Armed forces as a share of the population in the European Union in 2022 — 0.299%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 0.873 pp.
1960–2022 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.299 | −0.005 pp |
| 2021 | 0.303 | −0 pp |
| 2020 | 0.303 | −0.001 pp |
| 2019 | 0.304 | +0.001 pp |
| 2018 | 0.304 | +0.001 pp |
| 2017 | 0.302 | −0.005 pp |
| 2016 | 0.307 | −0.002 pp |
| 2015 | 0.308 | −0.006 pp |
| 2014 | 0.314 | −0.007 pp |
| 2013 | 0.321 | −0.018 pp |
| 2012 | 0.339 | −0.001 pp |
| 2011 | 0.34 | −0.054 pp |
| 2010 | 0.393 | −0.031 pp |
| 2009 | 0.425 | +0.056 pp |
| 2008 | 0.369 | −0.007 pp |
| 2007 | 0.375 | −0.02 pp |
| 2006 | 0.396 | −0.042 pp |
| 2005 | 0.438 | +0.008 pp |
| 2004 | 0.43 | +0.008 pp |
| 2003 | 0.422 | −0.026 pp |
| 2002 | 0.448 | −0.02 pp |
| 2001 | 0.468 | −0.034 pp |
| 2000 | 0.501 | −0.092 pp |
| 1999 | 0.593 | −0.038 pp |
| 1998 | 0.631 | −0.019 pp |
| 1997 | 0.649 | −0.018 pp |
| 1996 | 0.667 | −0.021 pp |
| 1995 | 0.689 | −0.025 pp |
| 1994 | 0.714 | −0.003 pp |
| 1993 | 0.718 | −0.042 pp |
| 1992 | 0.76 | −0.041 pp |
| 1991 | 0.801 | −0.024 pp |
| 1990 | 0.824 | −0.11 pp |
| 1989 | 0.934 | −0.05 pp |
| 1988 | 0.984 | −0.032 pp |
| 1987 | 1.016 | +0.003 pp |
| 1986 | 1.013 | +0.003 pp |
| 1985 | 1.01 | −0.012 pp |
| 1984 | 1.022 | +0 pp |
| 1983 | 1.022 | −0.011 pp |
| 1982 | 1.033 | +0.005 pp |
| 1981 | 1.028 | +0.004 pp |
| 1980 | 1.025 | −0.003 pp |
| 1979 | 1.027 | −0.001 pp |
| 1978 | 1.028 | +0.005 pp |
| 1977 | 1.023 | −0.021 pp |
| 1976 | 1.044 | −0.026 pp |
| 1975 | 1.07 | −0.076 pp |
| 1974 | 1.146 | +0.009 pp |
| 1973 | 1.137 | +0.007 pp |
| 1972 | 1.131 | +0.021 pp |
| 1971 | 1.109 | +0.006 pp |
| 1970 | 1.103 | −0 pp |
| 1969 | 1.103 | −0.006 pp |
| 1968 | 1.11 | −0.011 pp |
| 1967 | 1.12 | −0.013 pp |
| 1966 | 1.133 | −0.033 pp |
| 1965 | 1.166 | −0.136 pp |
| 1964 | 1.302 | +0.049 pp |
| 1963 | 1.253 | +0.068 pp |
| 1962 | 1.185 | −0.015 pp |
| 1961 | 1.2 | +0.029 pp |
| 1960 | 1.171 | — |
Military personnel on active duty as a percent of the entire population of the country. The indicator answers the question of how large the armed forces are relative to the size of the country — an army that is large in absolute numbers in a large country can come out smaller by this measure than the small army of a small state.
Important: A close indicator — the share of the labor force — answers a different question: what part of those able to work is occupied in the army instead of the economy. In countries with young populations the two diverge noticeably.
Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.
A long historical series on the personnel of armies — since 1816, that is, over two centuries.
Defense Armed forces as a share of the labor forceWhat part of a country’s labor force serves in the army instead of working in the economy.
Defense Armed forces personnelThe number of active-duty military personnel and paramilitary forces.
Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)The share of GDP a country spends on defense.
Defense Military expenditure in dollarsThe absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.
Defense Military expenditure share of the budgetWhat part of government spending goes to defense.