France vs Germany: Military personnel
France
203,000
in 2022
Germany
183,000
in 2022
France rank
24th
Germany rank
27th
Military personnel over time
- France
- Germany
How they compare
France currently reports 203,000 against 183,000 in Germany, a difference of 20,000.
That makes France's figure about 1.1 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 18 times across 161 shared years of data; in 1816 it was France ahead.
France ranks 24th and Germany ranks 27th of 194 countries.
Across the 18 decades both report, France averaged higher in 15 and Germany in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | France | Germany | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 145,750 | 130,000 | 15,750 | France |
| 1820s | 236,700 | 130,000 | 106,700 | France |
| 1830s | 300,300 | 136,200 | 164,100 | France |
| 1840s | 411,600 | 134,500 | 277,100 | France |
| 1850s | 481,200 | 141,300 | 339,900 | France |
| 1860s | 499,100 | 232,900 | 266,200 | France |
| 1870s | 552,000 | 474,600 | 77,400 | France |
| 1880s | 548,400 | 468,500 | 79,900 | France |
| 1890s | 613,700 | 579,000 | 34,700 | France |
| 1900s | 618,400 | 645,900 | 27,500 | Germany |
| 1910s | 2.64 million | 2.57 million | 70,800 | France |
| 1920s | 585,900 | 114,000 | 471,900 | France |
| 1930s | 509,200 | 596,700 | 87,500 | Germany |
| 1940s | 1.63 million | 5.46 million | 3.82 million | Germany |
| 1990s | 501,200 | 389,400 | 111,800 | France |
| 2000s | 271,700 | 269,900 | 1,800 | France |
| 2010s | 231,600 | 203,200 | 28,400 | France |
| 2020s | 203,333 | 182,333 | 21,000 | France |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military personnel, France or Germany?
- France, at 203,000 against 183,000 in Germany as of 2022.
- What is the difference in military personnel between France and Germany?
- 20,000, with France ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for France and Germany?
- 161 years are reported by both, from 1816 to 2022.
- How do France and Germany rank globally for military personnel?
- France ranks 24th and Germany ranks 27th of 194 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Military personnel. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.