 Bln
1,4
1,0%

€ 190 Bln -0,2 0,0%

-0,6

-1,0%
-1,2 -1,0
€ 185 Bln
-1,4
-2,6 -2,0%
204,3

207,9
194,8
190,4
201,4
193,0

192,3
195,8

193,5
201,3

205,1
196 ,1

€ 180 Bln -3,0%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Total Defence Expenditure % Change on Previous Year

4
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

1.2 GDP and Defence Expenditure (Current Prices)

207,9
€ 16.000 Bln € 210 Bln

205,1
204,3
€ 15.000 Bln € 205 Bln
201,3

201,4

14.544
13.672

14.444
€ 14.000 Bln € 200 Bln

12.875
195,8
196 ,1

12.653
193,5
€ 13.000 Bln € 195 Bln

194,8
193,0

192,3
12.272

12.411
€ 12.000 Bln € 190 Bln

190,4
12.072

12.046
11.584
10.636

11.316

€ 11.000 Bln € 185 Bln

€ 10.000 Bln € 180 Bln

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e

GDP Total Defence Expenditures

5
 1.3 Defence Expenditure (Current Prices) as a Share of GDP and Government Expenditure

€ 210 Bln 4,5%

204,3
193,0

207,9
194,8
190,4
201,4

192,3
195.8

193,5
201,3

205,1
196,1
4,0%
€ 205 Bln
3,5%

€ 200 Bln 3,0%

2,5%
€ 195 Bln
1,81%

1,78%

1,69%

1,69%

2,0%
1,64%

1,63%

1,56%

1,52%

1,49%

1,42%

1,43%
1,42%
€ 190 Bln 1,5%

1,0%
€ 185 Bln
0,5%
3,80%
3,86%

3,09%

3,03%

3,08%
3,04%
3,52%

3,35%

3,24%

2,97%
3,70%

3,19%

€ 180 Bln 0,0%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Defence Expenditure Defence expenditure as % of Government Expenditure Defence Expenditure as % of GDP

6
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

1.4 Defence Expenditure in Current and Constant 2010 Prices

€ 220 Bln

208,2

207,9
205,6

205,1
€ 210 Bln
204,4

202,4

200,1

195,8
204,3

194,8
€ 200 Bln

193,5

192,3
201,3

201,4

190,4
196,1

193,1
€ 190 Bln
193,0

191,2

188,3
185,4

183,8
€ 180 Bln

182,6
€ 170 Bln

€ 160 Bln
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e

Defence Expenditure (Constant 2010 Prices) Defence Expenditure (Current Prices)

7
 1.5 Defence Expenditure: Absolute Values (Constant 2010 Prices) and Percentage Change
on Previous Year (Current and Constant 2010 Prices)
€ 220 Bln 6,0%
5,3
5,0%
€ 210 Bln 4,3
4,0%

3,0%
204,4

€ 200 Bln 202,4 2,5

2,4
1,5

200,1
1,9 2,0%

195,8
2,3
208,2

205,6

1,4
€ 190 Bln 0,7 1,0%

193,1
191,2

188,3
-0,2 0,0%
€ 180 Bln -1,4 -0,6 -1,0

183,8
-1,1 -1,0%

185,4
-1,2 -1,2
-1,6 -1,5 -2,0%
€ 170 Bln -2,2

182,6
-2,6 -2,4
-3,0%
-3,0

€ 160 Bln -4,0%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Defence Expenditure (Constant 2010 Prices) % Change on Previous Year (Constant 2010 Prices) % Change on Previous Year (Current Prices)

8
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

1.6 GDP and Defence Expenditure (Constant 2010 Prices)

€ 16.000 Bln € 220 Bln

208,2

205,6
204,4

€ 15.000 Bln
€ 210 Bln

202,4

13.507
€ 14.000 Bln

200,1

13.261
195,8
€ 200 Bln

12.901
€ 13.000 Bln

191,2

12.346
12.202
€ 190 Bln

188,3

193,1
€ 12.000 Bln

12.259
12.334
12.149

185,4
12.046

183,8
11.820
11.708

182,6
€ 180 Bln
11.264

€ 11.000 Bln

€ 10.000 Bln € 170 Bln

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e

GDP Defence Expenditure

9
 1. TOTAL DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

The evolution of the EDA Member States’ defence spending over the past twelve years can be clearly divided into three major
periods. After two years of a continuous nominal increase from 2005 to 2007, the total defence expenditure has been declining
for the six consecutive years, largely due to the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. During the 2008-2013 period characterized
by significant spending cuts in all defence expenditure categories, except operation and maintenance which remained
relatively stable, the EDA MS have lost collectively over €23 billion, or 11,2% of their total 2007 defence spending in real terms 2.
The six-year-long decline was reversed in 2014, when the total defence expenditure of the EDA MS increased by €4,3 billion or
2,3%, compared to the record-low level of €190 billion in 2013. In 2015, the total defence spending increased further (+5,3%) to
reach €205,1 billion, the highest nominal value to date. In real terms, however, the increase was half that: €4,5 billion or 2,4%.
The provisional 2016 data indicates a subsequent nominal increase of almost €3 billion or 1,4%, suggesting that the European
defence spending has not only reached and surpassed its pre-crisis level, but it seems to be on a longer-term upwards trend.

