Military personnel in Russia
Russia: Military personnel was 1.19 million people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.19 million people
Change on year
up 32.2%
World rank
5th
of 194 countries
All-time high
12.50 million people
in 1945
All-time low
526,000 people
in 1848
Years of data
206
1816–2022
Military personnel in Russia, 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 Russia stood at 1.19 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 32.2% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Russia peaked at 12.50 million people in 1945 and was at its lowest, 526,000 people, in 1848.
That places Russia 5th 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 Russia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 800,000 people | — |
| 1817 | 700,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1818 | 600,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1819 | 596,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1820 | 772,000 people | +29.5% |
| 1821 | 949,000 people | +22.9% |
| 1822 | 1.00 million people | +5.5% |
| 1823 | 684,000 people | -31.7% |
| 1824 | 1.03 million people | +50.9% |
| 1825 | 860,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1826 | 578,000 people | -32.8% |
| 1827 | 675,000 people | +16.8% |
| 1828 | 624,000 people | -7.6% |
| 1829 | 803,000 people | +28.7% |
| 1830 | 826,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1831 | 851,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1832 | 875,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1833 | 900,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1834 | 784,000 people | -12.9% |
| 1835 | 668,000 people | -14.8% |
| 1836 | 1.02 million people | +52.7% |
| 1837 | 574,000 people | -43.7% |
| 1838 | 570,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1839 | 567,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1840 | 623,000 people | +9.9% |
| 1841 | 680,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1842 | 736,000 people | +8.2% |
| 1843 | 793,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1844 | 754,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1845 | 706,000 people | -6.4% |
| 1846 | 677,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1847 | 803,000 people | +18.6% |
| 1848 | 526,000 people | -34.5% |
| 1849 | 699,000 people | +32.9% |
| 1850 | 871,000 people | +24.6% |
| 1851 | 560,000 people | -35.7% |
| 1852 | 756,000 people | +35.0% |
| 1853 | 761,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 1.10 million people | +44.5% |
| 1855 | 1.55 million people | +40.9% |
| 1856 | 2.00 million people | +29.0% |
| 1857 | 1.02 million people | -49.0% |
| 1858 | 870,000 people | -14.6% |
| 1859 | 850,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1860 | 862,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1861 | 864,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 682,000 people | -21.1% |
| 1863 | 812,000 people | +19.1% |
| 1864 | 1.14 million people | +39.8% |
| 1865 | 727,000 people | -35.9% |
| 1866 | 697,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1867 | 628,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1868 | 673,000 people | +7.2% |
| 1869 | 706,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1870 | 738,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1871 | 765,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1872 | 826,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1873 | 826,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 830,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 835,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 859,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 840,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1878 | 1.21 million people | +44.4% |
| 1879 | 843,000 people | -30.5% |
| 1880 | 909,000 people | +7.8% |
| 1881 | 908,000 people | -0.1% |
| 1882 | 908,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 803,000 people | -11.6% |
| 1884 | 803,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 803,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 820,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1887 | 837,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1888 | 900,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1889 | 843,000 people | -6.3% |
| 1890 | 844,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 871,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1892 | 896,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1893 | 890,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1894 | 921,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1895 | 928,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 928,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 928,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 928,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 938,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1900 | 1.14 million people | +21.7% |
| 1901 | 1.14 million people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1.16 million people | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 1.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2.37 million people | +103.9% |
| 1906 | 1.24 million people | -47.7% |
| 1907 | 1.23 million people | -0.2% |
| 1908 | 1.38 million people | +11.9% |
| 1909 | 1.43 million people | +3.8% |
| 1910 | 1.38 million people | -3.8% |
| 1911 | 1.43 million people | +3.4% |
| 1912 | 1.43 million people | +0.5% |
| 1913 | 1.29 million people | -10.3% |
| 1914 | 1.32 million people | +2.7% |
| 1915 | 5.50 million people | +316.4% |
| 1916 | 10.90 million people | +98.2% |
| 1917 | 9.05 million people | -17.0% |
| 1919 | 1.55 million people | -82.9% |
| 1920 | 3.05 million people | +96.8% |
| 1921 | 5.50 million people | +80.3% |
| 1922 | 3.60 million people | -34.5% |
| 1923 | 2.10 million people | -41.7% |
| 1924 | 562,000 people | -73.2% |
| 1925 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 562,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 885,000 people | +57.5% |
| 1934 | 940,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1935 | 1.30 million people | +38.3% |
| 1936 | 1.30 million people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1.43 million people | +10.2% |
| 1938 | 1.57 million people | +9.3% |
| 1939 | 1.79 million people | +14.2% |
| 1940 | 4.20 million people | +134.8% |
| 1941 | 4.21 million people | +0.2% |
| 1942 | 4.93 million people | +17.2% |
| 1943 | 5.11 million people | +3.6% |
| 1944 | 6.10 million people | +19.3% |
| 1945 | 12.50 million people | +104.9% |
| 1946 | 2.50 million people | -80.0% |
| 1947 | 2.70 million people | +8.0% |
| 1948 | 2.90 million people | +7.4% |
| 1949 | 3.60 million people | +24.1% |
| 1950 | 4.30 million people | +19.4% |
| 1951 | 5.00 million people | +16.3% |
| 1952 | 5.80 million people | +16.0% |
