Armed forces personnel in Switzerland
Switzerland: Armed forces personnel was 20,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel in Switzerland, 1985–2020
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 Switzerland is 20,000, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Switzerland peaked at 109,000 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4,000, in 2004.
That places Switzerland 106th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 20,000 | — |
| 1989 | 17,000 | -15.0% |
| 1990 | 22,000 | +29.4% |
| 1991 | 22,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 31,000 | +40.9% |
| 1993 | 35,000 | +12.9% |
| 1994 | 39,000 | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 31,400 | -19.5% |
| 1996 | 27,300 | -13.1% |
| 1997 | 26,260 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 26,300 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 27,700 | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 26,800 | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 27,600 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 27,500 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 4,000 | -85.5% |
| 2005 | 109,000 | +2625.0% |
| 2006 | 23,000 | -78.9% |
| 2007 | 23,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 23,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 25,620 | +11.4% |
| 2010 | 25,287 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 23,100 | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 22,650 | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 21,250 | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 20,800 | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 20,950 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 20,950 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 21,000 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 21,450 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 20,000 | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 20,000 is below the median for high income countries, which is 25,000, 80% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 20,000 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26,500, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +2625.0% | 4,000 | 109,000 |
| 2004 | -85.5% | 27,500 | 4,000 |
| 2006 | -78.9% | 109,000 | 23,000 |
| 1992 | +40.9% | 22,000 | 31,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18,500 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 2 |
| 1990s | 28,796 | 22,000 | 39,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,722 | 4,000 | 109,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,744 | 20,000 | 25,287 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 104 Kyrgyzstan 21,000 compare
- 104 Mauritania 21,000 compare
- 106 Croatia 20,000 compare
- 108 Bahrain 19,000 compare
- 108 Senegal 19,000 compare
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Switzerland?
- Armed forces personnel in Switzerland was 20,000 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 109,000 in 2005.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,000 in 2004.
- How does Switzerland rank for armed forces personnel?
- Switzerland ranks 106th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.