Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France

France: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 304,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
304,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
23rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
554,000
in 1989
All-time low
304,000
in 2019
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France, 1985–2020

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1985200220201985: 464.3k1986: 486.7k1987: 509.1k1988: 531.6k1989: 554.0k1990: 550.0k1991: 542.0k1992: 522.0k1993: 506.0k1994: 506.0k1995: 502.4k1996: 491.3k1997: 473.1k1998: 452.2k1999: 411.6k2000: 389.4k2001: 374.4k2002: 361.8k2003: 360.4k2004: 358.0k2005: 359.0k2006: 354.0k2007: 353.0k2008: 353.0k2009: 342.0k2010: 342.0k2011: 332.2k2012: 325.6k2013: 318.4k2014: 312.4k2015: 306.4k2016: 306.1k2017: 307.0k2018: 304.8k2019: 304.0k2020: 304.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2020, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France stood at 304,000. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

That represents a change of down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France peaked at 554,000 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 304,000, in 2019.

That places France 23rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 464,300
1986 486,725 +4.8%
1987 509,150 +4.6%
1988 531,575 +4.4%
1989 554,000 +4.2%
1990 550,000 -0.7%
1991 542,000 -1.5%
1992 522,000 -3.7%
1993 506,000 -3.1%
1994 506,000 +0.0%
1995 502,400 -0.7%
1996 491,300 -2.2%
1997 473,100 -3.7%
1998 452,200 -4.4%
1999 411,600 -9.0%
2000 389,400 -5.4%
2001 374,400 -3.9%
2002 361,800 -3.4%
2003 360,400 -0.4%
2004 358,000 -0.7%
2005 359,000 +0.3%
2006 354,000 -1.4%
2007 353,000 -0.3%
2008 353,000 +0.0%
2009 341,967 -3.1%
2010 341,967 +0.0%
2011 332,250 -2.8%
2012 325,600 -2.0%
2013 318,400 -2.2%
2014 312,350 -1.9%
2015 306,350 -1.9%
2016 306,100 -0.1%
2017 307,000 +0.3%
2018 304,800 -0.7%
2019 304,000 -0.3%
2020 304,000 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 509,150 464,300 554,000 5
1990s 495,660 411,600 550,000 10
2000s 360,497 341,967 389,400 10
2010s 315,882 304,000 341,967 10
2020s 304,000 304,000 304,000 1

Countries ranked near France

  1. 20 Italy 338,000 compare
  2. 21 Algeria 326,000 compare
  3. 22 Sri Lanka 317,000 compare
  4. 24 Ukraine 298,000 compare
  5. 25 Saudi Arabia 282,000 compare
  6. 26 Syrian Arab Republic 269,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France was 304,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 554,000 in 1989.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 304,000 in 2019.
How does France rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
France ranks 23rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in France. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/france/

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How this figure is calculated

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
219 places, 7,420 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.