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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Belgium

Armed forces personnel in Belgium in 2020 — 24,000 people. Ranked 96 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 73.8%.

2020 24,000 people −7.69% vs 2019
World rank 96of 170
Period maximum 110,000 people1989
Period minimum 24,000 people2020

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Belgium, 1985–2020050,000100,000150,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 91,600 people1989: 110,000 people1990: 106,000 people1991: 101,000 people1992: 79,000 people1993: 70,000 people1994: 53,000 people1995: 47,200 people1996: 46,300 people1997: 44,450 people1998: 43,700 people1999: 41,750 people2000: 39,300 people2001: 39,400 people2002: 39,200 people2003: 40,800 people2004: 36,000 people2005: 37,000 people2006: 40,000 people2007: 39,000 people2008: 39,000 people2009: 39,482 people2010: 35,736 people2011: 34,050 people2012: 30,700 people2013: 37,500 people2014: 37,600 people2015: 36,350 people2016: 33,800 people2017: 32,000 people2018: 31,500 people2019: 26,000 people2020: 24,000 people
Change over the period: −67,600 (−73.8%) Average annual rate: -3.75 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Belgium

Belgium 24,000 people
World 27.41M people
Europe & Central Asia 5.01M people
Western Europe computed 596,000 people
High-income countries computed 6.77M people
Armed forces personnel — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 24,000 −2,000 −7.69%
2019 26,000 −5,500 −17.46%
2018 31,500 −500 −1.56%
2017 32,000 −1,800 −5.33%
2016 33,800 −2,550 −7.02%
2015 36,350 −1,250 −3.32%
2014 37,600 +100 +0.27%
2013 37,500 +6,800 +22.15%
2012 30,700 −3,350 −9.84%
2011 34,050 −1,686 −4.72%
2010 35,736 −3,746 −9.49%
2009 39,482 +482 +1.24%
2008 39,000 +0 +0%
2007 39,000 −1,000 −2.5%
2006 40,000 +3,000 +8.11%
2005 37,000 +1,000 +2.78%
2004 36,000 −4,800 −11.76%
2003 40,800 +1,600 +4.08%
2002 39,200 −200 −0.51%
2001 39,400 +100 +0.25%
2000 39,300 −2,450 −5.87%
1999 41,750 −1,950 −4.46%
1998 43,700 −750 −1.69%
1997 44,450 −1,850 −4%
1996 46,300 −900 −1.91%
1995 47,200 −5,800 −10.94%
1994 53,000 −17,000 −24.29%
1993 70,000 −9,000 −11.39%
1992 79,000 −22,000 −21.78%
1991 101,000 −5,000 −4.72%
1990 106,000 −4,000 −3.64%
1989 110,000 — —
1985 91,600 — —

Western Europe, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

FR France 304,000 DE Germany 183,000 NL Netherlands 41,000 BE Belgium 24,000 AT Austria 23,000 CH Switzerland 20,000 LU Luxembourg 1,000
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for Belgium

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Belgium by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Belgium by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

Belgium by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Belgium by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

Belgium by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Belgium by year
All indicators for Belgium