Military personnel in Brazil
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.
Military personnel in Brazil, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1826 | 18,000 people | — |
| 1827 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 17,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1833 | 15,000 people | -11.8% |
| 1834 | 14,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1835 | 12,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1836 | 15,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1837 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 17,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1841 | 19,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1842 | 22,000 people | +15.8% |
| 1843 | 24,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1844 | 26,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1845 | 23,000 people | -11.5% |
| 1846 | 20,000 people | -13.0% |
| 1847 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 23,000 people | +15.0% |
| 1853 | 27,000 people | +17.4% |
| 1854 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 26,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1858 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 21,000 people | -19.2% |
| 1861 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1862 | 18,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1863 | 17,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1864 | 19,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1865 | 35,000 people | +84.2% |
| 1866 | 77,000 people | +120.0% |
| 1867 | 74,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1868 | 73,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1869 | 73,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 73,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 30,000 people | -58.9% |
| 1872 | 31,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1873 | 33,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 34,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 24,000 people | -29.4% |
| 1876 | 22,000 people | -8.3% |
| 1877 | 23,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1878 | 22,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1879 | 21,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1880 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1881 | 18,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1882 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 20,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1884 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 21,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1886 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1889 | 22,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1890 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 39,000 people | +77.3% |
| 1892 | 38,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1893 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 40,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1895 | 32,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1896 | 36,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1897 | 36,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 30,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1899 | 23,000 people | -23.3% |
| 1900 | 21,000 people | -8.7% |
| 1901 | 22,000 people | +4.8% |
| 1902 | 24,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1903 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 32,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1905 | 19,000 people | -40.6% |
| 1906 | 33,000 people | +73.7% |
| 1907 | 22,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1908 | 26,000 people | +18.2% |
| 1909 | 29,000 people | +11.5% |
| 1910 | 31,000 people | +6.9% |
| 1911 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 25,000 people | -19.4% |
| 1915 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 54,000 people | +116.0% |
| 1919 | 64,000 people | +18.5% |
| 1920 | 56,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1921 | 55,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1922 | 53,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1923 | 54,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 58,000 people | +7.4% |
| 1925 | 60,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1926 | 57,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1927 | 52,000 people | -8.8% |
| 1928 | 48,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1929 | 57,000 people | +18.8% |
| 1930 | 57,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 57,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 71,000 people | +24.6% |
| 1933 | 64,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1934 | 97,000 people | +51.6% |
| 1935 | 97,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 96,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1937 | 98,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 97,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1939 | 93,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1940 | 103,000 people | +10.8% |
| 1942 | 105,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 119,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1947 | 131,000 people | +10.1% |
| 1948 | 131,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 231,000 people | +76.3% |
| 1950 | 231,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 231,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 231,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 231,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 231,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 107,000 people | -53.7% |
| 1956 | 107,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 113,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1958 | 229,000 people | +102.7% |
| 1959 | 235,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 241,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 180,000 people | -25.3% |
| 1962 | 185,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 305,000 people | +64.9% |
| 1964 | 315,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 320,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 325,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 330,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 340,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 360,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1970 | 375,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 375,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 410,000 people | +9.3% |
| 1973 | 420,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 435,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 455,000 people | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 450,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 450,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 450,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 450,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 450,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 450,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 460,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 460,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 459,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 496,000 people | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 527,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 541,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 319,000 people | -41.0% |
| 1989 | 319,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 295,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 295,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 296,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 296,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 300,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 288,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 288,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 288,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 288,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 295,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 303,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 287,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 288,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 368,000 people | +27.8% |
| 2009 | 326,000 people | -11.4% |
| 2010 | 328,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 318,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 318,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 318,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 318,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 318,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 335,000 people | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 335,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 335,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 335,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 367,000 people | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 367,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 367,000 people | +0.0% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 367,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 16.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 367,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 30.6× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Brazil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 | +120.0% | 35,000 people | 77,000 people |
| 1918 | +116.0% | 25,000 people | 54,000 people |
| 1958 | +102.7% | 113,000 people | 229,000 people |
| 1865 | +84.2% | 19,000 people | 35,000 people |
| 1891 | +77.3% | 22,000 people | 39,000 people |
| 1949 | +76.3% | 131,000 people | 231,000 people |
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
More reference data data for Brazil
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 72.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 139.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 139.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 46.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 18.99 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 405.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 699.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 49.04 (2050)
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
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.