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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — European Union

Armed forces personnel in the European Union in 2020 — 1,913,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 38.2%.

2020 1.91M people +0.16% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 3.56M people1995
Period minimum 1.91M people2019

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — European Union, 1985–20201.5M2M2.5M3M3.5M4M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 3,093,700 people1989: 3,387,000 people1990: 3,207,000 people1991: 3,109,000 people1992: 3,046,000 people1993: 3,013,000 people1994: 3,012,000 people1995: 3,557,200 people1996: 3,471,450 people1997: 3,304,110 people1998: 3,227,500 people1999: 3,086,780 people2000: 2,862,000 people2001: 2,691,900 people2002: 2,647,500 people2003: 2,536,700 people2004: 2,392,112 people2005: 2,412,862 people2006: 2,294,862 people2007: 2,257,862 people2008: 2,254,962 people2009: 2,069,093 people2010: 2,101,107 people2011: 2,004,680 people2012: 2,025,550 people2013: 2,005,400 people2014: 1,995,100 people2015: 1,979,130 people2016: 1,967,550 people2017: 1,919,000 people2018: 1,919,805 people2019: 1,910,000 people2020: 1,913,000 people
Change over the period: −1.18M (−38.16%) Average annual rate: -1.36 %

Comparison, 2020

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

European Union 1.91M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 1.91M +3,000 +0.16%
2019 1.91M −9,805 −0.51%
2018 1.92M +805 +0.04%
2017 1.92M −48,550 −2.47%
2016 1.97M −11,580 −0.59%
2015 1.98M −15,970 −0.8%
2014 2M −10,300 −0.51%
2013 2.01M −20,150 −0.99%
2012 2.03M +20,870 +1.04%
2011 2M −96,427 −4.59%
2010 2.1M +32,014 +1.55%
2009 2.07M −185,869 −8.24%
2008 2.25M −2,900 −0.13%
2007 2.26M −37,000 −1.61%
2006 2.29M −118,000 −4.89%
2005 2.41M +20,750 +0.87%
2004 2.39M −144,588 −5.7%
2003 2.54M −110,800 −4.19%
2002 2.65M −44,400 −1.65%
2001 2.69M −170,100 −5.94%
2000 2.86M −224,780 −7.28%
1999 3.09M −140,720 −4.36%
1998 3.23M −76,610 −2.32%
1997 3.3M −167,340 −4.82%
1996 3.47M −85,750 −2.41%
1995 3.56M +545,200 +18.1%
1994 3.01M −1,000 −0.03%
1993 3.01M −33,000 −1.08%
1992 3.05M −63,000 −2.03%
1991 3.11M −98,000 −3.06%
1990 3.21M −180,000 −5.31%
1989 3.39M — —
1985 3.09M — —

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 the European Union

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The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

European Union by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

European Union by year Demography Population

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

European Union by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

European Union by year Defense Arms exports

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

European Union by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

European Union by year
All indicators for the European Union