Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) was 0.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel in Switzerland, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel in Switzerland is 0.4%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 29.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Switzerland peaked at 2.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2004.
That places Switzerland 133rd out of 171 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.6% | — |
| 1991 | 0.6% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +39.8% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +11.6% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +12.5% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -20.1% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -17.7% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -85.5% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +2612.1% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -79.2% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -0.2% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 0.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.9%, 43% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 0.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.9%, 45% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +2612.1% | 0.1% | 2.6% |
| 2004 | -85.5% | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| 2006 | -79.2% | 2.6% | 0.5% |
| 1992 | +39.8% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.1% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More public sector data for Switzerland
- 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 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.71 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 120 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Switzerland?
- Armed forces personnel in Switzerland was 0.4% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2004.
- How does Switzerland rank for armed forces personnel?
- Switzerland ranks 133rd out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.