- Society›
- Politics & Government›
World's largest armies by active military personnel 2019
Premium statistics
Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships).
A paid subscription is required for full access.
World's largest armies by active military personnel 2019
The largest armies in the world based on active military personnel in 2019
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
In 2019, China had the largest active duty military force in the world, with about 2.18 million active military personnel. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five countries with the largest active duty military forces.
What is active personnel?
Active personnel, also known as active duty in the United States and active service in the United Kingdom, are those individuals whose full-time occupation is being part of a military force. Active duty is in contrast to a military’s reserve force, which are individuals who have both a military role and a civilian career. In the United States, the number of reserve forces is much larger than its active duty membership.
Military spending worldwide
While the United States has the third largest active duty military force in the world, it leads the rest of the world in military spending, followed by China and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. also led military spending among NATO countries, which is the most influential military alliance in the world.
The largest armies in the world based on active military personnel in 2019
| Active military personnel | |
|---|---|
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| Active military personnel | |
|---|---|
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
Exclusive Premium statistic
You need a Premium Account for unlimited access.
Full access to 1m statistics
Incl. source references
Available to download in PNG, PDF, XLS format
Premium Account
only $49 / month
*
Exclusive content
Exclusive Premium statistic
You need a Premium Account for unlimited access.
Full access to 1m statistics
Incl. source references
Available to download in PNG, PDF, XLS format
Premium Account
only $49 / month
*
© Statista 2019
About this statistic
Show source
Download
Settings
Share
Chart type
Datalabels
Share on Social Media
Download started
Please be patient - this may take a moment
Please be patient - this may take a moment
Description
Source
More information
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
In 2019, China had the largest active duty military force in the world, with about 2.18 million active military personnel. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five countries with the largest active duty military forces.
What is active personnel?
Active personnel, also known as active duty in the United States and active service in the United Kingdom, are those individuals whose full-time occupation is being part of a military force. Active duty is in contrast to a military’s reserve force, which are individuals who have both a military role and a civilian career. In the United States, the number of reserve forces is much larger than its active duty membership.
Military spending worldwide
While the United States has the third largest active duty military force in the world, it leads the rest of the world in military spending, followed by China and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. also led military spending among NATO countries, which is the most influential military alliance in the world.
- Show sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- 2019
- Region
- Worldwide
- Survey time period
- 2019
Source
- Show sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- 2019
More information
- Region
- Worldwide
- Survey time period
- 2019
Other statistics on the topic
United States armed forces
Politics & Government
Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan 2001-2019
Politics & Government
Distribution of race and ethnicity among the U.S. military 2017
+Politics & Government
Total military personnel of the U.S. Army, by rank FY 2018-2020
Politics & Government
Fallen American soldiers in Iraq up to 2019
Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $588 / Year
Basic Account
Get to know the platform
You only have access to basic statistics.
This statistic is not included in your account!
Premium Account
Your perfect start with Statista
- Instant access to 1m statistics
- Download in XLS, PDF & PNG format
- Detailed references
$49 / Month *
Corporate Account
Full access
Corporate solution including all features.
* All products require an annual contract.
Prices do not include sales tax.
Prices do not include sales tax.
Leading companies trust Statista:
Related Studies: Available to Download in PDF or PPTX Format
All Information
in one Presentation
Italian Armed Forces
- 63 page/s
- English
- pptx
- Detailed references
Everything On "Italian Armed Forces" in One Document: Edited and Divided into Handy Chapters. Including Detailed References.
