Armed forces personnel, total
Active-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability.
ARMED_FORCES_PERSONNEL_TOTAL · raw · annual · people
Military personnel scale
Armed forces personnel, total
Military personnel scale
Active-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability.
Data and evidence
Armed forces personnel, total
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| Period | Value | Status | Provenance & calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 308,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99551 · revision 1
Value 308000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 308000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1991 | 301,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99550 · revision 1
Value 301000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 301000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1992 | 293,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99549 · revision 1
Value 293000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 293000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1993 | 271,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99548 · revision 1
Value 271000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 271000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1994 | 257,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99547 · revision 1
Value 257000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 257000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1995 | 233,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99546 · revision 1
Value 233000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 233000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1996 | 221,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99545 · revision 1
Value 221000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 221000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1997 | 218,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99544 · revision 1
Value 218000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 218000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1998 | 218,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99543 · revision 1
Value 218000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 218000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1999 | 218,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99542 · revision 1
Value 218000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 218000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2000 | 212,500 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99541 · revision 1
Value 212500.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 212500.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2001 | 211,400 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99540 · revision 1
Value 211400.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 211400.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2002 | 210,400 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99539 · revision 1
Value 210400.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 210400.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2003 | 212,600 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99538 · revision 1
Value 212600.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 212600.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2004 | 205,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99537 · revision 1
Value 205000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 205000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2005 | 217,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99536 · revision 1
Value 217000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 217000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2006 | 181,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99535 · revision 1
Value 181000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 181000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2007 | 160,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99534 · revision 1
Value 160000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 160000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2008 | 160,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99533 · revision 1
Value 160000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 160000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2009 | 178,470 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99532 · revision 1
Value 178470.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 178470.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2010 | 174,020 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99531 · revision 1
Value 174020.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 174020.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2011 | 165,650 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99530 · revision 1
Value 165650.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 165650.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2012 | 169,150 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99529 · revision 1
Value 169150.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 169150.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2013 | 159,150 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99528 · revision 1
Value 159150.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 159150.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2014 | 154,700 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99527 · revision 1
Value 154700.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 154700.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2015 | 152,350 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99526 · revision 1
Value 152350.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 152350.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2016 | 150,250 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99525 · revision 1
Value 150250.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 150250.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2017 | 148,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99524 · revision 1
Value 148000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 148000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2018 | 148,450 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99523 · revision 1
Value 148450.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 148450.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2019 | 149,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99522 · revision 1
Value 149000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 149000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2020 | 153,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99521 · revision 1
Value 153000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 153000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2021 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99520 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2022 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99519 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2023 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99518 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2024 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99517 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2025 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99516 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
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