The comparison of the evolution of the EDA MS GDP with that of the total defence expenditure suggests that changes in
defence spending are more linked to the financial expectations for the GDP than the actual GDP. Since 2005, the total EDA
MS GDP decreased for the first time in 2009, whereas defence spending cuts occurred already a year earlier and continued
up until 2013, despite the economic recovery which began in 2010, as GDP growth shows. The result of that was that the
total defence expenditure as a share of GDP has been constantly declining during these years, and continued to do so even
when the actual defence spending increased, owing to a faster growing GDP. In 2014-2015, the total defence expenditure
relative to GDP has plateaued at 1,42%, and in 2016, it is estimated to have slightly increased to 1,43% 3.

Similarly, the proportion of the total defence expenditure in the total general government expenditure has been annually
decreasing during 2005-2014, but it increased in 2015 to reach 3,04% and is estimated to have grown further in 2016 to 3,08%.
2. To ensure a “real” comparison over years, the data from 2005 to 2016 e has been adjusted to 2010 economic conditions (Source of deflator: European Commission, DG ECFIN, based on
the weight of the EU-28).
3. As of 2014, reduced defence expenditure shares in relation to GDP in most Member States can partially be explained by the new GDP accounting methodology implemented by Eurostat,
following the introduction of the new European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA 2010).

10
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

2. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN

2.1 Defence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices)

Categories of Defence Expenditure TotaL Defence Expenditure

€ 120 Bln € 210 Bln
109,0

106,0

107,2
207,9

102,4
€ 110 Bln

102,2

100,8
100,9
100,5

99,9
205,1

99,8
95,9
204,3
€ 100 Bln € 205 Bln
201,4
€ 90 Bln
201,3
€ 80 Bln € 200 Bln

€ 70 Bln 196,1
195,8
€ 60 Bln 193,5 € 195 Bln
192,3 194,8
€ 50 Bln 190,4

54,9
55,5
€ 40 Bln € 190 Bln

52,2
46,1

44,9
44,7
43,3

46,8
42,9

43,7
€ 30 Bln
44,1
42,0

40,9

38,3
42,9

42,5
39,0

39,0

39,3
34,7
37,6
41,9

€ 20 Bln € 185 Bln

4,4

4,6
4,9

4,9
5,4

5,4

4,5
5,8

5,8
6,2

5,2
€ 10 Bln
4,6

3,0

4,5
3,5
3,2

3,2
5,3

5,9
4,1

4,1
3,1

€ 0 Bln € 180 Bln

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Personnel Investment: Equipment Procurement + R&D Other Defence Expenditure
Infrastructure / Construction Operation & Maintenance Total Defence Expenditure

11
 2.2 D
 efence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices): Percentage Change on Previous Year
by Category of Expenditure
15,0%

13,2
11,7
12,5%

10,0%

8,4
7,5
7,5

6,4
6,5
7,5%

5,9
6,1

4,8

4,2
5,0%

4,1
4,1
5,3
2,7

2,5
2,4
2,0

1,6
2,5%
1,1

1,7
1,5 1,4

0,4
0,7
0,4
0,2

2,3
0,0%
-0,2 -0,6 -1,0
-1,0
-2,6 -1,2

-1,1
-1,4

-1,4
-2,5%

-2,2
-2,5
-2,7

-3,6
-4,0
-5,0%
-6,2
-6,3

-6,3
-6,8

-7,5%

-7,6
-10,0% -8,6
-9,5
-10,5

-12,5%

-15,0%
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016e

Personnel Investment: Equipment Procurement + R&D Total Defence Expenditure

Infrastructure / Construction Operation & Maintenance

12
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

2.3 Defence Expenditure Breakdown (Current Prices): Percentage Shares of Total Defence
Expenditure

100%
54,1% 51,9% 53,2% 51,2% 51,5% 52,9% 51,9% 50,4% 51,2% 49,8% 48,5%
90%

80%

70%

60%

50% 2,5%
2,8% 2,3% 2,3% 2,4%
3,0% 2,8% 2,5% 2,3%
2,9% 2,9%
40% 19,4% 20,5% 20,9% 20,8% 21,9% 19,8% 20,3% 19,7% 17,8% 19,1% 20,5%

30%

20% 21,3% 22,6% 21,5% 22,5% 22,3% 23,1% 23,3% 24,6% 26,8% 27,1% 26,4%

10%

0% 2,3% 2,0% 1,6% 2,7% 1,5% 1,6% 2,1% 3,1% 1,8% 1 ,6% 2,2%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Personnel Investment: Equipment Procurement + R&D Other Defence Expenditure
Infrastructure / Construction Operation & Maintenance

