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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Germany

Armed forces personnel in Germany in 2020 — 183,000 people. Ranked 35 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 61.7%.

2020 183,000 people −0.54% vs 2019
World rank 35of 170
Period maximum 545,000 people1990
Period minimum 177,300 people2015

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Germany, 1985–20200200,000400,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 478,000 people1989: 503,000 people1990: 545,000 people1991: 457,000 people1992: 442,000 people1993: 398,000 people1994: 362,000 people1995: 365,000 people1996: 383,500 people1997: 347,100 people1998: 333,500 people1999: 331,000 people2000: 221,100 people2001: 308,400 people2002: 296,000 people2003: 284,500 people2004: 284,000 people2005: 285,000 people2006: 246,000 people2007: 244,000 people2008: 244,000 people2009: 251,465 people2010: 251,465 people2011: 196,000 people2012: 186,450 people2013: 181,550 people2014: 178,600 people2015: 177,300 people2016: 179,100 people2017: 180,000 people2018: 181,400 people2019: 184,000 people2020: 183,000 people
Change over the period: −295,000 (−61.72%) Average annual rate: -2.71 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Germany 183,000 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 — Germany, by year Germany All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 183,000 −1,000 −0.54%
2019 184,000 +2,600 +1.43%
2018 181,400 +1,400 +0.78%
2017 180,000 +900 +0.5%
2016 179,100 +1,800 +1.02%
2015 177,300 −1,300 −0.73%
2014 178,600 −2,950 −1.62%
2013 181,550 −4,900 −2.63%
2012 186,450 −9,550 −4.87%
2011 196,000 −55,465 −22.06%
2010 251,465 +0 +0%
2009 251,465 +7,465 +3.06%
2008 244,000 +0 +0%
2007 244,000 −2,000 −0.81%
2006 246,000 −39,000 −13.68%
2005 285,000 +1,000 +0.35%
2004 284,000 −500 −0.18%
2003 284,500 −11,500 −3.89%
2002 296,000 −12,400 −4.02%
2001 308,400 +87,300 +39.48%
2000 221,100 −109,900 −33.2%
1999 331,000 −2,500 −0.75%
1998 333,500 −13,600 −3.92%
1997 347,100 −36,400 −9.49%
1996 383,500 +18,500 +5.07%
1995 365,000 +3,000 +0.83%
1994 362,000 −36,000 −9.05%
1993 398,000 −44,000 −9.95%
1992 442,000 −15,000 −3.28%
1991 457,000 −88,000 −16.15%
1990 545,000 +42,000 +8.35%
1989 503,000 — —
1985 478,000 — —

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 Germany

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Germany by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Germany by year Demography Population

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

Germany by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Germany by year Defense Arms exports

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

Germany by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Germany by year
All indicators for Germany