Military personnel in Switzerland
Switzerland: Military personnel was 20,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
20,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
98th
of 194 countries
All-time high
650,000 people
in 1940
All-time low
0 people
in 1816
Years of data
207
1816–2022
Military personnel in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 20,000 people, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Switzerland peaked at 650,000 people in 1940 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1816.
That places Switzerland 98th 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.
Military personnel in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 0 people | — |
| 1817 | 0 people | — |
| 1818 | 0 people | — |
| 1819 | 0 people | — |
| 1820 | 0 people | — |
| 1821 | 0 people | — |
| 1822 | 0 people | — |
| 1823 | 0 people | — |
| 1824 | 0 people | — |
| 1825 | 0 people | — |
| 1826 | 0 people | — |
| 1827 | 0 people | — |
| 1828 | 0 people | — |
| 1829 | 0 people | — |
| 1830 | 0 people | — |
| 1831 | 0 people | — |
| 1832 | 0 people | — |
| 1833 | 0 people | — |
| 1834 | 0 people | — |
| 1835 | 0 people | — |
| 1836 | 0 people | — |
| 1837 | 0 people | — |
| 1838 | 0 people | — |
| 1839 | 0 people | — |
| 1840 | 0 people | — |
| 1841 | 0 people | — |
| 1842 | 0 people | — |
| 1843 | 0 people | — |
| 1844 | 0 people | — |
| 1845 | 0 people | — |
| 1846 | 0 people | — |
| 1847 | 0 people | — |
| 1848 | 0 people | — |
| 1849 | 0 people | — |
| 1850 | 0 people | — |
| 1851 | 0 people | — |
| 1852 | 0 people | — |
| 1853 | 0 people | — |
| 1854 | 0 people | — |
| 1855 | 0 people | — |
| 1856 | 0 people | — |
| 1857 | 30,000 people | — |
| 1858 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1859 | 0 people | — |
| 1860 | 0 people | — |
| 1861 | 0 people | — |
| 1862 | 0 people | — |
| 1863 | 0 people | — |
| 1864 | 0 people | — |
| 1865 | 0 people | — |
| 1866 | 0 people | — |
| 1867 | 0 people | — |
| 1868 | 0 people | — |
| 1869 | 0 people | — |
| 1870 | 0 people | — |
| 1871 | 0 people | — |
| 1872 | 0 people | — |
| 1873 | 0 people | — |
| 1874 | 0 people | — |
| 1875 | 0 people | — |
| 1876 | 0 people | — |
| 1877 | 0 people | — |
| 1878 | 0 people | — |
| 1879 | 0 people | — |
| 1880 | 0 people | — |
| 1881 | 0 people | — |
| 1882 | 0 people | — |
| 1883 | 0 people | — |
| 1884 | 0 people | — |
| 1885 | 0 people | — |
| 1886 | 0 people | — |
| 1887 | 0 people | — |
| 1888 | 0 people | — |
| 1889 | 0 people | — |
| 1890 | 0 people | — |
| 1891 | 0 people | — |
| 1892 | 0 people | — |
| 1893 | 0 people | — |
| 1894 | 0 people | — |
| 1895 | 0 people | — |
| 1896 | 0 people | — |
| 1897 | 0 people | — |
| 1898 | 0 people | — |
| 1899 | 0 people | — |
| 1900 | 0 people | — |
| 1901 | 0 people | — |
| 1902 | 0 people | — |
| 1903 | 0 people | — |
| 1904 | 0 people | — |
| 1905 | 0 people | — |
| 1906 | 0 people | — |
| 1907 | 0 people | — |
| 1908 | 0 people | — |
| 1909 | 0 people | — |
| 1910 | 0 people | — |
| 1911 | 0 people | — |
| 1912 | 0 people | — |
| 1913 | 0 people | — |
| 1914 | 0 people | — |
| 1915 | 250,000 people | — |
| 1916 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1920 | 0 people | — |
| 1921 | 0 people | — |
| 1922 | 0 people | — |
| 1923 | 0 people | — |
| 1924 | 0 people | — |
| 1925 | 0 people | — |
| 1926 | 0 people | — |
| 1927 | 0 people | — |
| 1928 | 0 people | — |
| 1929 | 0 people | — |
| 1930 | 0 people | — |
| 1931 | 0 people | — |
| 1932 | 0 people | — |
| 1933 | 0 people | — |
| 1934 | 0 people | — |
| 1935 | 0 people | — |
| 1936 | 0 people | — |
| 1937 | 0 people | — |
| 1938 | 0 people | — |
| 1939 | 0 people | — |
| 1940 | 650,000 people | — |
| 1941 | 525,000 people | -19.2% |
| 1942 | 525,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 525,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 525,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 525,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1947 | 0 people | — |
| 1948 | 0 people | — |
| 1949 | 0 people | — |
| 1950 | 0 people | — |
| 1951 | 0 people | — |
| 1952 | 0 people | — |
| 1953 | 0 people | — |
| 1954 | 0 people | — |
| 1955 | 0 people | — |
| 1956 | 0 people | — |
| 1957 | 0 people | — |
| 1958 | 0 people | — |
| 1959 | 0 people | — |
| 1960 | 0 people | — |
| 1961 | 29,000 people | — |
| 1962 | 29,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 20,000 people | -31.0% |
| 1964 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1967 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 19,000 people | -24.0% |
| 1978 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 23,000 people | +21.1% |
| 1980 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 28,000 people | +21.7% |
| 1984 | 25,000 people | -10.7% |
| 1985 | 23,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1986 | 21,000 people | -8.7% |
| 1987 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1988 | 23,000 people | +15.0% |
| 1989 | 17,000 people | -26.1% |
| 1990 | 22,000 people | +29.4% |
| 1991 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 31,000 people | +40.9% |
| 1993 | 35,000 people | +12.9% |
| 1994 | 39,000 people | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 28,000 people | -28.2% |
| 2001 | 27,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 28,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 16,000 people | -42.9% |
| 2005 | 4,000 people | -75.0% |
| 2006 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 23,000 people | +475.0% |
| 2009 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 22,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 26,000 people | +18.2% |
| 2012 | 25,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 23,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 21,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 20,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 20,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 87% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 4 |
| 1820s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 3,000 people | 0 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 100,000 people | 0 people | 250,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 327,500 people | 0 people | 650,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 21,800 people | 0 people | 29,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 23,600 people | 19,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 22,600 people | 17,000 people | 28,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 34,400 people | 22,000 people | 39,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,500 people | 4,000 people | 28,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,400 people | 21,000 people | 26,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,333 people | 20,000 people | 21,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Switzerland?
- Military personnel in Switzerland was 20,000 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 650,000 people in 1940.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1816.
- How does Switzerland rank for military personnel?
- Switzerland ranks 98th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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 — 207 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.