Military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium
Belgium: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.1976 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
0.1976
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
109th
of 194 countries
All-time high
2.8
in 1919
All-time low
0.1976
in 2022
Years of data
189
1830–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium, 1830–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium stood at 0.1976. That is the lowest value across all 189 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium peaked at 2.8 in 1919 and was at its lowest, 0.1976, in 2022.
Belgium ranks 109th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 189 years of available data.
Military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 1.52 | — |
| 1831 | 1.32 | -13.2% |
| 1832 | 1.12 | -15.1% |
| 1833 | 0.9157 | -18.3% |
| 1834 | 0.7148 | -21.9% |
| 1835 | 0.7128 | -0.3% |
| 1836 | 0.707 | -0.8% |
| 1837 | 1.08 | +52.3% |
| 1838 | 1.11 | +3.3% |
| 1839 | 1.24 | +11.5% |
| 1840 | 1.1 | -10.8% |
| 1841 | 0.9908 | -10.3% |
| 1842 | 0.8627 | -12.9% |
| 1843 | 0.7594 | -12.0% |
| 1844 | 0.7515 | -1.0% |
| 1845 | 0.7444 | -1.0% |
| 1846 | 0.7378 | -0.9% |
| 1847 | 0.7377 | -0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.7571 | +2.6% |
| 1849 | 0.7763 | +2.5% |
| 1850 | 0.7908 | +1.9% |
| 1851 | 0.8048 | +1.8% |
| 1852 | 0.8193 | +1.8% |
| 1853 | 0.8353 | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 0.8506 | +1.8% |
| 1855 | 0.8682 | +2.1% |
| 1856 | 0.8832 | +1.7% |
| 1857 | 0.8739 | -1.0% |
| 1858 | 0.8652 | -1.0% |
| 1859 | 0.8563 | -1.0% |
| 1860 | 0.8453 | -1.3% |
| 1861 | 0.8365 | -1.0% |
| 1862 | 0.827 | -1.1% |
| 1863 | 0.8175 | -1.1% |
| 1864 | 0.8097 | -1.0% |
| 1865 | 0.8026 | -0.9% |
| 1866 | 0.8285 | +3.2% |
| 1867 | 0.8167 | -1.4% |
| 1868 | 0.8061 | -1.3% |
| 1869 | 0.7967 | -1.2% |
| 1870 | 0.7862 | -1.3% |
| 1871 | 0.7822 | -0.5% |
| 1872 | 0.7729 | -1.2% |
| 1873 | 0.7613 | -1.5% |
| 1874 | 0.7495 | -1.6% |
| 1875 | 0.7959 | +6.2% |
| 1876 | 0.8621 | +8.3% |
| 1877 | 0.8498 | -1.4% |
| 1878 | 0.8399 | -1.2% |
| 1879 | 0.8308 | -1.1% |
| 1880 | 0.8333 | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 0.8235 | -1.2% |
| 1882 | 0.8134 | -1.2% |
| 1883 | 0.7866 | -3.3% |
| 1884 | 0.8124 | +3.3% |
| 1885 | 0.7859 | -3.3% |
| 1886 | 0.7614 | -3.1% |
| 1887 | 0.7531 | -1.1% |
| 1888 | 0.796 | +5.7% |
| 1889 | 0.7877 | -1.1% |
| 1890 | 0.7415 | -5.9% |
| 1891 | 0.7986 | +7.7% |
| 1892 | 0.8232 | +3.1% |
| 1893 | 0.7506 | -8.8% |
| 1894 | 0.7411 | -1.3% |
| 1895 | 0.7331 | -1.1% |
| 1896 | 0.7389 | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 0.7439 | +0.7% |
| 1898 | 0.7046 | -5.3% |
| 1899 | 0.7265 | +3.1% |
| 1900 | 0.7619 | +4.9% |
| 1901 | 0.7059 | -7.3% |
| 1902 | 0.7106 | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 0.6586 | -7.3% |
| 1904 | 0.6219 | -5.6% |
| 1905 | 0.6144 | -1.2% |
| 1906 | 0.6078 | -1.1% |
| 1907 | 0.6013 | -1.1% |
| 1908 | 0.6228 | +3.6% |
| 1909 | 0.6173 | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 0.6466 | +4.7% |
| 1911 | 0.6275 | -2.9% |
| 1912 | 0.6208 | -1.1% |
| 1913 | 0.6284 | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 1.5 | +138.2% |
| 1915 | 2.02 | +35.2% |
| 1916 | 2.46 | +21.4% |
| 1917 | 2.54 | +3.3% |
| 1918 | 2.77 | +9.0% |
| 1919 | 2.8 | +1.2% |
| 1920 | 2.11 | -24.7% |
| 1921 | 1.34 | -36.5% |
| 1922 | 1.55 | +16.1% |
| 1923 | 1.75 | +12.7% |
| 1924 | 1.07 | -39.0% |
| 1925 | 1.05 | -1.6% |
| 1926 | 1.05 | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 0.8321 | -21.1% |
| 1928 | 0.8122 | -2.4% |
| 1929 | 0.8313 | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 0.8527 | +2.6% |
| 1931 | 0.8089 | -5.1% |
| 1932 | 0.8158 | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 0.8002 | -1.9% |
| 1934 | 0.8217 | +2.7% |
| 1935 | 0.8193 | -0.3% |
| 1936 | 0.8042 | -1.8% |
| 1937 | 0.8611 | +7.1% |
| 1938 | 1.07 | +24.6% |
| 1939 | 1.01 | -5.7% |
| 1940 | 0.9885 | -2.4% |
| 1945 | 0.9588 | -3.0% |
| 1946 | 0.9417 | -1.8% |
| 1947 | 0.8811 | -6.4% |
| 1948 | 0.8297 | -5.8% |
| 1949 | 0.8126 | -2.1% |
| 1950 | 0.8566 | +5.4% |
| 1951 | 0.8873 | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 0.9278 | +4.6% |
| 1953 | 0.9797 | +5.6% |
| 1954 | 1.03 | +5.3% |
| 1955 | 1.06 | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 1.1 | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 1.12 | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 1.17 | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 1.19 | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 1.2 | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 1.19 | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 1.19 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.24 | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 1.23 | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 1.22 | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 1.21 | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 1.2 | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 1.2 | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 1.19 | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 1.14 | -4.4% |
