Military personnel in Italy
Italy: Military personnel was 161,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
161,000 people
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
32nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
3.75 million people
in 1942
All-time low
19,000 people
in 1816
Years of data
206
1816–2022
Military personnel in Italy, 1816–2022
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 Italy stood at 161,000 people.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Italy peaked at 3.75 million people in 1942 and was at its lowest, 19,000 people, in 1816.
That places Italy 32nd 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 19,000 people | — |
| 1817 | 39,000 people | +105.3% |
| 1818 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 41,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1821 | 43,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1822 | 56,000 people | +30.2% |
| 1823 | 19,000 people | -66.1% |
| 1824 | 27,000 people | +42.1% |
| 1825 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 31,000 people | +14.8% |
| 1829 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 38,000 people | +22.6% |
| 1836 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 35,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1840 | 38,000 people | +8.6% |
| 1841 | 35,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1842 | 31,000 people | -11.4% |
| 1843 | 28,000 people | -9.7% |
| 1844 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 32,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1847 | 36,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1848 | 70,000 people | +94.4% |
| 1849 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 41,000 people | -41.4% |
| 1851 | 55,000 people | +34.1% |
| 1852 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 51,000 people | -7.3% |
| 1854 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 53,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1856 | 52,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1857 | 51,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1858 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 53,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1860 | 184,000 people | +247.2% |
| 1861 | 201,000 people | +9.2% |
| 1862 | 185,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1863 | 275,000 people | +48.6% |
| 1864 | 365,000 people | +32.7% |
| 1865 | 209,000 people | -42.7% |
| 1866 | 233,000 people | +11.5% |
| 1867 | 394,000 people | +69.1% |
| 1868 | 294,000 people | -25.4% |
| 1869 | 204,000 people | -30.6% |
| 1870 | 174,000 people | -14.7% |
| 1871 | 353,000 people | +102.9% |
| 1872 | 175,000 people | -50.4% |
| 1873 | 161,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1874 | 177,000 people | +9.9% |
| 1875 | 179,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 156,000 people | -12.8% |
| 1877 | 152,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1878 | 203,000 people | +33.6% |
| 1879 | 167,000 people | -17.7% |
| 1880 | 167,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 167,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 162,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1883 | 163,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1884 | 223,000 people | +36.8% |
| 1885 | 226,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1886 | 227,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 230,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 237,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1889 | 256,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1890 | 257,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 265,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1892 | 241,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1893 | 264,000 people | +9.5% |
| 1894 | 250,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1895 | 229,000 people | -8.4% |
| 1896 | 226,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1897 | 247,000 people | +9.3% |
| 1898 | 318,000 people | +28.7% |
| 1899 | 264,000 people | -17.0% |
| 1900 | 262,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1901 | 262,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 276,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1903 | 270,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1904 | 263,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1905 | 266,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1906 | 267,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1907 | 219,000 people | -18.0% |
| 1908 | 227,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1909 | 251,000 people | +10.6% |
| 1910 | 252,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 291,000 people | +15.5% |
| 1912 | 398,000 people | +36.8% |
| 1913 | 288,000 people | -27.6% |
| 1914 | 344,000 people | +19.4% |
| 1915 | 3.16 million people | +818.3% |
| 1916 | 3.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 3.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 3.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 2.00 million people | -36.7% |
| 1920 | 840,000 people | -58.0% |
| 1921 | 290,000 people | -65.5% |
| 1922 | 291,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1923 | 311,000 people | +6.9% |
| 1924 | 380,000 people | +22.2% |
| 1925 | 299,000 people | -21.3% |
| 1926 | 317,000 people | +6.0% |
| 1927 | 318,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1928 | 317,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1929 | 315,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1930 | 333,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1931 | 314,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1932 | 354,000 people | +12.7% |
| 1933 | 363,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1934 | 362,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1935 | 1.38 million people | +281.2% |
| 1936 | 343,000 people | -75.1% |
| 1937 | 466,000 people | +35.9% |
| 1938 | 486,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1939 | 581,000 people | +19.5% |
| 1940 | 1.63 million people | +181.2% |
| 1942 | 3.75 million people | +129.5% |
| 1943 | 1.70 million people | -54.6% |
| 1944 | 283,000 people | -83.4% |
| 1945 | 276,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1946 | 260,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1947 | 280,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1948 | 310,000 people | +10.7% |
| 1949 | 330,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1950 | 235,000 people | -28.8% |
| 1951 | 320,000 people | +36.2% |
| 1952 | 325,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 330,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 315,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1955 | 318,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 320,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 321,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 321,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 321,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 321,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 470,000 people | +46.4% |
| 1962 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 515,000 people | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 590,000 people | +14.6% |
| 1965 | 460,000 people | -22.0% |
| 1966 | 435,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1967 | 430,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 430,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 435,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 435,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 435,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 510,000 people | +17.2% |
| 1973 | 548,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 534,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 459,000 people | -14.0% |
| 1976 | 455,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 475,000 people | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 489,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 490,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 500,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 505,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 517,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 498,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 508,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 504,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 529,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 504,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 506,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 506,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 493,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 473,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 471,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 450,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 436,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 435,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 431,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 419,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 402,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 391,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 251,000 people | -35.8% |
| 2001 | 230,000 people | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 216,000 people | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 200,000 people | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 196,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 192,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 191,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 191,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 186,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 293,000 people | +57.5% |
| 2010 | 293,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 185,000 people | -36.9% |
| 2012 | 185,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 181,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 176,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 176,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 175,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 171,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 166,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 162,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 161,000 people | -0.6% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 161,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 8.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Italy's 161,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 7.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Italy 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 | +818.3% | 344,000 people | 3.16 million people |
| 1935 | +281.2% | 362,000 people | 1.38 million people |
| 1860 | +247.2% | 53,000 people | 184,000 people |
| 1940 | +181.2% | 581,000 people | 1.63 million people |
| 1942 | +129.5% | 1.63 million people | 3.75 million people |
| 1817 | +105.3% | 19,000 people | 39,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 34,000 people | 19,000 people | 39,000 people | 4 |
| 1820s | 32,900 people | 19,000 people | 56,000 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 34,200 people | 31,000 people | 38,000 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 39,600 people | 28,000 people | 70,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 51,300 people | 41,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 254,400 people | 184,000 people | 394,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 189,700 people | 152,000 people | 353,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 205,800 people | 162,000 people | 256,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 256,100 people | 226,000 people | 318,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 256,300 people | 219,000 people | 276,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.62 million people | 252,000 people | 3.16 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 367,800 people | 290,000 people | 840,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 498,200 people | 314,000 people | 1.38 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 980,556 people | 260,000 people | 3.75 million people | 9 |
| 1950s | 312,600 people | 235,000 people | 330,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 455,600 people | 321,000 people | 590,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 483,000 people | 435,000 people | 548,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 507,700 people | 498,000 people | 529,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 440,100 people | 391,000 people | 493,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 214,600 people | 186,000 people | 293,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 189,200 people | 171,000 people | 293,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 163,000 people | 161,000 people | 166,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 29 Syria 169,000 people compare
- 29 Taiwan 169,000 people compare
- 31 Bangladesh 163,000 people compare
- 33 United Kingdom 150,000 people compare
- 34 Philippines 145,000 people compare
- 35 Nigeria 143,000 people compare
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Italy?
- Military personnel in Italy was 161,000 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 3.75 million people in 1942.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,000 people in 1816.
- How does Italy rank for military personnel?
- Italy ranks 32nd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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 — 206 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.