Navy comparison: 
Ireland vs 
New Zealand
Ireland's 38-ship navy outnumbers New Zealand's 8 vessels (4.8:1 advantage). Of these, 32 and 5 are in active service respectively.
SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
IrelandWorld #63
6.0
SEAS Index / 100
New Zealand leads on 2 of 3 categories
New ZealandWorld #61
6.7
Ireland
New Zealand
Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Ireland | New Zealand | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Irish Naval Service | Royal New Zealand Navy | |
| Total ships | 38 | 8 | 🇮🇪 4.8× |
| Active ships | 32 | 5 | 🇮🇪 6.4× |
| On order / planned | 3 | 0 | 🇮🇪 |
| Submarines | 0 | 0 | — |
| Principal surface combatants | 0 | 2 | 🇳🇿 |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | 1 | 🇳🇿 |
Show full breakdown · 2 more rowsHide the 2 extra rows
| Patrol boats | 23 | 1 | 🇮🇪 23× |
| Auxiliaries | 9 | 1 | 🇮🇪 9.0× |
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇳🇿 New ZealandAnzac-class ×2
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, Ireland or New Zealand?
Ireland has a larger navy with 38 ships compared to New Zealand's 8 ships.
Which navy has more frigates, Ireland or New Zealand?
New Zealand operates 2 frigates compared to Ireland's 0.
How do the Ireland and New Zealand navies compare in size?
Ireland's navy is 4.8 times larger than New Zealand's in terms of total ships (38 vs 8).