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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Switzerland

Armed forces personnel in Switzerland in 2020 — 20,000 people. Ranked 106 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 0%.

2020 20,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 106of 170
Period maximum 109,000 people2005
Period minimum 4,000 people2004

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Switzerland, 1985–2020050,000100,000150,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 20,000 people1989: 17,000 people1990: 22,000 people1991: 22,000 people1992: 31,000 people1993: 35,000 people1994: 39,000 people1995: 31,400 people1996: 27,300 people1997: 26,260 people1998: 26,300 people1999: 27,700 people2000: 27,700 people2001: 26,800 people2002: 27,600 people2003: 27,500 people2004: 4,000 people2005: 109,000 people2006: 23,000 people2007: 23,000 people2008: 23,000 people2009: 25,620 people2010: 25,287 people2011: 23,100 people2012: 22,650 people2013: 21,250 people2014: 20,800 people2015: 20,950 people2016: 20,950 people2017: 21,000 people2018: 21,450 people2019: 20,000 people2020: 20,000 people
Change over the period: +0 (+0%) Average annual rate: 0 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Switzerland 20,000 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 — Switzerland, by year Switzerland All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 20,000 +0 +0%
2019 20,000 −1,450 −6.76%
2018 21,450 +450 +2.14%
2017 21,000 +50 +0.24%
2016 20,950 +0 +0%
2015 20,950 +150 +0.72%
2014 20,800 −450 −2.12%
2013 21,250 −1,400 −6.18%
2012 22,650 −450 −1.95%
2011 23,100 −2,187 −8.65%
2010 25,287 −333 −1.3%
2009 25,620 +2,620 +11.39%
2008 23,000 +0 +0%
2007 23,000 +0 +0%
2006 23,000 −86,000 −78.9%
2005 109,000 +105,000 +2,625%
2004 4,000 −23,500 −85.45%
2003 27,500 −100 −0.36%
2002 27,600 +800 +2.99%
2001 26,800 −900 −3.25%
2000 27,700 +0 +0%
1999 27,700 +1,400 +5.32%
1998 26,300 +40 +0.15%
1997 26,260 −1,040 −3.81%
1996 27,300 −4,100 −13.06%
1995 31,400 −7,600 −19.49%
1994 39,000 +4,000 +11.43%
1993 35,000 +4,000 +12.9%
1992 31,000 +9,000 +40.91%
1991 22,000 +0 +0%
1990 22,000 +5,000 +29.41%
1989 17,000 — —
1985 20,000 — —

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 Switzerland

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Switzerland by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Switzerland by year Demography Population

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

Switzerland by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Switzerland by year Defense Arms exports

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

Switzerland by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Switzerland by year
All indicators for Switzerland