Military personnel in Belgium
Belgium: Military personnel was 23,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
23,000 people
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
92nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
212,000 people
in 1919
All-time low
23,000 people
in 2022
Years of data
189
1830–2022
Military personnel in Belgium, 1830–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel in Belgium stood at 23,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 189 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Belgium peaked at 212,000 people in 1919 and was at its lowest, 23,000 people, in 2022.
Belgium ranks 92nd of 194 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.
Military personnel in Belgium, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 62,000 people | — |
| 1831 | 54,000 people | -12.9% |
| 1832 | 46,000 people | -14.8% |
| 1833 | 38,000 people | -17.4% |
| 1834 | 30,000 people | -21.1% |
| 1835 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 46,000 people | +53.3% |
| 1838 | 48,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1839 | 50,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1840 | 45,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1841 | 41,000 people | -8.9% |
| 1842 | 36,000 people | -12.2% |
| 1843 | 32,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1844 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 33,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1849 | 34,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1850 | 35,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1851 | 36,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1852 | 37,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1853 | 38,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1854 | 39,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1855 | 40,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1856 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 43,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1876 | 46,000 people | +7.0% |
| 1877 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 45,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1884 | 47,000 people | +4.4% |
| 1885 | 46,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1886 | 45,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1887 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 48,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1889 | 48,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 45,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1891 | 49,000 people | +8.9% |
| 1892 | 51,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1893 | 47,000 people | -7.8% |
| 1894 | 47,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 47,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 48,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1897 | 49,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1898 | 47,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1899 | 49,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1900 | 51,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1901 | 48,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1902 | 49,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1903 | 46,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1904 | 44,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1905 | 44,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 44,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 44,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 46,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1909 | 46,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 48,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1911 | 47,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1912 | 47,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 48,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1914 | 115,000 people | +139.6% |
| 1915 | 156,000 people | +35.7% |
| 1916 | 189,000 people | +21.2% |
| 1917 | 194,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1918 | 209,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1919 | 212,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1920 | 156,000 people | -26.4% |
| 1921 | 100,000 people | -35.9% |
| 1922 | 117,000 people | +17.0% |
| 1923 | 133,000 people | +13.7% |
| 1924 | 82,000 people | -38.3% |
| 1925 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 83,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1927 | 66,000 people | -20.5% |
| 1928 | 65,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1929 | 67,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 69,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1931 | 66,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1932 | 67,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1933 | 66,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 68,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 68,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 67,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1937 | 72,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1938 | 90,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1939 | 85,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1940 | 82,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1945 | 80,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1946 | 79,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1947 | 75,000 people | -5.1% |
| 1948 | 71,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1949 | 70,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1950 | 74,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1951 | 77,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1952 | 81,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1953 | 86,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 91,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1955 | 94,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1956 | 98,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 101,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 106,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1959 | 108,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 110,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 110,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 110,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 115,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 110,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1971 | 110,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 105,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1973 | 107,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 105,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 103,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 103,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 107,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 109,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 107,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 108,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 110,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 109,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 109,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 107,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 107,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 107,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 109,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 110,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 110,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 106,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 101,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 79,000 people | -21.8% |
| 1993 | 70,000 people | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 53,000 people | -24.3% |
| 1995 | 47,000 people | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 45,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 46,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 43,000 people | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 42,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 39,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 41,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 39,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 37,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 37,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 40,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 39,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 38,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 34,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2013 | 33,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 31,000 people | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 30,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 29,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 27,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 26,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 24,000 people | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 23,000 people | -4.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 23,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 1.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 23,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | +139.6% | 48,000 people | 115,000 people |
| 1837 | +53.3% | 30,000 people | 46,000 people |
| 1924 | -38.3% | 133,000 people | 82,000 people |
| 1921 | -35.9% | 156,000 people | 100,000 people |
| 1915 | +35.7% | 115,000 people | 156,000 people |
| 1920 | -26.4% | 212,000 people | 156,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 43,400 people | 30,000 people | 62,000 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 34,900 people | 32,000 people | 45,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 38,500 people | 35,000 people | 40,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 40,000 people | 40,000 people | 40,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 42,700 people | 40,000 people | 46,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 46,200 people | 45,000 people | 48,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 47,900 people | 45,000 people | 51,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 46,200 people | 44,000 people | 51,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 126,500 people | 47,000 people | 212,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 95,100 people | 65,000 people | 156,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 71,800 people | 66,000 people | 90,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 76,167 people | 70,000 people | 82,000 people | 6 |
| 1950s | 91,600 people | 74,000 people | 108,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 113,500 people | 110,000 people | 115,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 106,600 people | 103,000 people | 110,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 108,600 people | 107,000 people | 110,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 63,200 people | 42,000 people | 106,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 39,000 people | 37,000 people | 41,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 32,200 people | 27,000 people | 38,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,333 people | 23,000 people | 26,000 people | 3 |
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 military personnel in Belgium?
- Military personnel in Belgium was 23,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 212,000 people in 1919.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,000 people in 2022.
- How does Belgium rank for military personnel?
- Belgium ranks 92nd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 189 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.