Military personnel in Uruguay
Uruguay: Military personnel was 21,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
21,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
95th
of 194 countries
All-time high
30,000 people
in 1983
All-time low
2,000 people
in 1882
Years of data
135
1882–2022
Military personnel in Uruguay, 1882–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel in Uruguay stood at 21,000 people.
The figure is down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Uruguay peaked at 30,000 people in 1983 and was at its lowest, 2,000 people, in 1882.
That places Uruguay 95th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1882 | 2,000 people | — |
| 1883 | 5,000 people | +150.0% |
| 1884 | 3,000 people | -40.0% |
| 1885 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1888 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1890 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1900 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1901 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1902 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1905 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1907 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1909 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1911 | 5,000 people | -37.5% |
| 1912 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 11,000 people | +120.0% |
| 1914 | 10,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1915 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 11,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1921 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 12,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1923 | 17,000 people | +41.7% |
| 1924 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 11,000 people | -35.3% |
| 1926 | 9,000 people | -18.2% |
| 1927 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 8,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1933 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1937 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 6,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1947 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1958 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 20,000 people | +185.7% |
| 1962 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 13,000 people | -35.0% |
| 1964 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1967 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 15,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 17,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1970 | 18,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 19,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1972 | 20,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1975 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 28,000 people | +12.0% |
| 1977 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 29,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 30,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 28,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 29,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 27,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 25,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1991 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 24,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 25,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 21,000 people | -16.0% |
| 2020 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 21,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 21,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 1.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,375 people | 2,000 people | 5,000 people | 8 |
| 1890s | 3,100 people | 3,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 5,100 people | 3,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 8,900 people | 5,000 people | 11,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 11,500 people | 9,000 people | 17,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 8,600 people | 8,000 people | 9,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 6,000 people | 6,000 people | 6,000 people | 4 |
| 1950s | 6,300 people | 6,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 14,600 people | 7,000 people | 20,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 23,900 people | 18,000 people | 28,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 28,900 people | 27,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,900 people | 24,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,300 people | 24,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,600 people | 21,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,000 people | 21,000 people | 21,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More reference data data for Uruguay
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2999 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3685 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2195 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 33.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.01 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Uruguay?
- Military personnel in Uruguay was 21,000 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 30,000 people in 1983.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1882.
- How does Uruguay rank for military personnel?
- Uruguay ranks 95th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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 — 135 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.