| 1971 | 1.14 | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 1.08 | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 1.1 | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 1.07 | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 1.05 | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 1.05 | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 1.09 | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 1.11 | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 1.09 | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 1.1 | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 1.12 | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 1.11 | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.11 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.09 | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 1.09 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.08 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.1 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 1.11 | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 1.11 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.06 | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.01 | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 0.7857 | -22.4% |
| 1993 | 0.6942 | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 0.5239 | -24.5% |
| 1995 | 0.4636 | -11.5% |
| 1996 | 0.443 | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 0.4515 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 0.424 | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 0.4137 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 0.3838 | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 0.3791 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 0.3772 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 0.3948 | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 0.3735 | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 0.3521 | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 0.3495 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 0.3746 | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3713 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 0.359 | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 0.3473 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.3452 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3074 | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2959 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2763 | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2746 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 0.2729 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 0.2637 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 0.2537 | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 0.235 | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 0.2253 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2074 | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 0.1976 | -4.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 0.1976 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3016, 65% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 0.1976 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.2903, 68% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | +138.2% | 0.6284 | 1.5 |
| 1837 | +52.3% | 0.707 | 1.08 |
| 1924 | -39.0% | 1.75 | 1.07 |
| 1915 | +35.2% | 1.5 | 2.02 |
| 1921 | -36.5% | 2.11 | 1.34 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 1.04 | 0.707 | 1.52 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.8222 | 0.7377 | 1.1 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.8448 | 0.7908 | 0.8832 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.8186 | 0.7967 | 0.8453 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.803 | 0.7495 | 0.8621 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.7953 | 0.7531 | 0.8333 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.7502 | 0.7046 | 0.8232 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.6522 | 0.6013 | 0.7619 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.66 | 0.6208 | 2.8 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.24 | 0.8122 | 2.11 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.8669 | 0.8002 | 1.07 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.9021 | 0.8126 | 0.9885 | 6 |
| 1950s | 1.03 | 0.8566 | 1.19 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.21 | 1.19 | 1.24 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.09 | 1.05 | 1.14 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1 | 1.08 | 1.12 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6275 | 0.4137 | 1.06 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3715 | 0.3495 | 0.3948 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2872 | 0.235 | 0.3473 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2101 | 0.1976 | 0.2253 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 106 Paraguay 0.2071 compare
- 107 Gabon 0.2057 compare
- 108 Japan 0.1976 compare
- 110 Kazakhstan 0.1947 compare
- 111 Cape Verde 0.1923 compare
- 112 Guinea-Bissau 0.1899 compare
More population data for Belgium
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,091 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.166 (2100)
- Population density 365.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 461,216 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in Belgium was 0.1976 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8 in 1919.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1976 in 2022.
- How does Belgium rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- Belgium ranks 109th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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