What is military personnel in Brazil?

Military personnel in Brazil was 367,000 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 Brazil?

The highest recorded value was 541,000 people in 1987.

What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Brazil?

The lowest recorded value was 12,000 people in 1835.

How does Brazil rank for military personnel?

Brazil ranks 14th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.

Is military personnel rising or falling in Brazil?

Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Brazil 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.

Military personnel in Brazil

Name: Military personnel in Brazil
Creator: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Brazil: Military personnel was 367,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

367,000 people

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

14th

of 194 countries

All-time high

541,000 people

in 1987

All-time low

12,000 people

in 1835

Years of data

193

1826–2022

Military personnel in Brazil, 1826–2022

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 Brazil stood at 367,000 people.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military personnel in Brazil peaked at 541,000 people in 1987 and was at its lowest, 12,000 people, in 1835.

That places Brazil 14th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1820s	18,000 people	18,000 people	18,000 people	4
1830s	15,400 people	12,000 people	18,000 people	10
1840s	21,100 people	17,000 people	26,000 people	10
1850s	24,900 people	20,000 people	27,000 people	10
1860s	42,700 people	17,000 people	77,000 people	10
1870s	31,300 people	21,000 people	73,000 people	10
1880s	20,100 people	18,000 people	22,000 people	10
1890s	33,400 people	22,000 people	40,000 people	10
1900s	25,200 people	19,000 people	33,000 people	10
1910s	34,200 people	25,000 people	64,000 people	10
1920s	55,000 people	48,000 people	60,000 people	10
1930s	82,700 people	57,000 people	98,000 people	10
1940s	136,667 people	103,000 people	231,000 people	6
1950s	194,600 people	107,000 people	235,000 people	10
1960s	290,100 people	180,000 people	360,000 people	10
1970s	427,000 people	375,000 people	455,000 people	10
1980s	448,100 people	319,000 people	541,000 people	10
1990s	296,200 people	295,000 people	300,000 people	10
2000s	301,900 people	287,000 people	368,000 people	10
2010s	325,800 people	318,000 people	335,000 people	10
2020s	367,000 people	367,000 people	367,000 people	3

Countries ranked near Brazil

11 Vietnam 482,000 people compare
12 Egypt 439,000 people compare
13 Indonesia 396,000 people compare
15 Thailand 361,000 people compare
16 Myanmar 356,000 people compare
17 Turkey 355,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for Brazil

Spring temperature anomalies 0.2659 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies -0.0006 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.0351 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3721 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.1099 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 234.41 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Brazil →

Frequently asked questions

What is military personnel in Brazil?: Military personnel in Brazil was 367,000 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 Brazil?: The highest recorded value was 541,000 people in 1987.
What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Brazil?: The lowest recorded value was 12,000 people in 1835.
How does Brazil rank for military personnel?: Brazil ranks 14th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is military personnel rising or falling in Brazil?: Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Brazil 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 — 193 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Military personnel
Unit: people
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 194 places, 15,765 data points, 1816–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.