| 1953 | 5.80 million people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 5.80 million people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 5.80 million people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 5.10 million people | -12.1% |
| 1957 | 4.50 million people | -11.8% |
| 1958 | 3.90 million people | -13.3% |
| 1959 | 3.60 million people | -7.7% |
| 1960 | 3.60 million people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 3.00 million people | -16.7% |
| 1962 | 3.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 3.11 million people | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 3.11 million people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 2.78 million people | -10.6% |
| 1966 | 3.80 million people | +36.7% |
| 1967 | 3.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 4.10 million people | +5.1% |
| 1969 | 4.20 million people | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 4.30 million people | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 3.90 million people | -9.3% |
| 1972 | 4.00 million people | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 4.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 4.10 million people | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 4.10 million people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 4.20 million people | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 3.90 million people | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3.70 million people | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 3.40 million people | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 3.00 million people | -11.8% |
| 1992 | 1.90 million people | -36.7% |
| 1993 | 1.50 million people | -21.1% |
| 1994 | 1.40 million people | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 1.40 million people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.30 million people | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 1.30 million people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.00 million people | -23.1% |
| 1999 | 900,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 1.00 million people | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 977,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 988,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 961,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 999,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 1.04 million people | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 1.03 million people | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.03 million people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.03 million people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.03 million people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.03 million people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.05 million people | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 956,000 people | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 845,000 people | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 845,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 771,000 people | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 798,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 831,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 900,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 900,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 900,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 900,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.19 million people | +32.2% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 1.19 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 64.3× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Russia's 1.19 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 51.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Russia 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 | +316.4% | 1.32 million people | 5.50 million people |
| 1940 | +134.8% | 1.79 million people | 4.20 million people |
| 1945 | +104.9% | 6.10 million people | 12.50 million people |
| 1905 | +103.9% | 1.16 million people | 2.37 million people |
| 1916 | +98.2% | 5.50 million people | 10.90 million people |
| 1920 | +96.8% | 1.55 million people | 3.05 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 674,000 people | 596,000 people | 800,000 people | 4 |
| 1820s | 797,800 people | 578,000 people | 1.03 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 763,500 people | 567,000 people | 1.02 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 699,700 people | 526,000 people | 803,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.03 million people | 560,000 people | 2.00 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 778,600 people | 628,000 people | 1.14 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 857,500 people | 738,000 people | 1.21 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 853,400 people | 803,000 people | 909,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 907,200 people | 844,000 people | 938,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.34 million people | 1.14 million people | 2.37 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 3.76 million people | 1.29 million people | 10.90 million people | 9 |
| 1920s | 1.76 million people | 562,000 people | 5.50 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.09 million people | 562,000 people | 1.79 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.88 million people | 2.50 million people | 12.50 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.96 million people | 3.60 million people | 5.80 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.46 million people | 2.78 million people | 4.20 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.03 million people | 3.90 million people | 4.30 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.88 million people | 3.70 million people | 3.90 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.71 million people | 900,000 people | 3.40 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 million people | 961,000 people | 1.04 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 891,900 people | 771,000 people | 1.05 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 996,667 people | 900,000 people | 1.19 million people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More reference data data for Russia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 31.32 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 129.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 26.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Russia?
- Military personnel in Russia was 1.19 million 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.50 million people in 1945.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 526,000 people in 1848.
- How does Russia rank for military personnel?
- Russia ranks 5th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.