Military personnel in Spain
Spain: Military personnel was 124,000 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
124,000
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
39th
of 194 countries
All-time high
550,000
in 1938
All-time low
60,000
in 1833
Years of data
207
1816–2022
Military personnel in Spain, 1816–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Spain recorded 124,000 for military personnel in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Spain peaked at 550,000 in 1938 and was at its lowest, 60,000, in 1833.
That places Spain 39th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 125,000 | — |
| 1817 | 126,000 | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 126,000 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 127,000 | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 146,000 | +15.0% |
| 1821 | 165,000 | +13.0% |
| 1822 | 158,000 | -4.2% |
| 1823 | 114,000 | -27.8% |
| 1824 | 93,000 | -18.4% |
| 1825 | 93,000 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 92,000 | -1.1% |
| 1827 | 92,000 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 91,000 | -1.1% |
| 1829 | 87,000 | -4.4% |
| 1830 | 83,000 | -4.6% |
| 1831 | 130,000 | +56.6% |
| 1832 | 89,000 | -31.5% |
| 1833 | 60,000 | -32.6% |
| 1834 | 110,000 | +83.3% |
| 1835 | 101,000 | -8.2% |
| 1836 | 95,000 | -5.9% |
| 1837 | 89,000 | -6.3% |
| 1838 | 84,000 | -5.6% |
| 1839 | 79,000 | -6.0% |
| 1840 | 79,000 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 86,000 | +8.9% |
| 1842 | 92,000 | +7.0% |
| 1843 | 100,000 | +8.7% |
| 1844 | 107,000 | +7.0% |
| 1845 | 113,000 | +5.6% |
| 1846 | 121,000 | +7.1% |
| 1847 | 121,000 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 120,000 | -0.8% |
| 1849 | 118,000 | -1.7% |
| 1850 | 117,000 | -0.8% |
| 1851 | 114,000 | -2.6% |
| 1852 | 110,000 | -3.5% |
| 1853 | 105,000 | -4.5% |
| 1854 | 103,000 | -1.9% |
| 1855 | 92,000 | -10.7% |
| 1856 | 104,000 | +13.0% |
| 1857 | 120,000 | +15.4% |
| 1858 | 123,000 | +2.5% |
| 1859 | 124,000 | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 125,000 | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 123,000 | -1.6% |
| 1862 | 117,000 | -4.9% |
| 1863 | 109,000 | -6.8% |
| 1864 | 118,000 | +8.3% |
| 1865 | 124,000 | +5.1% |
| 1866 | 107,000 | -13.7% |
| 1867 | 109,000 | +1.9% |
| 1868 | 98,000 | -10.1% |
| 1869 | 102,000 | +4.1% |
| 1870 | 124,000 | +21.6% |
| 1871 | 97,000 | -21.8% |
| 1872 | 97,000 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 100,000 | +3.1% |
| 1874 | 103,000 | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 111,000 | +7.8% |
| 1876 | 104,000 | -6.3% |
| 1877 | 104,000 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 150,000 | +44.2% |
| 1879 | 154,000 | +2.7% |
| 1880 | 159,000 | +3.2% |
| 1881 | 160,000 | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 157,000 | -1.9% |
| 1883 | 154,000 | -1.9% |
| 1884 | 150,000 | -2.6% |
| 1885 | 176,000 | +17.3% |
| 1886 | 153,000 | -13.1% |
| 1887 | 153,000 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 149,000 | -2.6% |
| 1889 | 146,000 | -2.0% |
| 1890 | 139,000 | -4.8% |
| 1891 | 137,000 | -1.4% |
| 1892 | 131,000 | -4.4% |
| 1893 | 133,000 | +1.5% |
| 1894 | 136,000 | +2.3% |
| 1895 | 150,000 | +10.3% |
| 1896 | 149,000 | -0.7% |
| 1897 | 154,000 | +3.4% |
| 1898 | 153,000 | -0.6% |
| 1899 | 132,000 | -13.7% |
| 1900 | 111,000 | -15.9% |
| 1901 | 114,000 | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 112,000 | -1.8% |
| 1903 | 112,000 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 112,000 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 113,000 | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 113,000 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 132,000 | +16.8% |
| 1908 | 111,000 | -15.9% |
| 1909 | 111,000 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 137,000 | +23.4% |
| 1911 | 147,000 | +7.3% |
| 1912 | 145,000 | -1.4% |
| 1913 | 145,000 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 162,000 | +11.7% |
| 1915 | 175,000 | +8.0% |
| 1916 | 189,000 | +8.0% |
| 1917 | 198,000 | +4.8% |
| 1918 | 212,000 | +7.1% |
| 1919 | 224,000 | +5.7% |
| 1920 | 236,000 | +5.4% |
| 1921 | 207,000 | -12.3% |
| 1922 | 235,000 | +13.5% |
| 1923 | 199,000 | -15.3% |
| 1924 | 161,000 | -19.1% |
| 1925 | 152,000 | -5.6% |
| 1926 | 154,000 | +1.3% |
| 1927 | 129,000 | -16.2% |
| 1928 | 128,000 | -0.8% |
| 1929 | 132,000 | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 134,000 | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 134,000 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 138,000 | +3.0% |
| 1933 | 146,000 | +5.8% |
| 1934 | 138,000 | -5.5% |
| 1935 | 141,000 | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 475,000 | +236.9% |
| 1937 | 500,000 | +5.3% |
| 1938 | 550,000 | +10.0% |
| 1939 | 539,000 | -2.0% |
| 1940 | 531,000 | -1.5% |
| 1941 | 522,000 | -1.7% |
| 1942 | 508,000 | -2.7% |
| 1943 | 497,000 | -2.2% |
| 1944 | 483,000 | -2.8% |
| 1945 | 477,000 | -1.2% |
| 1946 | 462,000 | -3.1% |
| 1947 | 464,000 | +0.4% |
| 1948 | 464,000 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 444,000 | -4.3% |
| 1950 | 494,000 | +11.3% |
| 1951 | 528,000 | +6.9% |
| 1952 | 528,000 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 503,000 | -4.7% |
| 1954 | 505,000 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 505,000 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 478,000 | -5.3% |
| 1957 | 451,000 | -5.6% |
| 1958 | 424,000 | -6.0% |
| 1959 | 398,000 | -6.1% |
| 1960 | 371,000 | -6.8% |
| 1961 | 345,000 | -7.0% |
