Armed forces as a share of the population in Western Europe in 2022 — 0.246%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 1.442 pp.
1960–2022 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Europe
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.246 | −0.002 pp |
| 2021 | 0.247 | −0.003 pp |
| 2020 | 0.25 | +0 pp |
| 2019 | 0.25 | −0.001 pp |
| 2018 | 0.251 | +0 pp |
| 2017 | 0.251 | −0.009 pp |
| 2016 | 0.26 | −0.006 pp |
| 2015 | 0.266 | −0.008 pp |
| 2014 | 0.274 | −0.011 pp |
| 2013 | 0.286 | −0.035 pp |
| 2012 | 0.321 | −0.004 pp |
| 2011 | 0.324 | −0.066 pp |
| 2010 | 0.39 | +0.001 pp |
| 2009 | 0.389 | +0.045 pp |
| 2008 | 0.344 | +0.006 pp |
| 2007 | 0.339 | −0.02 pp |
| 2006 | 0.358 | −0.001 pp |
| 2005 | 0.359 | −0.008 pp |
| 2004 | 0.367 | −0.009 pp |
| 2003 | 0.376 | −0.006 pp |
| 2002 | 0.382 | −0.018 pp |
| 2001 | 0.4 | +0.03 pp |
| 2000 | 0.369 | −0.144 pp |
| 1999 | 0.514 | −0.025 pp |
| 1998 | 0.539 | −0.013 pp |
| 1997 | 0.552 | −0.02 pp |
| 1996 | 0.572 | −0.014 pp |
| 1995 | 0.585 | −0.018 pp |
| 1994 | 0.603 | −0.038 pp |
| 1993 | 0.641 | −0.054 pp |
| 1992 | 0.695 | −0.031 pp |
| 1991 | 0.727 | −0.057 pp |
| 1990 | 0.783 | −0.094 pp |
| 1989 | 0.878 | −0.019 pp |
| 1988 | 0.897 | −0.016 pp |
| 1987 | 0.913 | +0.03 pp |
| 1986 | 0.883 | −0.009 pp |
| 1985 | 0.892 | −0.014 pp |
| 1984 | 0.906 | −0.028 pp |
| 1983 | 0.934 | +0.011 pp |
| 1982 | 0.924 | −0.004 pp |
| 1981 | 0.928 | −0.001 pp |
| 1980 | 0.929 | −0.006 pp |
| 1979 | 0.936 | −0.004 pp |
| 1978 | 0.939 | +0.002 pp |
| 1977 | 0.937 | −0.013 pp |
| 1976 | 0.95 | −0.015 pp |
| 1975 | 0.965 | −0.02 pp |
| 1974 | 0.985 | −0.005 pp |
| 1973 | 0.989 | +0.014 pp |
| 1972 | 0.975 | −0.014 pp |
| 1971 | 0.989 | −0.014 pp |
| 1970 | 1.003 | −0.02 pp |
| 1969 | 1.023 | −0.008 pp |
| 1968 | 1.031 | −0.044 pp |
| 1967 | 1.075 | +0.015 pp |
| 1966 | 1.06 | −0.015 pp |
| 1965 | 1.076 | −0.138 pp |
| 1964 | 1.214 | −0.098 pp |
| 1963 | 1.312 | +0.038 pp |
| 1962 | 1.274 | −0.039 pp |
| 1961 | 1.313 | −0.375 pp |
| 1960 | 1.688 | — |
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.