Military personnel in Greece
Greece: Military personnel was 132,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
132,000 people
Change on year
down 7.7%
World rank
38th
of 194 countries
All-time high
414,000 people
in 1941
All-time low
5,000 people
in 1828
Years of data
192
1828–2022
Military personnel in Greece, 1828–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel in Greece is 132,000 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Greece peaked at 414,000 people in 1941 and was at its lowest, 5,000 people, in 1828.
That places Greece 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Greece, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1828 | 5,000 people | — |
| 1829 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 8,000 people | +60.0% |
| 1833 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1834 | 11,000 people | +22.2% |
| 1835 | 12,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1836 | 9,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1837 | 11,000 people | +22.2% |
| 1838 | 12,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1839 | 12,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 9,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1841 | 8,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1842 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 7,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1845 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1847 | 8,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1848 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1849 | 9,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1850 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 8,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1853 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1854 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 9,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1856 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1859 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 8,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1862 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 12,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1864 | 12,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 13,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1866 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 15,000 people | +15.4% |
| 1868 | 16,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1869 | 16,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 14,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1871 | 11,000 people | -21.4% |
| 1872 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 14,000 people | +27.3% |
| 1876 | 12,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1877 | 25,000 people | +108.3% |
| 1878 | 13,000 people | -48.0% |
| 1879 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 10,000 people | -23.1% |
| 1881 | 84,000 people | +740.0% |
| 1882 | 32,000 people | -61.9% |
| 1883 | 28,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1884 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 27,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1888 | 25,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1889 | 29,000 people | +16.0% |
| 1890 | 25,000 people | -13.8% |
| 1891 | 32,000 people | +28.0% |
| 1892 | 31,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1893 | 25,000 people | -19.4% |
| 1894 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 26,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1896 | 25,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1897 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 22,000 people | -12.0% |
| 1902 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 23,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1904 | 28,000 people | +21.7% |
| 1905 | 29,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1906 | 26,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1907 | 25,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1908 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 30,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1911 | 33,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1912 | 27,000 people | -18.2% |
| 1913 | 200,000 people | +640.7% |
| 1914 | 29,000 people | -85.5% |
| 1915 | 33,000 people | +13.8% |
| 1916 | 37,000 people | +12.1% |
| 1917 | 42,000 people | +13.5% |
| 1918 | 51,000 people | +21.4% |
| 1919 | 58,000 people | +13.7% |
| 1920 | 65,000 people | +12.1% |
| 1921 | 72,000 people | +10.8% |
| 1922 | 79,000 people | +9.7% |
| 1923 | 79,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 78,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1925 | 81,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1926 | 79,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1927 | 76,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1928 | 73,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1929 | 69,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1930 | 66,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1931 | 62,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1932 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 63,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1935 | 63,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 68,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1937 | 90,000 people | +32.4% |
| 1938 | 95,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1939 | 98,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 105,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1941 | 414,000 people | +294.3% |
| 1945 | 117,000 people | -71.7% |
| 1946 | 120,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1947 | 137,000 people | +14.2% |
| 1948 | 154,000 people | +12.4% |
| 1949 | 223,000 people | +44.8% |
| 1950 | 192,000 people | -13.9% |
| 1951 | 160,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1952 | 171,000 people | +6.9% |
| 1953 | 171,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 173,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 144,000 people | -16.8% |
| 1956 | 135,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1957 | 144,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1958 | 148,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 152,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 160,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 160,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 160,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 175,000 people | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 190,000 people | +8.6% |
| 1966 | 175,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1967 | 170,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 185,000 people | +8.8% |
| 1969 | 180,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 180,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 180,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 180,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 184,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 186,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 185,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 186,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 187,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 186,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 187,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 186,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 188,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 186,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 177,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 197,000 people | +11.3% |
| 1985 | 201,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 202,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 199,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 199,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 201,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 201,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 205,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 208,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 213,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 206,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 213,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 212,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 206,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 202,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 204,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 159,000 people | -22.1% |
| 2001 | 159,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 178,000 people | +11.9% |
| 2003 | 178,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 171,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 164,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 164,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 147,000 people | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 157,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 157,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 157,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 139,000 people | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 146,000 people | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 144,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 143,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 145,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 143,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 143,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 141,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 142,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 143,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 143,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 132,000 people | -7.7% |
Greece compared with similar countries
- Greece's 132,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 7.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Greece's 132,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 5.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Greece 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 | +740.0% | 10,000 people | 84,000 people |
| 1913 | +640.7% | 27,000 people | 200,000 people |
| 1941 | +294.3% | 105,000 people | 414,000 people |
| 1877 | +108.3% | 12,000 people | 25,000 people |
| 1914 | -85.5% | 200,000 people | 29,000 people |
| 1945 | -71.7% | 414,000 people | 117,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 5,000 people | 5,000 people | 5,000 people | 2 |
| 1830s | 9,400 people | 5,000 people | 12,000 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 8,000 people | 6,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 9,300 people | 8,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 12,300 people | 8,000 people | 16,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 13,500 people | 11,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 31,900 people | 10,000 people | 84,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 26,400 people | 25,000 people | 32,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 25,000 people | 22,000 people | 29,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 54,000 people | 27,000 people | 200,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 75,100 people | 65,000 people | 81,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 72,900 people | 62,000 people | 98,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 181,429 people | 105,000 people | 414,000 people | 7 |
| 1950s | 159,000 people | 135,000 people | 192,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 173,000 people | 160,000 people | 190,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 184,100 people | 180,000 people | 187,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 193,600 people | 177,000 people | 202,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 207,000 people | 201,000 people | 213,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 163,400 people | 147,000 people | 178,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 144,300 people | 139,000 people | 157,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 139,333 people | 132,000 people | 143,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Greece
More reference data data for Greece
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2183 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.19 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Greece?
- Military personnel in Greece was 132,000 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 Greece?
- The highest recorded value was 414,000 people in 1941.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Greece?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 people in 1828.
- How does Greece rank for military personnel?
- Greece ranks 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Greece?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greece 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 — 192 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.