| 1962 | 340,000 | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 370,000 | +8.8% |
| 1964 | 370,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 370,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 375,000 | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 370,000 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 370,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 365,000 | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 365,000 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 365,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 365,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 365,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 375,000 | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 375,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 368,000 | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 373,000 | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 372,000 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 374,000 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 356,000 | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 366,000 | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 372,000 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 355,000 | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 342,000 | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 314,000 | -8.2% |
| 1986 | 314,000 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 314,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 304,000 | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 277,000 | -8.9% |
| 1990 | 263,000 | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 246,000 | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 198,000 | -19.5% |
| 1993 | 204,000 | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 213,000 | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 210,000 | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 203,000 | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 197,000 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 189,000 | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 155,000 | -18.0% |
| 2000 | 166,000 | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 144,000 | -13.3% |
| 2002 | 178,000 | +23.6% |
| 2003 | 151,000 | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 149,000 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 147,000 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 147,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 147,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 149,000 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 222,000 | +49.0% |
| 2010 | 128,000 | -42.3% |
| 2011 | 142,000 | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 143,000 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 136,000 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 135,000 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 133,000 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 122,000 | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 123,000 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 121,000 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 120,000 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 120,000 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 123,000 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 124,000 | +0.8% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 124,000 is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500, 6.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Spain's 124,000 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000, 5.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | +236.9% | 141,000 | 475,000 |
| 1834 | +83.3% | 60,000 | 110,000 |
| 1831 | +56.6% | 83,000 | 130,000 |
| 2009 | +49.0% | 149,000 | 222,000 |
| 1878 | +44.2% | 104,000 | 150,000 |
| 2010 | -42.3% | 222,000 | 128,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 126,000 | 125,000 | 127,000 | 4 |
| 1820s | 113,100 | 87,000 | 165,000 | 10 |
| 1830s | 92,000 | 60,000 | 130,000 | 10 |
| 1840s | 105,700 | 79,000 | 121,000 | 10 |
| 1850s | 111,200 | 92,000 | 124,000 | 10 |
| 1860s | 113,200 | 98,000 | 125,000 | 10 |
| 1870s | 114,400 | 97,000 | 154,000 | 10 |
| 1880s | 155,700 | 146,000 | 176,000 | 10 |
| 1890s | 141,400 | 131,000 | 154,000 | 10 |
| 1900s | 114,100 | 111,000 | 132,000 | 10 |
| 1910s | 173,400 | 137,000 | 224,000 | 10 |
| 1920s | 173,300 | 128,000 | 236,000 | 10 |
| 1930s | 289,500 | 134,000 | 550,000 | 10 |
| 1940s | 485,200 | 444,000 | 531,000 | 10 |
| 1950s | 481,400 | 398,000 | 528,000 | 10 |
| 1960s | 364,600 | 340,000 | 375,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 369,700 | 365,000 | 375,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 331,400 | 277,000 | 372,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 207,800 | 155,000 | 263,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 160,000 | 144,000 | 222,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 130,300 | 120,000 | 143,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 122,333 | 120,000 | 124,000 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Spain?
- Military personnel in Spain was 124,000 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 550,000 in 1938.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 60,000 in 1833.
- How does Spain rank for military personnel?
- Spain ranks 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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
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