Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 0.2%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom peaked at 0.6% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2019.
That places United Kingdom 115th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
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- Summer temperature anomalies 2.09 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.4402 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.1504 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.74 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 153.13 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 1985.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- United Kingdom ranks 115th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.