Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America

United States of America: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 1.40 million in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
1.40 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
5th
of 173 countries
All-time high
2.24 million
in 1989
All-time low
1.35 million
in 2015
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America, 1985–2020

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1985200220201985: 2.2M1986: 2.2M1987: 2.2M1988: 2.2M1989: 2.2M1990: 2.2M1991: 2.1M1992: 1.9M1993: 1.8M1994: 1.7M1995: 1.6M1996: 1.6M1997: 1.5M1998: 1.6M1999: 1.6M2000: 1.5M2001: 1.4M2002: 1.5M2003: 1.5M2004: 1.5M2005: 1.5M2006: 1.5M2007: 1.6M2008: 1.5M2009: 1.6M2010: 1.6M2011: 1.5M2012: 1.5M2013: 1.4M2014: 1.4M2015: 1.3M2016: 1.3M2017: 1.4M2018: 1.4M2019: 1.4M2020: 1.4M

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America is 1.40 million, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America peaked at 2.24 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 1.35 million, in 2015.

That places United States of America 5th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 2.15 million
1986 2.17 million +1.0%
1987 2.20 million +1.0%
1988 2.22 million +1.0%
1989 2.24 million +1.0%
1990 2.18 million -2.7%
1991 2.12 million -2.8%
1992 1.92 million -9.4%
1993 1.82 million -5.2%
1994 1.72 million -5.5%
1995 1.64 million -4.9%
1996 1.57 million -3.9%
1997 1.53 million -2.5%
1998 1.59 million +4.0%
1999 1.57 million -1.2%
2000 1.45 million -7.6%
2001 1.42 million -2.3%
2002 1.47 million +3.3%
2003 1.48 million +0.9%
2004 1.47 million -0.5%
2005 1.55 million +5.0%
2006 1.50 million -3.1%
2007 1.55 million +3.8%
2008 1.54 million -1.0%
2009 1.56 million +1.6%
2010 1.57 million +0.3%
2011 1.52 million -3.1%
2012 1.49 million -1.8%
2013 1.43 million -4.0%
2014 1.38 million -3.6%
2015 1.35 million -2.5%
2016 1.35 million +0.1%
2017 1.36 million +0.8%
2018 1.38 million +1.5%
2019 1.39 million +0.6%
2020 1.40 million +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.20 million 2.15 million 2.24 million 5
1990s 1.77 million 1.53 million 2.18 million 10
2000s 1.50 million 1.42 million 1.56 million 10
2010s 1.42 million 1.35 million 1.57 million 10
2020s 1.40 million 1.40 million 1.40 million 1

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 2 China 2.54 million compare
  2. 3 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 1.47 million compare
  3. 4 Russian Federation 1.45 million compare
  4. 6 Pakistan 943,000 compare
  5. 7 Egypt 836,000 compare
  6. 8 Brazil 762,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in United States of America was 1.40 million in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 2.24 million in 1989.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 1.35 million in 2015.
How does United States of America rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
United States of America ranks 5th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United States of America 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 United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/united-states/

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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.