What is military personnel in Netherlands?

Military personnel in Netherlands was 34,000 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 Netherlands?

The highest recorded value was 233,000 people in 1947.

What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Netherlands?

The lowest recorded value was 14,000 people in 1919.

How does Netherlands rank for military personnel?

Netherlands ranks 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.

Is military personnel rising or falling in Netherlands?

Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Netherlands 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 Netherlands

Name: Military personnel in Netherlands
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)

Netherlands: Military personnel was 34,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

34,000 people

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

74th

of 194 countries

All-time high

233,000 people

in 1947

All-time low

14,000 people

in 1919

Years of data

203

1816–2022

Military personnel in Netherlands, 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

The most recent figure for military personnel in Netherlands is 34,000 people, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of down 8.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military personnel in Netherlands peaked at 233,000 people in 1947 and was at its lowest, 14,000 people, in 1919.

Netherlands ranks 74th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1810s	26,750 people	26,000 people	27,000 people	4
1820s	28,000 people	27,000 people	29,000 people	10
1830s	38,900 people	30,000 people	80,000 people	10
1840s	29,000 people	22,000 people	33,000 people	10
1850s	34,300 people	29,000 people	38,000 people	10
1860s	38,800 people	38,000 people	39,000 people	10
1870s	39,700 people	39,000 people	41,000 people	10
1880s	42,200 people	37,000 people	46,000 people	10
1890s	30,900 people	29,000 people	42,000 people	10
1900s	30,300 people	27,000 people	35,000 people	10
1910s	32,200 people	14,000 people	46,000 people	10
1920s	14,700 people	14,000 people	16,000 people	10
1930s	18,800 people	14,000 people	47,000 people	10
1940s	158,333 people	64,000 people	233,000 people	6
1950s	192,000 people	158,000 people	226,000 people	10
1960s	129,300 people	120,000 people	151,000 people	10
1970s	109,000 people	103,000 people	115,000 people	10
1980s	105,600 people	103,000 people	108,000 people	10
1990s	75,800 people	54,000 people	104,000 people	10
2000s	50,400 people	41,000 people	53,000 people	10
2010s	37,300 people	35,000 people	47,000 people	10
2020s	34,333 people	34,000 people	35,000 people	3

Countries ranked near Netherlands

71 Bulgaria 37,000 people compare
71 Turkmenistan 37,000 people compare
73 Tunisia 36,000 people compare
74 Bolivia 34,000 people compare
76 Chad 33,000 people compare
76 Niger 33,000 people compare
76 Rwanda 33,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for Netherlands

Spring temperature anomalies 1.61 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 2.86 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -1.43 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4257 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.62 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 146.91 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is military personnel in Netherlands?: Military personnel in Netherlands was 34,000 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 Netherlands?: The highest recorded value was 233,000 people in 1947.
What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Netherlands?: The lowest recorded value was 14,000 people in 1919.
How does Netherlands rank for military personnel?: Netherlands ranks 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is military personnel rising or falling in Netherlands?: Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Netherlands 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 — 203 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.