13
 2. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN

Personnel expenditure constitutes the largest part of the total defence expenditure of the EDA MS. Being a less flexible cost
than other defence expenditure categories, it, nevertheless, decreased substantially (-12%) from its highest level of €109 billion
achieved in 2006 to its lowest of €96 billion in 2013. In 2014, personnel expenditure increased by over 4% and in 2015 – by
another 2,4% to reach €102 billion, while in 2016, it is estimated to have slightly decreased again (-1,4%). The share of personnel
expenditure in total defence spending has been gradually decreasing. If in 2006 it accounted for more than 54% of the total
defence expenditure - the highest proportion recorded to date - in 2015, it was less than 50%, and in 2016, it is estimated to have
decreased further to 48,5%, a result driven by a more substantial increase in other defence spending categories.

The second highest defence expenditure category - operation and maintenance – took the opposite direction. Although it
decreased by almost €3 billion or 6,2% from 2007 to 2008, in the following years operation and maintenance expenditure
remained relatively stable at around €44 billion, and since 2011, it has been increasing at an average annual growth rate of
5% to reach €55,5 billion in 2015. Its relative proportion in the total defence spending has also been increasing, and in 2015,
it stood at 27,1% (as opposed to 21,3% in 2006). According to 2016 estimates, operation and maintenance expenditure has
decreased slightly both in absolute (by 1,1%) and relative (by 0,7 percentage points) terms.

The peak of defence investment (comprising defence equipment procurement and R&D) was reached in 2010, when it
amounted to €42,9 billion accounting for 21,9% of the total defence expenditure. Since then, defence investment has been
declining both in absolute and relative terms to its lowest 2014 level of €34,7 billion making up 17,8% of the total defence
spending. With an unprecedented increase of €4,6 billion (+13,2%) in 2015 and a subsequent estimated increase of €3,3 billion
(+8,4%) in 2016, defence investment currently amounting to €42,5 billion (2016 e) appears to be on a promising upwards trend.

Annual expenditure on infrastructure has been relatively stable during the 2006-2015 period, amounting to €5 billion on
average. Its share in the total defence spending ranged between 2,3% (from 2012 to 2014) and 3,0% (in 2007) during the
same period. In 2015 and 2016 e, infrastructure expenditure increased by 6,5% and 5,9%, respectively, and accounted for
2,4% of the total defence expenditure, on average.
14
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

3. DEFENCE PERSONNEL
3.1 Civilian and Military Personnel: Absolute Numbers and Percentage Shares of Total
Defence Personnel
Thousands
2.000

1.800

1.600

1.400

1.200

1.000

800

600

400
1.801 (80,6%)

1.620 (80,6%)

1.545 (80,5%)

1.411 (78,8%)
1.669 (79,6%)

1.436 (77,9%)
1.448 (77,4%)
1.842 (80,1%)

1.423 (78,1%)
1.834 (79,1%)
484 (20,9%)

422 (22,6%)
427 (20,4%)
457 (19,9%)

434 (19,4%)

390 (19,4%)

400 (21,9%)
374 (19,5%)

380 (21,2%)
407 (22,1%)
200

0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Civilian Personnel Military Personnel

15
 3.2 Military Personnel Breakdown: Absolute Numbers
Thousands
1000
929 928
898 889 881
824
800 767 746
720 701

600

400 357 353

340
312
295 286
337 331 268
322 248 260 251 252
229 228 219
249 241 242
200
227 226 223 216 211 202 197 188 191 188

0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Army Maritime Air Force Other

The figures may not add up to the totals provided due to rounding and due to the fact that not all Member States provide a precise breakdown of military personnel.

16
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

3.3 Military Personnel Breakdown: Percentage Change on Previous Year

3%

2%

1%
0,5

1,8

4,3
0%

-0,9

-6,4

-3,4
-6,9
-3,2

-2,8

-2,6
-4,2
-2,4

-2,6

-4,0

-8,9
-5,6

-3,5
-4,7
-2,7

-3,1

-3,1
-0,1

-1,0
-1,7

-3,1
-1,3

-1,7
-1%
-0,6

-0,8 -0,9 -0,9

-2% -2,3
-2,9
-3%

-4%

-5% -4,6

-6%
-6,3
-7%
-7,3
-8%

-9%

-10%
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015
Army Air Force Maritime Total Military Personnel (including Other Forces)

17
 3. DEFENCE PERSONNEL

During 2006-2015, the total number of the EDA MS defence personnel decreased by more than 500 thousand or
23%, with the biggest annual decrease recorded in 2009 (-6,2%). The ratio of military to civilian personnel remained
roughly at 4 to 1 during the period, as both military and civilian personnel were affected by reductions.

Within the military personnel (Army, Maritime, Air Force and Other), the trend varied. Army Forces have been
decreasing during the whole period, with the biggest annual reductions in 2011 and 2012 of 6,4% and 6,9%,
respectively. Between 2006 and 2015, Army personnel was reduced by almost a quarter, from 929 thousand to
701 thousand.

