UK Army Enlistment Applications Fall 40% in 2025 as Regular Force Nears 73,000 Floor
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 30
UK Army Enlistment Applications Fall 40% in 2025 as Regular Force Nears 73,000 Floor
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 30
Summary
A 40% drop in regular army enlistment applications in 2025 versus 2024 was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence, signaling a sharper recruitment strain for Britain’s land forces.
73,790 regular soldiers are currently in the army, only just above the 73,000 minimum recommended in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
Longer-term shrinkage runs across the services: the army has fallen from 153,000 regulars in 1990, reservists to 25,770 from 76,000, and the Royal Navy to 13 destroyers and frigates combined from 48 major combat ships.
107 Typhoons and at least 37 F-35s now make up the RAF’s combat jet fleet, while analysts say the UK must invest more in drones as lessons from Ukraine reshape military priorities.