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Armed Forces & National Security

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The UK armed forces have approximately 184,000 regular personnel — down 42,000 since 2010 — with all three services significantly below recruitment targets. The UK defence budget is £46.1 billion for 2024/25, equating to approximately 2.3% of GDP. Between 3,000 and 6,000 veterans are estimated to experience homelessness. The UK is one of the world's top five arms exporters with approximately £8.5 billion in exports annually. Defence statistics are sourced from the Ministry of Defence, DASA, the NCSC, the Home Office Counter-Terrorism Division and SIPRI.

Key UK Defence & Security Statistics 2024
184,000 — UK regular armed forces personnel (MoD)
£46.1 billion — UK defence budget 2024/25
2.3% — UK defence spending as % of GDP
3,000–6,000 — veterans estimated to be homeless
£8.5 billion — annual UK arms exports (SIPRI)
350 — terrorism arrests per year (Home Office)
184,000

Armed Forces Regular Personnel

−42,000

Armed Forces Personnel Lost Since 2010

Defence Budget Spent Today

Defence Budget Spent This Year

2.3% GDP (2024)

UK Defence Spending as % of GDP

2.0% target

NATO Minimum Spending Target

2.5 million+

Military Veterans in UK

3,000–6,000

Homeless Veterans Right Now (est.)

~17% of veterans

Veterans Experiencing PTSD

Long waits reported

Veterans Waiting for Mental Health Treatment

Cost of Veteran Mental Health Support This Year

Cyber Attacks on UK Government This Year

Cyber Attacks on UK Infrastructure This Year

Terrorism-Related Arrests This Year

Terrorism-Related Convictions This Year

~800 live investigations

Active Counter-Terrorism Investigations

Cost of Counter-Terrorism This Year

Espionage Cases Investigated This Year

UK Arms Exports Today (£)

UK Arms Exports This Year (£)

Top 5 globally

UK Arms Export Ranking (worldwide)

Cost of Nuclear Deterrent This Year

£31bn total

Trident Renewal Programme Cost

Significantly below target

Armed Forces Recruitment vs Target

Armed Forces Personnel Leaving This Year

Cost of Military Pensions This Year

~900 deployed

UK Peacekeeping Personnel Abroad

Foreign Military Aid Given This Year

Cost of Military Operations Abroad This Year

Military Equipment Procurement This Year

£46.1bn (2024/25)

Total UK Defence Budget

Sources: MOD, DASA, NCSC, Home Office Counter-Terrorism, SIPRI · Data year: 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on official UK government data

What is the UK defence budget in 2026?

The UK defence budget is £46.1 billion for 2024/25, equating to approximately 2.3% of GDP, according to MOD statistics. This makes the UK the second largest defence spender in NATO after the United States. The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.

How many terror arrests are made in the UK each year?

UK counter-terrorism police make approximately 350 terrorism-related arrests each year, according to Home Office statistics. Around 120 individuals are convicted of terrorism offences annually. Counter-terrorism policing costs the UK approximately £3.5 billion per year across policing, intelligence and security services.

How much does the UK spend on arms exports each year?

The UK exports approximately £8.5 billion worth of arms and defence equipment annually, making it one of the world's top five arms exporters according to SIPRI and DSIT statistics. Major export markets include Saudi Arabia, the United States and various NATO allies. The defence procurement budget is approximately £12 billion per year.