Naval Forces were affected the least by the reductions in manpower. Maritime personnel decreased by over 17%
from 227 thousand in 2006 to 188 thousand in 2015. The biggest annual decrease took place in 2011 and 2013,
resulting in a loss of 4,2% and 4,7%, respectively.

Air Force personnel has been annually decreasing from 2006 to 2014, with the largest drop in 2012 (-8,9%), which
resulted in a total reduction of over 28%. However, in 2015, Air Forces increased by 4,3% and stood at 252 thousand.

Other defence personnel that does not belong to any of the aforementioned categories was reduced by almost
29%, from 340 thousand in 2006 to 242 thousand in 2015.

18
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

4. DEPLOYABILITY-SUSTAINABILITY
4.1 Deployable (Land) and Sustainable (Land) Forces: Absolute Numbers

Thousands
500

450

400

434 445 465 443 450 427 450 481 417 428
350

300

250

200

150
125
111 107 106 111 109 110
102
100 82
79

50

0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Deployable (Land) Forces Sustainable (Land) Forces

19
 4.2 D
 eployable (Land) Forces, Sustainable (Land) Forces and Average Number of Troops
Deployed as a Share of Total Military Personnel/Deployable (Land) Forces

35,0%
32,5%
30,0%
27,5% 27,0
24,8 26,0
24,1 23,6 24,2
25,0% 23,5 23,0
22,5%
19,0 19,2
20,0%
17,5%
15,0%

30,4
33,5
23,6

26,6

29,3
25,8

27,8

27,6

31,0
24,1

12,5%
10,0%
7,5%
4,6 4,2 4,5 4,1
5,0% 4,1 3,5 3,4 4,0
2,2 2,2
2,5%
0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Average Number of Troops Deployed as % of Total Military Personnel

Deployable (Land) Forces as % of Total Military Personnel
Sustainable (Land) Forces as % of Deployable (Land) Forces

20
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

4.3 Costs of Deployed Operations (Current Prices): Absolute Values and Percentage Change on
Previous Year
€ 12 Bln 35%
29,3 30%

€ 10 Bln 25%

20%

15%
€ 8 Bln 11,4
10%
5,9 6,8
1,8 5%
€ 6 Bln
0%
-4,2
-5%
€ 4 Bln
-10%

-19,3 -17,1 -15%

€ 2 Bln -25,1 -20%

-25%
6,7 8,7 9,7 9,8 10,4 11,1 9,0 7,4 5,6 5,3
€ 0 Bln -30%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Operations Costs (Deployed) % Change on Previous Year

21
 4.4 A
 verage Number of Troops Deployed: Absolute Numbers and Percentage Change on
Previous Year

Thousands % Change
90 17,2% 20%

80 84
10%
77 80
70
68 66 -0,1%
3,6% 0%
60
-7,8%
-2,2% 58
-7,9% 54 -10%
50
50
-15,5%
40 -20%
-19,0%

30 32 32
-30%
20

-40%
10

-45,5%
0 -50%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Average Number of Troops Deployed % Change on Previous Year

22
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

4. DEPLOYABILITY-SUSTAINABILITY

In 2006, Deployable (Land) Forces accounted for 23,6% of the total military personnel. Ten years later, in 2015, this
share increased to 30,4%. On the other hand, Sustainable (Land) Forces as a share of Deployable (Land) Forces
reduced from 23,5% in 2006 to 19,2% in 2015.

In 2015, the total EDA MS Deployable (Land) Forces amounted to approximately 428 thousand (2,7% more than
in 2014) of which, Sustainable (Land) Forces constituted approximately 82 thousand. The ratio of Deployable to
Sustainable (Land) Forces was roughly 4 to 1 from 2006 to 2013, but since 2014, it stood at 5 to 1.

The costs of deployed operations reached its peak in 2011 with €11,1 billion, and since then, it has been reducing
annually. In 2015, operations costs amounted to €5,3 billion.

23
 5. DEFENCE INVESTMENT
5.1 Defence Investment Breakdown: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Defence
Investment
€ 45 Bln

8,6
€ 40 Bln 9,7 8,7 8,8
8,4 (20,0%)
(23,1%) (20,8%) (20,7%)
9,8 (20,5%) 7,5 9,2
7,8 7,6 (23,4%)
€ 35 Bln (25,1%) (20,3%) (19,2%)
(20,2%)
8,8
(25,3%)
€ 30 Bln

€ 25 Bln

€ 20 Bln

€ 15 Bln

€ 10 Bln

€ 5 Bln 29,2 32,2 33,3 32,5 34,3 30,6 31,5 30,0 25,9 30,1 33,7
(74,9 %) (76,9%) (79,2%) (79,5%) (80,0%) (79,7%) (80,8%) (79,8%) (74,7%) (76,6%) (79,3%)
€ 0 Bln
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Defence R&D (including R&T) Defence Equipment Procurement

