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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Ireland

Armed forces personnel in Ireland in 2020 — 9,000 people. Ranked 136 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 34.3%.

2020 9,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 136of 170
Period maximum 17,000 people1994
Period minimum 8,650 people2018

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Ireland, 1985–20207,50010,00012,50015,00017,50019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 13,700 people1989: 13,000 people1990: 13,000 people1991: 13,000 people1992: 13,000 people1993: 13,000 people1994: 17,000 people1995: 12,900 people1996: 12,700 people1997: 12,700 people1998: 11,500 people1999: 11,500 people2000: 11,500 people2001: 10,500 people2002: 10,500 people2003: 10,400 people2004: 10,000 people2005: 10,000 people2006: 10,000 people2007: 10,000 people2008: 10,000 people2009: 10,460 people2010: 10,460 people2011: 8,900 people2012: 9,350 people2013: 9,350 people2014: 9,100 people2015: 9,100 people2016: 9,100 people2017: 9,000 people2018: 8,650 people2019: 9,000 people2020: 9,000 people
Change over the period: −4,700 (−34.31%) Average annual rate: -1.19 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Ireland 9,000 people
World 27.41M people
Europe & Central Asia 5.01M people
Northern Europe computed 292,000 people
High-income countries computed 6.77M people
Armed forces personnel — Ireland, by year Ireland All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 9,000 +0 +0%
2019 9,000 +350 +4.05%
2018 8,650 −350 −3.89%
2017 9,000 −100 −1.1%
2016 9,100 +0 +0%
2015 9,100 +0 +0%
2014 9,100 −250 −2.67%
2013 9,350 +0 +0%
2012 9,350 +450 +5.06%
2011 8,900 −1,560 −14.91%
2010 10,460 +0 +0%
2009 10,460 +460 +4.6%
2008 10,000 +0 +0%
2007 10,000 +0 +0%
2006 10,000 +0 +0%
2005 10,000 +0 +0%
2004 10,000 −400 −3.85%
2003 10,400 −100 −0.95%
2002 10,500 +0 +0%
2001 10,500 −1,000 −8.7%
2000 11,500 +0 +0%
1999 11,500 +0 +0%
1998 11,500 −1,200 −9.45%
1997 12,700 +0 +0%
1996 12,700 −200 −1.55%
1995 12,900 −4,100 −24.12%
1994 17,000 +4,000 +30.77%
1993 13,000 +0 +0%
1992 13,000 +0 +0%
1991 13,000 +0 +0%
1990 13,000 +0 +0%
1989 13,000 — —
1985 13,700 — —

Northern Europe, 2020

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

GB United Kingdom 153,000 LT Lithuania 37,000 NO Norway 25,000 FI Finland 22,000 DK Denmark 15,000 SE Sweden 15,000 IE Ireland 9,000 LV Latvia 9,000 EE Estonia 7,000 IS Iceland 0
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 Ireland

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Ireland by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Ireland by year Demography Population

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

Ireland by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Ireland by year Defense Arms exports

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

Ireland by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Ireland by year
All indicators for Ireland