Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) was 0.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel in United Kingdom, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in United Kingdom stood at 0.4%.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in United Kingdom peaked at 1.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2019.
That places United Kingdom 124th out of 171 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.1% | — |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -9.3% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -17.9% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -12.2% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +11.0% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +2.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.9%, 48% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.9%, 50% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- 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 609.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 9.28 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 36.23 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in United Kingdom?
- Armed forces personnel in United Kingdom was 0.4% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for armed forces personnel?
- United Kingdom ranks 124th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.