24
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5.2 Defence R&D Breakdown: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total Defence R&D

€ 11 Bln

€ 10 Bln

€ 9 Bln

€ 8 Bln

€ 7 Bln 7,1 7,1 6,3 6,1 6,5 5,6 5,3 5,3 6,7 7,0 6,7
(72,8%) (73,7%) (71,6%) (73,1%) (75,7%) (71,8%) (71,6%) (70,5%) (76,1%) (76,4%) (76,3%)
€ 6 Bln

€ 5 Bln

€ 4 Bln

€ 3 Bln

€ 2 Bln

€ 1 Bln 2,7 2,5 2,5 2,3 2,1 2,2 2,1 2,2 2,1 2,2 2,1
(27,2%) (26.31%) (28,4%) (26,9%) (24,3%) (28,2% ) (28,4%) (29,5%) (23,9%) (23,6%) (23,7%)
€ 0 Bln
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e 2016e
Remaining Defence R&D Expenditure (R&T excluded) Defence R&T
2015-2016 defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States reported their R&T expenditure in 2015 and 2016.

25
 5.3 Defence R&D Expenditure: Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year

€ 12 Bln 18%
16,0 16%
14%
€ 10 Bln
12%
10%

€ 8 Bln 8%
6%
4%
€ 6 Bln 1,9
4,5 2%

-1,3 1,5 0%
€ 4 Bln -4,0 -3,9 -2%
-4%
-4,1
-9,2 -6%
€ 2 Bln -9,4
-8%
-10%
9,8 9,7 8,7 8,4 8,6 7,8 7,5 7,6 8,8 9,2 8,8
€ 0 Bln -12%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Defence R&D % Change on Previous Year

26
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5.4 Defence R&D as a Share of Total Defence Expenditure and Total Investment

30%

25,1 25,3
25%
23,4

23,1
20,5 20,3
20% 20,8
20,0 20,2 20,7
19,2

15%

10%

4,9 4,7 4,3 4,3 4,4 4,5 4,5 4,2

5% 4,0 3,9 4,0

0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
R&D as % of Total Defence Expenditure R&D as % of Total Investment

27
 5.5 Defence R&T Expenditure: Absolute Values and Percentage Change on Previous Year

5,2 5,3
€ 3 Bln 6%

3,1 4%

€ 2,5 Bln 2%

0%
-2,1
-2%
€ 2 Bln
-2,9 -6,1 -3,7 -4%
-4,5
-6%
€ 1,5 Bln
-8%
-7,9
-9,2 -10%
€ 1 Bln
-12%

-14%
€ 0,5 Bln -16%

-18%
2,7 2,5 2,5 2,3 2,1 2,2 2,1 2,2 2,1 2,2 2,1
€ 0 Bln -20%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e 2016e
Defence R&T % Change on Previous Year
2015-2016 defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States reported their R&T expenditure in 2015 and 2016.

28
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5.6 Defence R&T as a Share of Total Defence Expenditure, Total Investment and R&D

30% 29,5
28,4 28,4
27,2 26,9 28,2

25% 26,3

24,3
23,9
23,6 23,7
20%

15%

10%

6,8
6,1 5,9 5,5 5,7 6,0 6,1
4,9 5,4 5,5
5% 4,9

1,32 1,24 1,23 1,15 1,06 1,13 1,10 1,17 1,08 1,06
1,00
0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e 2016e
R&T as % of Total Defence Expenditure R&T as % of Total Investment R&T as % of R&D
2015-2016 defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States reported their R&T expenditure in 2015 and 2016.

29
 5.7 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Capita (Current and Constant 2010 Prices)

Defence Investment per Capita Total Defence Expenditure per Capita

€ 90 € 450

€ 440
€ 85
€ 430
427
420
€ 420
€ 80
411 411
417 € 410
413 407
404
409
€ 75 € 400
395
396 389 € 390
386
€ 70 382
379 387 € 380
384 374

372 365 € 370

€ 65 364
€ 360
84

84
80
83

83
86
86

86

86
86
85

69
65
76

78

78

78
72

72
75

75
77

€ 60 € 350
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016e
Total Defence Investment per Capita (Current Prices) Total Defence Investment per Capita (Constant 2010 Prices)
Total Defence Expenditure per Capita (Current Prices) Total Defence Expenditure per Capita (Constant 2010 Prices)

30
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5.8 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Military (Current Prices)

Defence Investment per Military Total Defence Expenditure per Military

€ 30.000 € 160.000

145.399
136.872 € 140.000
€ 25.000 132.760 132.591
120.857 125.265
111.845 117.556
110.900 € 120.000
€ 20.000 109.764

€ 100.000

€ 15.000

€ 80.000

€ 10.000
€ 60.000

€ 5.000
€ 40.000
26.449
24.502
23.325

24.374
26.907

27.830
22.743

24.813
21.252

26.145
€0 € 20.000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Defence Investment per Military Total Defence Expenditure per Military

