U.K. 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.K. military size for 2020 was 153,000.00, a 2.68% increase from 2019.
- U.K. military size for 2019 was 149,000.00, a 0.37% increase from 2018.
- U.K. military size for 2018 was 148,450.00, a 0.3% increase from 2017.
- U.K. military size for 2017 was 148,000.00, a 1.5% decline from 2016.
| 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 |
| Luxembourg |
1,000.00 |
| Barbados |
1,000.00 |
| Iceland |
0.00 |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
0.00 |
| Seychelles |
0.00 |
| U.K. Military Size - Historical Data |
| Year |
Number of People |
Annual % Change |
| 2020 |
153,000.00 |
2.68% |
| 2019 |
149,000.00 |
0.37% |
| 2018 |
148,450.00 |
0.30% |
| 2017 |
148,000.00 |
-1.50% |
| 2016 |
150,250.00 |
-1.38% |
| 2015 |
152,350.00 |
-1.52% |
| 2014 |
154,700.00 |
-2.80% |
| 2013 |
159,150.00 |
-5.91% |
| 2012 |
169,150.00 |
2.11% |
| 2011 |
165,650.00 |
-4.81% |
| 2010 |
174,020.00 |
-2.49% |
| 2009 |
178,470.00 |
11.54% |
| 2008 |
160,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 2007 |
160,000.00 |
-11.60% |
| 2006 |
181,000.00 |
-16.59% |
| 2005 |
217,000.00 |
5.85% |
| 2004 |
205,000.00 |
-3.57% |
| 2003 |
212,600.00 |
1.05% |
| 2002 |
210,400.00 |
-0.47% |
| 2001 |
211,400.00 |
-0.52% |
| 2000 |
212,500.00 |
-2.52% |
| 1999 |
218,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 1998 |
218,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 1997 |
218,000.00 |
-1.36% |
| 1996 |
221,000.00 |
-5.15% |
| 1995 |
233,000.00 |
-9.34% |
| 1994 |
257,000.00 |
-5.17% |
| 1993 |
271,000.00 |
-7.51% |
| 1992 |
293,000.00 |
-2.66% |
| 1991 |
301,000.00 |
-2.27% |
| 1990 |
308,000.00 |
-3.14% |
| 1989 |
318,000.00 |
-4.79% |
| 1985 |
334,000.00 |
-4.79% |
