Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics

Central Europe and the Baltics: Armed forces personnel, total was 525,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
525,000
Change on year
up 3.3%
Rank
41st
of 44 groups
All-time high
1.14 million
in 1995
All-time low
465,900
in 2011
Years of data
33
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1985–2020

0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1985200220201985: 763.0k1989: 816.0k1990: 662.0k1991: 700.0k1992: 755.0k1993: 829.0k1994: 839.0k1995: 1.1M1996: 1.1M1997: 1.0M1998: 1.0M1999: 981.9k2000: 945.0k2001: 777.8k2002: 717.8k2003: 663.8k2004: 595.0k2005: 601.0k2006: 544.0k2007: 532.0k2008: 522.0k2009: 493.2k2010: 488.7k2011: 465.9k2012: 519.9k2013: 515.9k2014: 522.0k2015: 521.6k2016: 510.9k2017: 498.0k2018: 516.7k2019: 508.0k2020: 525.0k

Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Analysis

Central Europe and the Baltics recorded 525,000 for armed forces personnel, total in 2020.

The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at 1.14 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 465,900, in 2011.

That places Central Europe and the Baltics 41st out of 44 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.

Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 763,000
1989 816,000 +6.9%
1990 662,000 -18.9%
1991 700,000 +5.7%
1992 755,000 +7.9%
1993 829,000 +9.8%
1994 839,000 +1.2%
1995 1.14 million +35.8%
1996 1.06 million -6.5%
1997 1.03 million -3.3%
1998 1.02 million -1.0%
1999 981,920 -3.7%
2000 945,000 -3.8%
2001 777,800 -17.7%
2002 717,800 -7.7%
2003 663,800 -7.5%
2004 595,000 -10.4%
2005 601,000 +1.0%
2006 544,000 -9.5%
2007 532,000 -2.2%
2008 522,000 -1.9%
2009 493,193 -5.5%
2010 488,712 -0.9%
2011 465,900 -4.7%
2012 519,910 +11.6%
2013 515,860 -0.8%
2014 522,010 +1.2%
2015 521,590 -0.1%
2016 510,860 -2.1%
2017 498,000 -2.5%
2018 516,745 +3.8%
2019 508,000 -1.7%
2020 525,000 +3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 789,500 763,000 816,000 2
1990s 902,005 662,000 1.14 million 10
2000s 639,159 493,193 945,000 10
2010s 506,759 465,900 522,010 10
2020s 525,000 525,000 525,000 1

Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics

  1. 38 Belarus 158,000 compare
  2. 38 Peru 158,000 compare
  3. 40 Philippines 157,000 compare
  4. 41 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 153,000 compare
  5. 42 Greece 147,000 compare
  6. 43 Sudan 144,000 compare
  7. 44 Ethiopia 138,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Central Europe and the Baltics

All data for Central Europe and the Baltics →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics?
Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics was 525,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
The highest recorded value was 1.14 million in 1995.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
The lowest recorded value was 465,900 in 2011.
How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for armed forces personnel, total?
Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 41st out of 44 groups with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics data come from?
The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel, total in Central Europe and the Baltics. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total/central-europe-and-the-baltics/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
219 places, 6,823 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

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.