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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Western Europe

Armed forces personnel in Western Europe in 2020 — 596,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 50.9%.

2020 596,000 people −0.33% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 1.37M people1990
Period minimum 596,000 people2020

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Western Europe, 1985–2020400,000600,000800,0001M1.2M1.4M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 1,214,800 people1989: 1,339,000 people1990: 1,371,000 people1991: 1,271,000 people1992: 1,209,000 people1993: 1,141,000 people1994: 1,083,000 people1995: 1,081,200 people1996: 1,072,300 people1997: 998,570 people1998: 963,340 people1999: 913,950 people2000: 776,500 people2001: 840,700 people2002: 813,600 people2003: 809,200 people2004: 775,512 people2005: 891,512 people2006: 750,512 people2007: 736,512 people2008: 742,612 people2009: 729,225 people2010: 725,004 people2011: 653,460 people2012: 633,010 people2013: 626,010 people2014: 615,260 people2015: 605,110 people2016: 605,160 people2017: 604,000 people2018: 605,310 people2019: 598,000 people2020: 596,000 people
Change over the period: −618,800 (−50.94%) Average annual rate: -2.01 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Western Europe 596,000 people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 596,000 −2,000 −0.33%
2019 598,000 −7,310 −1.21%
2018 605,310 +1,310 +0.22%
2017 604,000 −1,160 −0.19%
2016 605,160 +50 +0.01%
2015 605,110 −10,150 −1.65%
2014 615,260 −10,750 −1.72%
2013 626,010 −7,000 −1.11%
2012 633,010 −20,450 −3.13%
2011 653,460 −71,544 −9.87%
2010 725,004 −4,221 −0.58%
2009 729,225 −13,387 −1.8%
2008 742,612 +6,100 +0.83%
2007 736,512 −14,000 −1.87%
2006 750,512 −141,000 −15.82%
2005 891,512 +116,000 +14.96%
2004 775,512 −33,688 −4.16%
2003 809,200 −4,400 −0.54%
2002 813,600 −27,100 −3.22%
2001 840,700 +64,200 +8.27%
2000 776,500 −137,450 −15.04%
1999 913,950 −49,390 −5.13%
1998 963,340 −35,230 −3.53%
1997 998,570 −73,730 −6.88%
1996 1.07M −8,900 −0.82%
1995 1.08M −1,800 −0.17%
1994 1.08M −58,000 −5.08%
1993 1.14M −68,000 −5.62%
1992 1.21M −62,000 −4.88%
1991 1.27M −100,000 −7.29%
1990 1.37M +32,000 +2.39%
1989 1.34M — —
1985 1.21M — —

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 Western Europe

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Western Europe by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Western Europe by year Demography Population

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

Western Europe by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Western Europe by year Defense Arms exports

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

Western Europe by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Western Europe by year
All indicators for Western Europe