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.

Military personnel in Switzerland

Name: Military personnel in Switzerland
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)

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.

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

95 Georgia 21,000 people compare
95 Mali 21,000 people compare
95 Uruguay 21,000 people compare
99 Finland 19,000 people compare
100 Guatemala 18,000 people compare
100 Kuwait 18,000 people compare
100 Slovakia 18,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

Spring temperature anomalies 0.468 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 3.26 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -0.0171 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4612 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 2.37 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 105.67 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Switzerland →

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

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.