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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — NATO

Armed forces personnel in NATO in 2020 — 4,059,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 35.5%.

2020 4.06M people +0.45% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 6.78M people1989
Period minimum 4.02M people2017

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — NATO, 1985–20204M5M6M7M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 6,290,500 people1989: 6,779,000 people1990: 6,534,000 people1991: 6,392,000 people1992: 6,087,000 people1993: 5,913,000 people1994: 5,919,000 people1995: 6,242,100 people1996: 6,083,250 people1997: 6,003,480 people1998: 5,985,120 people1999: 5,848,380 people2000: 5,478,700 people2001: 5,090,500 people2002: 5,067,600 people2003: 4,967,600 people2004: 4,758,612 people2005: 4,889,612 people2006: 4,649,742 people2007: 4,658,742 people2008: 4,641,842 people2009: 4,503,402 people2010: 4,532,358 people2011: 4,381,470 people2012: 4,379,580 people2013: 4,284,150 people2014: 4,222,250 people2015: 4,074,300 people2016: 4,056,670 people2017: 4,022,000 people2018: 4,044,005 people2019: 4,041,000 people2020: 4,059,000 people
Change over the period: −2.23M (−35.47%) Average annual rate: -1.24 %

Comparison, 2020

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

NATO 4.06M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — NATO, by year NATO All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 4.06M +18,000 +0.45%
2019 4.04M −3,005 −0.07%
2018 4.04M +22,005 +0.55%
2017 4.02M −34,670 −0.85%
2016 4.06M −17,630 −0.43%
2015 4.07M −147,950 −3.5%
2014 4.22M −61,900 −1.44%
2013 4.28M −95,430 −2.18%
2012 4.38M −1,890 −0.04%
2011 4.38M −150,888 −3.33%
2010 4.53M +28,956 +0.64%
2009 4.5M −138,440 −2.98%
2008 4.64M −16,900 −0.36%
2007 4.66M +9,000 +0.19%
2006 4.65M −239,870 −4.91%
2005 4.89M +131,000 +2.75%
2004 4.76M −208,988 −4.21%
2003 4.97M −100,000 −1.97%
2002 5.07M −22,900 −0.45%
2001 5.09M −388,200 −7.09%
2000 5.48M −369,680 −6.32%
1999 5.85M −136,740 −2.28%
1998 5.99M −18,360 −0.31%
1997 6M −79,770 −1.31%
1996 6.08M −158,850 −2.54%
1995 6.24M +323,100 +5.46%
1994 5.92M +6,000 +0.1%
1993 5.91M −174,000 −2.86%
1992 6.09M −305,000 −4.77%
1991 6.39M −142,000 −2.17%
1990 6.53M −245,000 −3.61%
1989 6.78M — —
1985 6.29M — —

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 NATO

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

NATO by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

NATO by year Demography Population

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

NATO by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

NATO by year Defense Arms exports

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

NATO by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

NATO by year
All indicators for NATO