Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy

Italy: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 338,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
338,000
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
20th
of 173 countries
All-time high
585,000
in 1995
All-time low
326,939
in 2009
Years of data
36
1985–2020

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

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1985200220201985: 385.1k1986: 415.3k1987: 445.6k1988: 475.8k1989: 506.0k1990: 493.0k1991: 473.0k1992: 471.0k1993: 450.0k1994: 436.0k1995: 585.0k1996: 580.9k1997: 580.9k1998: 554.1k1999: 521.2k2000: 503.1k2001: 482.6k2002: 471.1k2003: 454.3k2004: 445.0k2005: 445.0k2006: 440.0k2007: 436.0k2008: 436.0k2009: 326.9k2010: 359.4k2011: 367.6k2012: 359.5k2013: 359.5k2014: 356.9k2015: 356.9k2016: 356.9k2017: 347.0k2018: 341.5k2019: 342.0k2020: 338.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2020, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy stood at 338,000.

That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy peaked at 585,000 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 326,939, in 2009.

That places Italy 20th 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 Italy, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 385,100
1986 415,325 +7.8%
1987 445,550 +7.3%
1988 475,775 +6.8%
1989 506,000 +6.4%
1990 493,000 -2.6%
1991 473,000 -4.1%
1992 471,000 -0.4%
1993 450,000 -4.5%
1994 436,000 -3.1%
1995 585,000 +34.2%
1996 580,900 -0.7%
1997 580,900 +0.0%
1998 554,100 -4.6%
1999 521,200 -5.9%
2000 503,100 -3.5%
2001 482,600 -4.1%
2002 471,100 -2.4%
2003 454,300 -3.6%
2004 445,000 -2.0%
2005 445,000 +0.0%
2006 440,000 -1.1%
2007 436,000 -0.9%
2008 436,000 +0.0%
2009 326,939 -25.0%
2010 359,378 +9.9%
2011 367,550 +2.3%
2012 359,500 -2.2%
2013 359,500 +0.0%
2014 356,850 -0.7%
2015 356,850 +0.0%
2016 356,850 +0.0%
2017 347,000 -2.8%
2018 341,500 -1.6%
2019 342,000 +0.1%
2020 338,000 -1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 445,550 385,100 506,000 5
1990s 514,510 436,000 585,000 10
2000s 444,004 326,939 503,100 10
2010s 354,698 341,500 367,550 10
2020s 338,000 338,000 338,000 1

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 17 Colombia 428,000 compare
  2. 18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 343,000 compare
  3. 19 Mexico 341,000 compare
  4. 21 Algeria 326,000 compare
  5. 22 Sri Lanka 317,000 compare
  6. 23 France 304,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Italy was 338,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 585,000 in 1995.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 326,939 in 2009.
How does Italy rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Italy ranks 20th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Italy 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 Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/italy/

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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.