Defence expenditure

  • The Ministry of Defence budgets:
    • 2020: EUR 3.3 billion
    • 2021: EUR 4.6 billion
    • 2022: EUR 5.1 billion
    • 2023: EUR 6.1 billion
    • 2024: EUR 6.2 billion
  • Share of defence expenditure in GDP:
    • 2020: 1.3 %
    • 2021: 1.8 %
    • 2022: 1.9 %
    • 2023: 2.2 %
    • 2024: 2.3 % (estimated)

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the resources and operating conditions of military national defence.

As a result of the Defence Forces’ major projects (F-35 project and Squadron 2020) and the war in Ukraine, Finland’s defence expenditure rose to a higher level than it had ever been.

In 2022, defence spending accounted for 1.9 % of GDP and about 7.9 % of the Government budget. In 2023 defence spending rose to about 2.2 % of GDP, which is in line with NATO’s target of at least 2 % of GDP. The Finnish Government has announced that this objective will continue to be adhered to.

NATO’s statistical method differs slightly from Finland’s own calculations. According to NATO’s calculations, Finland’s defence expenditure accounted for approximately 2.4 % of GDP in 2023. This calculation also includes expenditure on military crisis management, expenditure on the Border Guard related to national defence and the expenditure on pensions for the personnel of the Defence Forces. In many NATO countries, this type of expenditure is included in defence spending.

The Ministry of Defence:
https://www.defmin.fi/en/ministry_of_defence/economy_and_activities/defence_budget