Armed forces personnel in Serbia
Serbia: Armed forces personnel was 32,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel in Serbia, 1989–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel in Serbia is 32,000, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Serbia peaked at 225,000 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 24,000, in 2006.
Serbia ranks 86th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 225,000 | 225,000 | 225,000 | 1 |
| 1990s | 148,350 | 100,000 | 180,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 88,902 | 24,000 | 198,500 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,788 | 28,150 | 32,150 | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,000 | 32,000 | 32,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More reference data data for Serbia
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.37 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.84 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.7013 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.32 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.74 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 208.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Serbia?
- Armed forces personnel in Serbia was 32,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 225,000 in 1989.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,000 in 2006.
- How does Serbia rank for armed forces personnel?
- Serbia ranks 86th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Serbia data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel. 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.