Military personnel in Sweden
Sweden: Military personnel was 15,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Military personnel in Sweden, 1819–2022
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 Sweden is 15,000 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Sweden peaked at 400,000 people in 1942 and was at its lowest, 13,000 people, in 2010.
That places Sweden 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 | 54,000 people | 54,000 people | 54,000 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 45,000 people | 45,000 people | 45,000 people | 2 |
| 1830s | 46,333 people | 42,000 people | 52,000 people | 3 |
| 1840s | 50,400 people | 47,000 people | 52,000 people | 5 |
| 1850s | 64,222 people | 34,000 people | 77,000 people | 9 |
| 1860s | 97,600 people | 77,000 people | 120,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 79,000 people | 54,000 people | 94,000 people | 9 |
| 1880s | 67,900 people | 62,000 people | 92,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 63,500 people | 62,000 people | 66,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 75,100 people | 64,000 people | 103,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 85,625 people | 71,000 people | 101,000 people | 8 |
| 1920s | 38,300 people | 25,000 people | 101,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 34,250 people | 27,000 people | 41,000 people | 8 |
| 1940s | 340,000 people | 100,000 people | 400,000 people | 5 |
| 1950s | 28,333 people | 28,000 people | 29,000 people | 3 |
| 1960s | 68,900 people | 29,000 people | 80,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 72,200 people | 66,000 people | 75,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 67,500 people | 62,000 people | 70,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 63,500 people | 52,000 people | 70,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,200 people | 17,000 people | 53,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,500 people | 13,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,000 people | 15,000 people | 15,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More reference data data for Sweden
- Spring temperature anomalies 4.22 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.58 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -3.74 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.27 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 3.13 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 138.19 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Sweden?
- Military personnel in Sweden was 15,000 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 400,000 people in 1942.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,000 people in 2010.
- How does Sweden rank for military personnel?
- Sweden ranks 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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 — 166 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.