Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in France
France: Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) was 1.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel in France, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in France stood at 1.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in France peaked at 2.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2019.
France ranks 70th of 171 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in France, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.1% | — |
| 1991 | 2.1% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | +0.7% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 1.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.9%, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- France's 1.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.9%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
More public sector data for France
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 2.74 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 56.67 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in France?
- Armed forces personnel in France was 1.0% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2019.
- How does France rank for armed forces personnel?
- France ranks 70th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.