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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Italy

Armed forces personnel in Italy in 2020 — 338,000 people. Ranked 20 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 12.2%.

2020 338,000 people −1.17% vs 2019
World rank 20of 170
Period maximum 585,000 people1995
Period minimum 326,939 people2009

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Italy, 1985–2020300,000400,000500,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 385,100 people1989: 506,000 people1990: 493,000 people1991: 473,000 people1992: 471,000 people1993: 450,000 people1994: 436,000 people1995: 585,000 people1996: 580,900 people1997: 580,900 people1998: 554,100 people1999: 521,200 people2000: 503,100 people2001: 482,600 people2002: 471,100 people2003: 454,300 people2004: 445,000 people2005: 445,000 people2006: 440,000 people2007: 436,000 people2008: 436,000 people2009: 326,939 people2010: 359,378 people2011: 367,550 people2012: 359,500 people2013: 359,500 people2014: 356,850 people2015: 356,850 people2016: 356,850 people2017: 347,000 people2018: 341,500 people2019: 342,000 people2020: 338,000 people
Change over the period: −47,100 (−12.23%) Average annual rate: -0.37 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Italy 338,000 people
World 27.41M people
Europe & Central Asia 5.01M people
Southern Europe computed 844,000 people
High-income countries computed 6.77M people
Armed forces personnel — Italy, by year Italy All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 338,000 −4,000 −1.17%
2019 342,000 +500 +0.15%
2018 341,500 −5,500 −1.59%
2017 347,000 −9,850 −2.76%
2016 356,850 +0 +0%
2015 356,850 +0 +0%
2014 356,850 −2,650 −0.74%
2013 359,500 +0 +0%
2012 359,500 −8,050 −2.19%
2011 367,550 +8,172 +2.27%
2010 359,378 +32,439 +9.92%
2009 326,939 −109,061 −25.01%
2008 436,000 +0 +0%
2007 436,000 −4,000 −0.91%
2006 440,000 −5,000 −1.12%
2005 445,000 +0 +0%
2004 445,000 −9,300 −2.05%
2003 454,300 −16,800 −3.57%
2002 471,100 −11,500 −2.38%
2001 482,600 −20,500 −4.07%
2000 503,100 −18,100 −3.47%
1999 521,200 −32,900 −5.94%
1998 554,100 −26,800 −4.61%
1997 580,900 +0 +0%
1996 580,900 −4,100 −0.7%
1995 585,000 +149,000 +34.17%
1994 436,000 −14,000 −3.11%
1993 450,000 −21,000 −4.46%
1992 471,000 −2,000 −0.42%
1991 473,000 −20,000 −4.06%
1990 493,000 −13,000 −2.57%
1989 506,000 — —
1985 385,100 — —

Southern Europe, 2020

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

IT Italy 338,000 ES Spain 199,000 GR Greece 147,000 PT Portugal 52,000 RS Serbia 32,000 HR Croatia 20,000 MK North Macedonia 16,000 ME Montenegro 12,000 BA Bosnia and Herzegovina 11,000 AL Albania 8,000 SI Slovenia 7,000 MT Malta 2,000
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 Italy

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Italy by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Italy by year Demography Population

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

Italy by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Italy by year Defense Arms exports

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

Italy by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Italy by year
All indicators for Italy