Military personnel in Germany
Germany: Military personnel was 183,000 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
183,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
27th
of 194 countries
All-time high
8.00 million
in 1918
All-time low
114,000
in 1919
Years of data
163
1816–2022
Military personnel in Germany, 1816–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel in Germany is 183,000, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Germany peaked at 8.00 million in 1918 and was at its lowest, 114,000, in 1919.
Germany ranks 27th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 130,000 | — |
| 1817 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 130,000 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 131,000 | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 132,000 | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 134,000 | +1.5% |
| 1834 | 134,000 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 134,000 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 134,000 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 134,000 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 165,000 | +23.1% |
| 1839 | 134,000 | -18.8% |
| 1840 | 135,000 | +0.7% |
| 1841 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 134,000 | -0.7% |
| 1848 | 135,000 | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 131,000 | -3.0% |
| 1850 | 131,000 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 134,000 | +2.3% |
| 1852 | 138,000 | +3.0% |
| 1853 | 139,000 | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 139,000 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 142,000 | +2.2% |
| 1856 | 142,000 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 142,000 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 153,000 | +7.7% |
| 1859 | 153,000 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 201,000 | +31.4% |
| 1861 | 203,000 | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 213,000 | +4.9% |
| 1863 | 216,000 | +1.4% |
| 1864 | 212,000 | -1.9% |
| 1865 | 216,000 | +1.9% |
| 1866 | 214,000 | -0.9% |
| 1867 | 219,000 | +2.3% |
| 1868 | 317,000 | +44.7% |
| 1869 | 318,000 | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 319,000 | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 1.00 million | +213.5% |
| 1872 | 427,000 | -57.3% |
| 1873 | 426,000 | -0.2% |
| 1874 | 429,000 | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 428,000 | -0.2% |
| 1876 | 429,000 | +0.2% |
| 1877 | 429,000 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 429,000 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 430,000 | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 430,000 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 456,000 | +6.0% |
| 1882 | 455,000 | -0.2% |
| 1883 | 457,000 | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 457,000 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 459,000 | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 460,000 | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 503,000 | +9.3% |
| 1888 | 504,000 | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 504,000 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 505,000 | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 524,000 | +3.8% |
| 1892 | 526,000 | +0.4% |
| 1893 | 601,000 | +14.3% |
| 1894 | 601,000 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 602,000 | +0.2% |
| 1896 | 602,000 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 604,000 | +0.3% |
| 1898 | 606,000 | +0.3% |
| 1899 | 619,000 | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 624,000 | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 630,000 | +1.0% |
| 1902 | 638,000 | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 636,000 | -0.3% |
| 1904 | 642,000 | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 648,000 | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 653,000 | +0.8% |
| 1907 | 658,000 | +0.8% |
| 1908 | 663,000 | +0.8% |
| 1909 | 667,000 | +0.6% |
| 1910 | 673,000 | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 677,000 | +0.6% |
| 1912 | 716,000 | +5.8% |
| 1913 | 859,000 | +20.0% |
| 1914 | 862,000 | +0.3% |
| 1915 | 3.82 million | +343.5% |
| 1916 | 4.58 million | +19.8% |
| 1917 | 5.38 million | +17.5% |
| 1918 | 8.00 million | +48.7% |
| 1919 | 114,000 | -98.6% |
| 1920 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 118,000 | +3.5% |
| 1934 | 315,000 | +166.9% |
| 1935 | 461,000 | +46.3% |
| 1936 | 596,000 | +29.3% |
| 1937 | 603,000 | +1.2% |
| 1938 | 782,000 | +29.7% |
| 1939 | 2.75 million | +251.7% |
| 1940 | 3.30 million | +20.0% |
| 1941 | 7.10 million | +115.2% |
| 1942 | 7.03 million | -1.0% |
| 1943 | 6.96 million | -1.0% |
| 1944 | 6.13 million | -11.9% |
| 1945 | 5.30 million | -13.5% |
| 1990 | 545,000 | -89.7% |
| 1991 | 457,000 | -16.1% |
| 1992 | 442,000 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 398,000 | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 362,000 | -9.0% |
| 1995 | 352,000 | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 339,000 | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 335,000 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 333,000 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 331,000 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 221,000 | -33.2% |
| 2001 | 308,000 | +39.4% |
| 2002 | 296,000 | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 284,000 | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 284,000 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 285,000 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 285,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 246,000 | -13.7% |
| 2008 | 246,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 244,000 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 251,000 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 251,000 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 251,000 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 196,000 | -21.9% |
| 2014 | 186,000 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 182,000 | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 179,000 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 177,000 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 179,000 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 180,000 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 181,000 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 183,000 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 183,000 | +0.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 183,000 is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500, 9.9× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Germany's 183,000 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000, 8.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | +343.5% | 862,000 | 3.82 million |
| 1939 | +251.7% | 782,000 | 2.75 million |
| 1871 | +213.5% | 319,000 | 1.00 million |
| 1934 | +166.9% | 118,000 | 315,000 |
| 1941 | +115.2% | 3.30 million | 7.10 million |
| 1919 | -98.6% | 8.00 million | 114,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 130,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 4 |
| 1820s | 130,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 10 |
| 1830s | 136,200 | 130,000 | 165,000 | 10 |
| 1840s | 134,500 | 131,000 | 135,000 | 10 |
| 1850s | 141,300 | 131,000 | 153,000 | 10 |
| 1860s | 232,900 | 201,000 | 318,000 | 10 |
| 1870s | 474,600 | 319,000 | 1.00 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 468,500 | 430,000 | 504,000 | 10 |
| 1890s | 579,000 | 505,000 | 619,000 | 10 |
| 1900s | 645,900 | 624,000 | 667,000 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.57 million | 114,000 | 8.00 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 114,000 | 114,000 | 114,000 | 10 |
| 1930s | 596,700 | 114,000 | 2.75 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.97 million | 3.30 million | 7.10 million | 6 |
| 1990s | 389,400 | 331,000 | 545,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 269,900 | 221,000 | 308,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 203,200 | 177,000 | 251,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,333 | 181,000 | 183,000 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Germany?
- Military personnel in Germany was 183,000 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 8.00 million in 1918.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 114,000 in 1919.
- How does Germany rank for military personnel?
- Germany ranks 27th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 163 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).