U.S. Military Size 1985-2024

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.
  • U.S. military size for 2020 was 1,395,000.00, a 0.5% increase from 2019.
  • U.S. military size for 2019 was 1,388,000.00, a 0.59% increase from 2018.
  • U.S. military size for 2018 was 1,379,800.00, a 1.53% increase from 2017.
  • U.S. military size for 2017 was 1,359,000.00, a 0.79% increase from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
United States 1,395,000.00
South Korea 569,000.00
Italy 338,000.00
France 304,000.00
Saudi Arabia 282,000.00
Japan 261,000.00
Spain 199,000.00
Poland 189,000.00
Germany 183,000.00
Israel 178,000.00
United Kingdom 153,000.00
Greece 147,000.00
Chile 114,000.00
Argentina 103,000.00
Canada 72,000.00
UAE 63,000.00
Australia 60,000.00
Singapore 59,000.00
Portugal 52,000.00
Oman 47,000.00
Hungary 46,000.00
Netherlands 41,000.00
Lithuania 37,000.00
Panama 28,000.00
Czech Republic 27,000.00
Kuwait 25,000.00
Norway 25,000.00
Belgium 24,000.00
Austria 23,000.00
Finland 22,000.00
Qatar 22,000.00
Uruguay 22,000.00
Croatia 20,000.00
Switzerland 20,000.00
Bahrain 19,000.00
Slovak Republic 18,000.00
Denmark 15,000.00
Sweden 15,000.00
Cyprus 13,000.00
New Zealand 10,000.00
Latvia 9,000.00
Ireland 9,000.00
Brunei 8,000.00
Slovenia 7,000.00
Estonia 7,000.00
Trinidad and Tobago 5,000.00
Bahamas 2,000.00
Malta 2,000.00
Barbados 1,000.00
Luxembourg 1,000.00
Antigua and Barbuda 0.00
Iceland 0.00
Seychelles 0.00
U.S. Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2020 1,395,000.00 0.50%
2019 1,388,000.00 0.59%
2018 1,379,800.00 1.53%
2017 1,359,000.00 0.79%
2016 1,348,400.00 0.08%
2015 1,347,300.00 -2.46%
2014 1,381,250.00 -3.62%
2013 1,433,150.00 -3.96%
2012 1,492,200.00 -1.84%
2011 1,520,100.00 -3.14%
2010 1,569,417.00 0.35%
2009 1,563,996.00 1.56%
2008 1,540,000.00 -0.96%
2007 1,555,000.00 3.81%
2006 1,498,000.00 -3.10%
2005 1,546,000.00 4.96%
2004 1,473,000.00 -0.47%
2003 1,480,000.00 0.89%
2002 1,467,000.00 3.26%
2001 1,420,700.00 -2.34%
2000 1,454,800.00 -7.63%
1999 1,575,000.00 -1.19%
1998 1,594,000.00 3.96%
1997 1,533,300.00 -2.47%
1996 1,572,100.00 -3.88%
1995 1,635,600.00 -4.91%
1994 1,720,000.00 -5.49%
1993 1,820,000.00 -5.21%
1992 1,920,000.00 -9.43%
1991 2,120,000.00 -2.75%
1990 2,180,000.00 -2.68%
1989 2,240,000.00 4.11%
1985 2,151,600.00 4.11%