Armed forces personnel, total in European Union
European Union: Armed forces personnel, total was 1.91 million in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel, total in European Union, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
European Union recorded 1.91 million for armed forces personnel, total in 2020.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in European Union peaked at 3.56 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.91 million, in 2019.
European Union ranks 32nd of 46 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel, total in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3.09 million | — |
| 1989 | 3.39 million | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 3.21 million | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 3.11 million | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 3.05 million | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 3.01 million | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 3.01 million | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 3.56 million | +18.1% |
| 1996 | 3.47 million | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 3.30 million | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 3.23 million | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 3.09 million | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 2.86 million | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 2.69 million | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 2.65 million | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 2.54 million | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 2.39 million | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 2.41 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 2.29 million | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 2.26 million | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 2.25 million | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 2.07 million | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 2.10 million | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 2.00 million | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 2.03 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 2.01 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 2.00 million | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.98 million | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 1.97 million | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.92 million | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 1.92 million | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.91 million | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.91 million | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.24 million | 3.09 million | 3.39 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.20 million | 3.01 million | 3.56 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.44 million | 2.07 million | 2.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.98 million | 1.91 million | 2.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.91 million | 1.91 million | 1.91 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More public sector data for European Union
- Arms imports 6.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 13.69 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 29.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 6.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 818.48 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0189 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 20.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 368.50 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 1,195 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in European Union?
- Armed forces personnel, total in European Union was 1.91 million in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 3.56 million in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 million in 2019.
- How does European Union rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- European Union ranks 32nd out of 46 groups with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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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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.