Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) vs United Kingdom: Armed forces personnel, total

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
1.44 million
in 2020
United Kingdom
153,000
in 2020
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank
38th
United Kingdom rank
41st

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
  • United Kingdom
0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M198520022020

How they compare

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) currently reports 1.44 million against 153,000 in United Kingdom, a difference of 1.29 million.

That makes Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)'s figure about 9.4 times United Kingdom's.

Across all 29 years both countries report, Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) has been ahead every year.

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 38th and United Kingdom ranks 41st of 46 groups.

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1990s 1.93 million 241,125 1.69 million Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
2000s 1.69 million 194,837 1.49 million Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
2010s 1.42 million 157,072 1.26 million Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
2020s 1.44 million 153,000 1.29 million Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) or United Kingdom?
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), at 1.44 million against 153,000 in United Kingdom as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and United Kingdom?
1.29 million, with Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and United Kingdom?
29 years are reported by both, from 1992 to 2020.
How do Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and United Kingdom rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 38th and United Kingdom ranks 41st of 46 groups.
Where does this data come from?
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) vs United Kingdom: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/europe-and-central-asia-excluding-high-income/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
219 places, 6,823 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.