31
 5.9 Total Defence Expenditure and Investment per Military (Constant 2010 Prices)

Defence Investment per Military Total Defence Expenditure per Military

€ 30.000 € 160.000

€ 140.000
€ 25.000 133.490
128.032
119.953 129.159 € 120.000
127.145
123.729
€ 20.000 113.565 120.857

111.611 112.410
€ 100.000

€ 15.000

€ 80.000

€ 10.000
€ 60.000

€ 5.000
€ 40.000
23.443

26.449

24.508

25.948
22.889

25.002

25.550
25.072

23.001
21.988

€0 € 20.000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Defence Investment per Military Total Defence Expenditure per Military

32
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

5. DEFENCE INVESTMENT
Defence investment comprises defence equipment procurement expenditure – traditionally responsible for the
largest share of investment expenses of all EDA MS – and defence Research & Development (R&D) expenditure,
which also includes defence Research and Technology (R&T) expenditure.
Defence equipment procurement, accounting for 75% to 80% of the total defence investment, was the main
driving force behind the developments of the latter. Despite small annual fluctuations, expenditure earmarked for
equipment procurement has been increasing since 2006 and reached its peak in 2010 with €34,3 billion. The total
defence investment peaked that same year at €42,9 billion, in contrast to the total defence expenditure, which was
still on a decline. Both equipment procurement expenditure and total defence investment have been decreasing
since then to their respective lowest levels of €25,9 billion and €34,7 billion in 2014. This was again to the contrary
of the total defence spending, which increased for the first time that year, after a six-year-long decline. In 2015,
defence equipment procurement increased by over 16%, compared to the previous year, to €30,1 billion, and it is
estimated to have increased by another 12% in 2016 to €33,7 billion.
R&D expenditure, accounting for the remaining 20% to 25% of the total defence investment, has been decreasing
annually from 2006 to 2012, except for a small increase (+1,9%) in 2010. As a result, R&D expenditure in 2012 was at
its lowest level, amounting to €7,5 billion, 24% lower than its 2006 value. During the next three years, 2013-2015, the
EDA MS defence R&D expenditure was increasing, most notably in 2014, when it jumped by 16%. In 2015, it grew by
another 4,5% to €9,2 billion, while in 2016, it is estimated to have decreased by 4%. During the period 2006-2015,
R&D accounted for 4% to 5% of the total defence expenditure . The lowest share – 3,9% – was recorded in 2012, the
year when R&D part in the total defence investment was also the lowest (19,2%).
In 2006, defence R&T expenditure was €2,7 billion and it has been decreasing since then (except for the minor increases
in 2011, 2013 and 2015) to €2,1 billion in 2016. During this period, the total defence R&T expenditure decreased by 22%.
2015 and 2016 defence R&T figures are estimated based on 2014 data, since not all EDA MS reported their defence R&T
expenditure for these years.
33
 6. COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT
6.1 N
 ational and Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement: Absolute Values and
Percentage Shares of Total Equipment Procurement
€ 40 Bln

€ 35 Bln 34,3
33,3 32,5
32,2
30,6 31,5
29,2 30,0 30,1
€ 30 Bln
25,9

€ 25 Bln
26,6
25,4 25,2 24,3 25,5
(77,6%) 25,2 24,7
(78,8%) (75,7%) (74,7%) 22,7 (81,0%)
22,5 (84,1%) (82,0%)
€ 20 Bln
(77,2%) (74,1%) 20,2
(77,9%)
€ 15 Bln

6,7 6,8 8,1 8,2 7,7 7,9

€ 10 Bln
(21,2%) (24,3%) (25,3%) (22,4%) (25,9%) 6,0 5,7 5,4
(22,8%) 4,8
(19,0%) (22,1%) (18,0%)
(15,9%)
€ 5 Bln

€ 0 Bln
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Total Defence Equipment Procurement National Defence Equipment Procurement

Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement
Since 2012, Collaborative Equipment Procurement data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data.

34
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

6.2 European Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement: Absolute Values and Percentage
Shares of Total Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement
€ 9.000 Mln 100%
8.072 8.2 33
7.694 7.912 98%
€ 8.000 Mln
6.8 46
95,6% 96%
€ 7.000 Mln 6.666
94,7% 94,6%
5.999 5.727 94%
€ 6.000 Mln
5.416
91,2% 92,7% 4.755 92%
€ 5.000 Mln
89,2% 90%
€ 4.000 Mln 87,6% 89,8%
88,8% 88%
€ 3.000 Mln 86,8% 86%

€ 2.000 Mln
84%

€ 1.000 Mln

4.496
82%
6.082

5.732
7.338
7.068

7.286

4.810
6.107

7.144

5.141
€ 0 Mln 80%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement European Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement

European Collaborative Equipment Procurement as % of Total Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement
Since 2012, Collaborative Equipment Procurement data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data.

