Spanish Army Faces Shortage of Up to 23,000 Soldiers Due to Low Salaries and Poor Social Conditions

Spain is experiencing a chronic shortage of military personnel, with its armed forces currently lacking between 15,000 and 23,000 soldiers. To reach the target of 140,000 professional troops, the military would need significantly more personnel. At present, only 116,739 people serve in the armed forces, including just 76,000 enlisted soldiers.

El País reported on this, citing data from Mariano Casado, head of the Military Life Observatory, and defense experts.

The shortage is mainly caused by difficulties in recruiting and retaining personnel amid economic growth. Since 2015, more soldiers have left the Spanish armed forces than joined, and the number of applicants per available position has dropped to a historic low.

Low recruitment levels are significantly affected by poor financial and social conditions for military personnel. With a monthly salary of around €1,300, soldiers do not have clear schedules or adequate social support, so civilian companies and the Civil Guard can easily attract qualified personnel with higher pay.

An additional factor is the low level of interest among women, who currently make up only 15% of enlisted personnel. Moreover, a negative and outdated public image of the army still persists in society, stemming from the era of conscription.

Military leaders stress the need for a major reform of pay and living conditions for service members. They say that attracting new recruits and solving the personnel shortage will only be possible by increasing salaries and offering clear career development paths.

Meanwhile, the Spanish government has ruled out bringing back compulsory military service, which was abolished 25 years ago. Instead, it plans to address the shortage by investing in better conditions for professional contract soldiers.