Defense

Key figures to remember

• 203,000 active personnel

  in active service in 2024 (army, air, navy ; the gendarmerie is under the Interior Ministry). Pay, training, military pensions.

  Source: French Armed Forces 2024

• €413 billion over 2024-2030

  programmed by the Military Programming Act — nuclear modernisation, drones, cyber, space.

  Source: LPM 2024-2030

• 2.07 % of GDP

  spent on Defence in 2024, rising steadily since 2017 (NATO 2 % target).

  Source: French Armed Forces