35
 6.3 N
 ational and Collaborative Defence R&T: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total
Defence R&T
€ 3.000 Mln
 2.661
€ 2.750 Mln
 2.542
2.487
€ 2.500 Mln
 2.258
 2.188  2.124  2.236 2.165
€ 2.250 Mln
2.276  2.079 2.100
(85,5 %) 2.164
€ 2.000 Mln
(85,1 %) 2.035 2.033 1.996
(81,8 %) 1.936 1.917 (90,9 %) 1.915 (92,2%)
€ 1.750 Mln 1.817 1.880
(85,7 %) (85,9 %) (90,3%) (91,2 %)
(87,4 %)
€ 1.500 Mln

€ 1.250 Mln

€ 1.000 Mln

€ 750 Mln
452
385 378 (18,2%) 262
€ 500 Mln 322 308
(14,5 %) (14,9 %) (14,3 %) (12,6 %) (14,1%) 207 203 185 169
(9,7%) (9,1%) (8,8 %) (7,8%)
€ 250 Mln

€ 0 Mln
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e

Total Defence R&T National Defence R&T Collaborative Defence R&T

Since 2012, Collaborative R&T data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data. 2015 total defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States
reported their R&T expenditure for that year.

36
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

6.4 E uropean Collaborative Defence R&T: Absolute Values and Percentage Shares of Total
Collaborative Defence R&T
€ 500 Mln 100%

452
€ 450 Mln
93,1% 93,3% 92 ,8% 95%
91,2% 90 ,0%
€ 400 Mln 378
385
88,1% 90%
€ 350 Mln
322
308 82,5% 85%
€ 300 Mln 262
84,2%
€ 250 Mln 80%
207
203
€ 200 Mln 1 85
169 75%

€ 150 Mln
70%
€ 100 Mln
67,6%
66,1% 65%
€ 50 Mln
244
333
254

290

260

140

168

156
412

172
€ 0 Mln 60%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Collaborative Defence R&T European Collaborative Defence R&T as % of Total Collaborative Defence R&T
European Collaborative Defence R&T
Since 2012, Collaborative R&T data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data.

37
 6. COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT

The difficulty of some EDA MS to provide collaborative defence equipment procurement and R&T data has resulted
in EDA’s inability to compile and present the EDA MS collaborative spending at the aggregate level. It is, therefore,
highlighted that since 2012, the aforementioned data is only presented as part of the EDA defence data gathering
project, but they do not represent a comprehensive picture of the EDA MS respective expenditure.

Collaborative defence equipment procurement share in the total defence equipment procurement expenditure
of the reporting EDA MS ranged from the lowest of 18,0% in 2015 to the highest of 25,9% in 2011. The European
collaboration constituted the major component of the total collaborative procurement expenditure, ranging
between 86,8% (2009) and 95,6% (2012), and in 2015, it accounted for 88,8%.

It is estimated that collaborative defence R&T as a proportion of the total defence R&T expenditure was the lowest
in 2015, amounting to 7,8%, while its highest share of 18,2% was observed in 2008. Out of the total collaborative
defence R&T expenditure, the majority was European collaboration, covering, on average, close to 90% throughout
the decade. The exception was the years 2006 and 2012, when the respective shares amounted to 66% and 68%.
In 2015, almost 93% of the total collaborative defence R&T was done at the European level.

38
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

7. COLLECTIVE BENCHMARKS
7.1 Benchmark 1: Equipment Procurement (including R&D/R&T): 20% of the Total Defence
Spending
100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%
19,4 20,5 20,9 20,8 21,9 19,8 20,3 19,7 17,8 19,1 20,0

0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Benchmark 1
Remaining Defence Expenditure Investment: Equipment Procurement + R&D

39
 7.2 B
 enchmark 2: European Collaborative Equipment Procurement: 35% of the Total Defence
Equipment Spending

100%
79,2 81,1 78,7 78,0 78,8 76,0 81,8 85,0 80,1 84,0 65,0
90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%
20,8 18,9 21,3 22,0 21,2 24,0 18,2 15,0 19,9 16.0 35,0

0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Benchmark 2
Remaining Defence Equipment Procurement European Collaborative Defence Equipment Procurement
Since 2012, Collaborative Equipment Procurement data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data.

40
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

7.3 Benchmark 3: Defence R&T: 2% of the Total Defence Spending

10%

9%

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%
1,32 1,24 1,23 1,15 1,06 1,13 1,10 1,17 1,08 1,06 2,0
0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e Benchmark 3
Remaining Defence Expenditure Defence R&T
2015 defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States reported their R&T expenditure for that year.

41
 7.4 Benchmark 4: European Collaborative Defence R&T: 20% of the Total Defence R&T Spending

100%
90,4 86,9 83,4 87,2 88,2 88,1 93,4 92,5 91,8 92,8 80,0
90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%
9,6 13,1 16,6 12,8 11,8 11,9 6,6 7,5 8,2 7,2 20,0
0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015e Benchmark 4
Remaining Defence R&T European Collaborative Defence R&T
Since 2012, Collaborative R&T data is partial, as not all Member States were able to provide the data. 2015 total defence R&T is estimated based on 2014 data, since not all Member States
reported their R&T expenditure for that year.
42
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

7. COLLECTIVE BENCHMARKS

In 2007, EDA Member States agreed on a set of four collective benchmarks for investment. These benchmarks are
collective and they apply to the total sum spent by all EDA MS together. There is no obligation in terms of timelines
or translation of these benchmarks into national targets.

