Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium
Belgium: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium is 0.2%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium peaked at 1.1% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2020.
Belgium ranks 120th of 173 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.9% | — |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +19.4% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -11.7% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -24.5% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -11.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -12.1% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | -10.4% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +21.6% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -8.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 0.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%, 45% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 0.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.5%, 45% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Belgium was 0.2% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 1989.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Belgium ranks 120th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.