Other Reports & Dossiers
I think of Statista as Google for researchers. Statista provides you with the information you search for right away.Dr. Horst Stipp
EVP, Research & Innovation, Advertising Research Foundation
Statistics on "Armed Forces of the United States"
- Overview
The most important statistics
- The 15 countries with the highest military spending worldwide in 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars)Countries with the highest military spending in 2018
- The largest armies in the world based on active military personnel in 2019World's largest armies by active military personnel 2019
- Public confidence levels in the United States military from 1975 to 2019Public confidence in the U.S. armed forces 1975-2019
- Do you think the United States is the No. 1 in the world militarily, or that it is one of several leading military powers?Opinion of Americans on the U.S. being the No.1 military power in the world 2018
- Budget and costs
The most important statistics
- Defense outlays and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)U.S. defense outlays and forecast 2000-2029
- Defense outlays and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2029 (as a percentage of the GDP)U.S. defense outlays and forecast 2000-2029 (as a percentage of the GDP)
- Per capita defense expenditure of the United States from 1995 to 2019 (in 2015 U.S. dollars)U.S. government - defense expenditures per capita 1995-2019
- Budget and outlays estimates of the U.S. armed forces for the fiscal year of 2020, by military department (in billion U.S. dollars)Budget and outlays estimates of the U.S. armed forces for 2020
- Budget plan of the U.S. armed forces for the fiscal year of 2020, by military department and appropriation title (in million U.S. dollars)Budget plan of the U.S. armed forces for 2020, by department and appropriation
- Budget of the U.S. Army and the Overseas Contingency Operations from fiscal year 2001 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)Budget of the U.S. Army and the Overseas Contingency Operations 2001-2020
- Budget of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps from fiscal year 2001 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)Budget of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps 2001-2020
- Budget of the U.S. Air Force from fiscal year 2007 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)Budget of the U.S. Air Force 2007-2021
- Personnel
The most important statistics
- Active and reserve U.S. military force personnel numbers by service branch and reserve component in 2017U.S. military force numbers, by service branch and reserve component 2017
- Total active duty U.S. Department of Defense personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017Active duty U.S. Department of Defense personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Total U.S. Department of Defense Reserve personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017 Total U.S. Department of Defense Reserve personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Army personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017Active duty U.S. Army personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Navy personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017Active Duty U.S. Navy personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Air Force personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017Active duty U.S. Air Force personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Number of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel, by age group in 2017Number of active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel, by age group in 2017
- Education levels of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2017Education levels of active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel in 2017
- Inventory
The most important statistics
- Total deployable battle force ships of the U.S. Navy for the fiscal years 2011 to 2020, by ship typeTotal deployable battle force ships of the U.S. Navy 2011-2020
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Navy for fiscal years 1995 to 2017, by wingtypeTotal aircraft force of the U.S. Navy 1995-2017
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Navy from FY 2011 to FY 2017, by typeTotal aircraft force of the U.S. Navy from FY 2011 to FY 2017, by type
- Total aircraft force (includes ICBMs and satellites) of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal years 2002 to 2018Total aircraft force (includes ICBMs and satellites) of the U.S. Air Force 2002-2018
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal years 2018 to 2020, by typeTotal aircraft force of the U.S. Air Force 2018 to 2020 by type
- Total number of fighters and bombers in the active inventory of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal year 2018, by typeTotal number of fighters and bombers in the U.S. Air Force 2018, by type
- Stationing and combat
The most important statistics
- Geographic stationing of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2017, by U.S. stateGeographic stationing of active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel by state 2017
- Deployment of U.S. active-duty military & civilian personnel around the world in 2018, by selected regions*Deployment of U.S. troops in selected world regions 2018
- Number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war from 2003 to 2019Fallen American soldiers in Iraq up to 2019
- Number of fatalities among Western coalition soldiers* involved in the execution of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2019Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan 2001-2019
Discover Statista
Need help with using Statista for your research?
Tutorials and first steps
Further Content: Statistics, Studies, and Topic Pages
Statistics
- Active military personnel MENA 2019, by country
- Reserve military personnel APAC 2019 by country
- Available military personnel MENA 2019, by country
- Available military personnel APAC 2019 by country
- Active military personnel APAC 2019 by country
- Reserve military personnel MENA 2019, by country
- Towed artillery strength APAC 2019 by country
- military aircraft strength APAC 2019 by country
- Rocket projector strength APAC 2019 by country
- Military aircraft strength MENA 2019, by country
- Military tank strength APAC 2019 by country
- Armored fighting vehicle strength APAC 2019 by country
- U.S. spending on the Iraq war and number U.S. soldier fatalities 2003-2012
- Chinese armed forces personnel 2006-2016
- Soldiers of the Bundeswehr abroad, as of August 2019
- Self-propelled artillery strength MENA 2019, by country
- Self-propelled artillery strength APAC 2019 by country
- Towed artillery strength MENA 2019, by country
- Combat tank strength MENA 2019, by country
- Armored fighting vehicle strength MENA 2019, by country
Studies
- Profile of Veterans 2009
- Profile of Veterans 2014
- Educational Attainment of Veterans: 2000-2009
- Labor Frorce Participation of Veterans 2000-2009
- Health Insurance Coverage, Poverty, and Income of Veterans: 2000-2009
- Veteran Utilization of the Department of Veteran Affairs Benefits & Services 2009
- Gulf War Era Veterans Report Pre-9/11
Statistics on "Armed Forces of the United States"
- The 15 countries with the highest military spending worldwide in 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- The largest armies in the world based on active military personnel in 2019
- Public confidence levels in the United States military from 1975 to 2019
- Do you think the United States is the No. 1 in the world militarily, or that it is one of several leading military powers?