Since 2012, EDA is no longer able to measure progress against two of the four collective benchmarks referring
to European collaborative expenditure (Benchmark 2: European collaborative equipment procurement as a
percentage of the total defence equipment procurement and Benchmark 4: European collaborative defence R&T as
a percentage of the total defence R&T), as some Member States are unable to provide collaborative expenditure
figures due to their inherent accounting limitations. For this reason, the collective results for these benchmarks,
based on the available data, are only presented graphically with no further analysis.

Benchmark 1: Equipment procurement (including R&D/R&T): 20% of the total defence spending.
This is the only benchmark that has been met or nearly met (>19%) during the decade 2006-2015, with the exception
of 2014, when it dropped to 17,8%, the lowest share to date. The highest proportion was achieved in 2010, when
defence investment accounted for almost 22% of the total defence expenditure.

Benchmark 2: European collaborative equipment procurement: 35% of the total defence equipment spending.

Benchmark 3: Defence R&T: 2% of the total defence spending.

The collective target set for R&T expenditure has been the most challenging one, as the desirable level relative
to the total defence spending has never been met during the decade. More than that, the highest share – 1,32% –
achieved collectively by the EDA MS in 2006 is estimated to have reduced to 1,06% in 2015.

Benchmark 4: European collaborative defence R&T: 20% of the total defence R&T spending.

43
 8. NOTES
EDA receives data from the Ministries of Defence of its 27 Member States (MS). Occasionally, national data is
revised, and this may have an impact on the overall aggregated figures. Please check Defence Data Portal on the
EDA’s website regularly for updates: http://eda.europa.eu/info-hub/defence-data-portal

Data in this booklet is at aggregate level, and it may differ from other sources due to, inter alia, rounding. Due to
rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures. For some spending categories,
a margin of error exists, as accounting systems of the MS differ. Nevertheless, the data provided in the booklet
represents the best publicly available figures.

Data on GDP, general government expenditure and population, as well as price deflator, is taken from the annual
macro-economic database of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
(DG ECFIN). This data is revised twice a year, and thus may have an impact on some of the data calculated by EDA.

44
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

9. DEFINITIONS
Data collection is based on the list of indicators and their definitions approved by the Agency’s Ministerial Steering
Board. The definitions provided below have been shortened and edited for the purpose of this publication.

Total defence expenditure: total Ministry of Defence (MoD) expenditure plus other defence-related expenditure
allocated by other governmental institutions (other Ministries’ special budgetary lines).

Civilian personnel: the authorised strength of all civilian personnel on 31 December of each year employed by all
military establishments and the armed forces.

Military personnel: the authorised strengths of all active military personnel on 31 December of each year.

Personnel expenditure: all personnel-related expenditure for military and civilian personnel, including from non-
MoD sources.

Defence equipment procurement expenditure: expenditure for all major equipment categories.

Research and development (R&D): expenditure for any R&D programmes up to the point where expenditure for
production of equipment starts to be incurred.

Research and technology (R&T): expenditure for basic research, applied research and technology demonstration
for defence purposes. It is a subset of R&D.

Investment: defence equipment procurement and R&D (including R&T) expenditure.

45
 Operation and maintenance (O&M) expenditure: covers O&M (spare parts and supplies) of major equipment, other
equipment and supplies, and costs related to maintaining utilities and infrastructure.

Other expenditure: all other expenditure that cannot be attributed to any of the above expenditure categories.

European collaboration (a subset of collaboration): agreement between at least two EU Member States’ Ministries
of Defence for project or programme contracts. Possible non-EU partners’ share in such contracts is lower than
50%.

Other collaborative expenditure: all collaborative expenditure that does not fall under the European collaboration
definition.

Average number of troops deployed: average number of troops (all Armed Forces) deployed throughout the year
for crisis management operations.

Deployable (land) forces: number of (land) forces troops structured, prepared, and equipped for deployed
operations.

Sustainable (land) forces: number of (land) forces troops undertaking or planned for sustained operations (mid- to
long-term). It is a subset of Deployable (land) forces.

Operations costs (deployed): all national expenditure to cover incremental (extra) costs linked to deployed
operations outside the EU Member States’ territory.

46
 DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

NOTES

47
 NOTES

48
DEFENCE DATA 2006-2016

49
 QU-AB-17-001-EN-C
European Defence Agency
Rue des Drapiers 17-23
B-1050 Brussels - Belgium

www.eda.europa.eu

Tel +32 2 504 28 00

Fax +32 2 504 28 15
info@eda.europa.eu

ISBN 978-92-95075-37-5