What is military personnel in United States?

Military personnel in United States was 1.36 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 United States?

The highest recorded value was 12.12 million people in 1945.

What is the lowest military personnel recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 10,000 people in 1822.

How does United States rank for military personnel?

United States ranks 3rd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.

Is military personnel rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United States 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 United States

Name: Military personnel in United States
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)

United States: Military personnel was 1.36 million people in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

1.36 million people

Change on year

down 2.5%

World rank

3rd

of 194 countries

All-time high

12.12 million people

in 1945

All-time low

10,000 people

in 1822

Years of data

207

1816–2022

Military personnel in United States, 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 United States is 1.36 million people, measured in 2022.

The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military personnel in United States peaked at 12.12 million people in 1945 and was at its lowest, 10,000 people, in 1822.

That places United States 3rd 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1810s	14,750 people	13,000 people	17,000 people	4
1820s	11,600 people	10,000 people	15,000 people	10
1830s	15,100 people	11,000 people	22,000 people	10
1840s	30,900 people	21,000 people	60,000 people	10
1850s	24,200 people	21,000 people	29,000 people	10
1860s	424,300 people	28,000 people	1.06 million people	10
1870s	40,800 people	34,000 people	50,000 people	10
1880s	38,500 people	37,000 people	39,000 people	10
1890s	66,100 people	38,000 people	236,000 people	10
1900s	116,400 people	106,000 people	142,000 people	10
1910s	582,500 people	139,000 people	2.90 million people	10
1920s	276,200 people	247,000 people	387,000 people	10
1930s	275,700 people	244,000 people	334,000 people	10
1940s	4.64 million people	458,000 people	12.12 million people	10
1950s	2.85 million people	1.46 million people	3.64 million people	10
1960s	2.89 million people	2.31 million people	3.55 million people	10
1970s	2.28 million people	2.03 million people	3.07 million people	10
1980s	2.20 million people	2.05 million people	2.28 million people	10
1990s	1.75 million people	1.49 million people	2.18 million people	10
2000s	1.46 million people	1.37 million people	1.55 million people	10
2010s	1.46 million people	1.35 million people	1.58 million people	10
2020s	1.37 million people	1.36 million people	1.40 million people	3

Countries ranked near United States

1 China 2.04 million people compare
2 India 1.46 million people compare
4 North Korea 1.28 million people compare
5 Russia 1.19 million people compare
6 Ukraine 688,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for United States

Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is military personnel in United States?: Military personnel in United States was 1.36 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 United States?: The highest recorded value was 12.12 million people in 1945.
What is the lowest military personnel recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 10,000 people in 1822.
How does United States rank for military personnel?: United States ranks 3rd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is military personnel rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United States 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.