- Defense outlays and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Defense outlays and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2029 (as a percentage of the GDP)
- Per capita defense expenditure of the United States from 1995 to 2019 (in 2015 U.S. dollars)
- Budget and outlays estimates of the U.S. armed forces for the fiscal year of 2020, by military department (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Budget plan of the U.S. armed forces for the fiscal year of 2020, by military department and appropriation title (in million U.S. dollars)
- Budget of the U.S. Army and the Overseas Contingency Operations from fiscal year 2001 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Budget of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps from fiscal year 2001 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Budget of the U.S. Air Force from fiscal year 2007 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- U.S. war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2015 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Active and reserve U.S. military force personnel numbers by service branch and reserve component in 2017
- Total active duty U.S. Department of Defense personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Total U.S. Department of Defense Reserve personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Army personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Navy personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Active Duty U.S. Air Force personnel numbers from 1995 to 2017
- Number of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel, by age group in 2017
- Education levels of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2017
- Number of U.S. Department of Defense active duty personnel, by race 2017
- Distribution of active-duty enlisted women and men in the U.S. Military in 2017, by race and ethnicity*
- Gender distribution of active duty officers in the U.S. Department of Defense in 2017, by service branch
- Occupational roles of women and men in the U.S. military in 2017
- Distribution of commissioned officers in the U.S. military in 2016, by gender and branch
- Total military personnel of the U.S. Navy from the FY 2018 to FY 2020, by rank
- Total military personnel of the U.S. Air Force for the fiscal years 2018 to 2020, by rank
- Total military personnel of the U.S. Army for fiscal years 2018 to 2020, by rank
- Basic monthly pay for officers and enlisted members of the United States armed forces in 2017, by years of service (in U.S. dollars)
- Total deployable battle force ships of the U.S. Navy for the fiscal years 2011 to 2020, by ship type
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Navy for fiscal years 1995 to 2017, by wingtype
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Navy from FY 2011 to FY 2017, by type
- Total aircraft force (includes ICBMs and satellites) of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal years 2002 to 2018
- Total aircraft force of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal years 2018 to 2020, by type
- Total number of fighters and bombers in the active inventory of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal year 2018, by type
- Geographic stationing of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2017, by U.S. state
- Deployment of U.S. active-duty military & civilian personnel around the world in 2018, by selected regions*
- Number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war from 2003 to 2019
- Number of fatalities among Western coalition soldiers* involved in the execution of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2019
- Number of active military personnel in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country (in 1,000s)
- Number of reserve military personnel in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country (in 1,000s)
- Number of available military personnel in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country (in millions)
- Available military personnel in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country (in millions)
- Number of active military personnel in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country (in 1,000s)
- Number of reserve military personnel in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country (in 1,000s)
- Number of towed artillery in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country
- Total military aircraft strength in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country
- Number of rocket projectors in Asia-Pacific in 2019, by country
- Number of total military aircraft in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country
- Number of military tanks in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country
- Number of armored fighting vehicles in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country
- U.S. spending on the Iraq war (in billion U.S. dollars) and the number U.S. soldier fatalities from 2003 to 2012
- Number of members of the Chinese army from 2006 to 2016 (in millions)
- Number of German soldiers participating in international operations, as of August 5, 2019
- Number of self-propelled artillery in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country
- Number of self-propelled artillery in the Asia Pacific region in 2019, by country
- Number of towed artillery in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country
- Number of military tanks in MENA in 2019, by country
- Number of armored fighting vehicles in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, by country
Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $588 / Year
Related topics
About Statista
Statista offers dossiers and reports on over 170 industries. With Statista you are always able to make informed decisions and boost your work efficiency.
Internet & Telecommunications
- Social Media
- E-Commerce
- Online Video & Entertainment
- Advertising & Marketing
Consumer Goods & FMCG
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Cleaning Products
- Cosmetics & Personal Care
- Food & Nutrition
Retail & Trade
- Health & Hygiene
- International Trade
- Shopping Behavior
- Sports & Leisure
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
- Business Travel
- Leisure Travel
- Accomodation
- Restaurants
Society
- Demographics
- Economy
- Education & Science
- Politics & Government
Transportation & Logistics
- Aviation
- Rail Transport
- Vehicles & Road Traffic
- Water Transport
Save statistic in .XLS format
You can only download this statistic as a Premium user.
Save statistic in .PNG format
You can only download this statistic as a Premium user.
Save statistic in .PDF format
You can only download this statistic as a Premium user.
Show source references
As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
Show details about this statistic
As a Premium user you get access to background information and details about the release of this statistic.
Bookmark statistics
As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail.
Change statistics options
You need at least a Premium Account to use this feature.
Exclusive Corporate feature
This feature is limited to our corporate solutions.
Please contact us to get started with full access to dossiers, forecasts, studies and international data.
Corporate Account
We use cookies to personalize contents and ads, offer social media features, and analyze access to our website. In your browser settings you can configure or disable this, respectively, and can delete any already placed cookies. For details, please see your browser’s Help section (by pressing F1). Please see our privacy statement for details about how we use data.