Military personnel as a share of total population in Netherlands
Netherlands: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.2% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.2%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
113th
of 194 countries
All-time high
3.0%
in 1831
All-time low
0.2%
in 1936
Years of data
203
1816–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in Netherlands, 1816–2022
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 0.2% for military personnel as a share of total population in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in Netherlands peaked at 3.0% in 1831 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1936.
That places Netherlands 113th 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 as a share of total population in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 0.5% | — |
| 1817 | 0.5% | +2.7% |
| 1818 | 0.5% | -0.9% |
| 1819 | 0.5% | -1.2% |
| 1820 | 0.5% | -1.0% |
| 1821 | 0.5% | -0.9% |
| 1822 | 0.5% | -0.7% |
| 1823 | 0.5% | +2.9% |
| 1824 | 0.5% | -0.8% |
| 1825 | 0.5% | -1.1% |
| 1826 | 0.5% | -0.9% |
| 1827 | 0.5% | +2.7% |
| 1828 | 0.5% | -1.2% |
| 1829 | 0.5% | -1.0% |
| 1830 | 0.5% | +2.1% |
| 1831 | 3.0% | +533.1% |
| 1832 | 1.4% | -53.0% |
| 1833 | 1.4% | -0.4% |
| 1834 | 1.2% | -16.4% |
| 1835 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1836 | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| 1837 | 1.5% | +33.3% |
| 1838 | 1.1% | -26.3% |
| 1839 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1840 | 0.8% | -31.7% |
| 1841 | 0.8% | +8.0% |
| 1842 | 0.9% | +7.2% |
| 1843 | 0.9% | +6.6% |
| 1844 | 1.0% | +6.1% |
| 1845 | 1.1% | +5.3% |
| 1846 | 1.0% | -0.7% |
| 1847 | 1.1% | +3.5% |
| 1848 | 1.0% | -3.0% |
| 1849 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 1850 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 1851 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 1852 | 0.9% | -6.1% |
| 1853 | 1.0% | +6.6% |
| 1854 | 1.0% | +5.4% |
| 1855 | 1.2% | +14.1% |
| 1856 | 1.2% | -0.6% |
| 1857 | 1.2% | -1.2% |
| 1858 | 1.2% | -0.6% |
| 1859 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 1860 | 1.2% | +2.3% |
| 1861 | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| 1862 | 1.2% | -1.2% |
| 1863 | 1.1% | -1.2% |
| 1864 | 1.1% | -1.2% |
| 1865 | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| 1866 | 1.1% | -3.4% |
| 1867 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1868 | 1.1% | +1.5% |
| 1869 | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 1.1% | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1872 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1873 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1874 | 1.1% | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 1.1% | -1.3% |
| 1877 | 1.0% | -6.1% |
| 1878 | 1.0% | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 1.0% | -1.5% |
| 1880 | 1.0% | +1.5% |
| 1881 | 1.1% | +3.9% |
| 1882 | 1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 1.1% | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 1.1% | +1.0% |
| 1885 | 1.1% | -1.4% |
| 1886 | 1.0% | -5.4% |
| 1887 | 0.8% | -17.1% |
| 1888 | 0.8% | +1.3% |
| 1889 | 0.8% | -1.1% |
| 1890 | 0.9% | +10.3% |
| 1891 | 0.7% | -19.9% |
| 1892 | 0.6% | -12.9% |
| 1893 | 0.6% | -4.4% |
| 1894 | 0.6% | -1.3% |
| 1895 | 0.6% | -1.4% |
| 1896 | 0.6% | -1.2% |
| 1897 | 0.6% | -1.6% |
| 1898 | 0.6% | -1.4% |
| 1899 | 0.6% | -1.4% |
| 1900 | 0.6% | +5.9% |
| 1901 | 0.6% | -1.1% |
| 1902 | 0.7% | +11.2% |
| 1903 | 0.6% | -12.9% |
| 1904 | 0.6% | -1.5% |
| 1905 | 0.6% | +8.1% |
| 1906 | 0.5% | -18.8% |
| 1907 | 0.5% | -1.4% |
| 1908 | 0.5% | -4.9% |
| 1909 | 0.5% | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 0.5% | +2.6% |
| 1911 | 0.8% | +58.6% |
| 1912 | 0.8% | +0.7% |
| 1913 | 0.7% | -3.6% |
| 1914 | 0.7% | -10.6% |
| 1915 | 0.5% | -20.9% |
| 1916 | 0.4% | -16.8% |
| 1917 | 0.3% | -19.5% |
| 1918 | 0.3% | -18.6% |
| 1919 | 0.2% | -26.9% |
| 1920 | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| 1921 | 0.2% | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 0.2% | +5.5% |
| 1923 | 0.2% | -1.7% |
| 1924 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 1925 | 0.2% | +5.2% |
| 1926 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 1927 | 0.2% | -13.8% |
| 1928 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 1929 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 1930 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 1931 | 0.2% | +12.6% |
| 1932 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 1933 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 0.2% | -1.2% |
| 1935 | 0.2% | -1.1% |
| 1936 | 0.2% | -7.2% |
| 1937 | 0.2% | +5.7% |
| 1938 | 0.2% | -0.9% |
| 1939 | 0.5% | +190.4% |
| 1940 | 0.7% | +34.6% |
| 1945 | 0.9% | +30.4% |
| 1946 | 1.1% | +13.2% |
| 1947 | 2.4% | +127.4% |
| 1948 | 2.4% | -1.7% |
| 1949 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 1950 | 2.2% | -4.5% |
| 1951 | 2.1% | -4.9% |
| 1952 | 2.0% | -4.3% |
| 1953 | 1.9% | -4.8% |
| 1954 | 1.8% | -4.6% |
| 1955 | 1.7% | -5.3% |
| 1956 | 1.7% | -4.9% |
| 1957 | 1.6% | -5.6% |
| 1958 | 1.5% | -5.5% |
| 1959 | 1.4% | -6.2% |
| 1960 | 1.3% | -5.5% |
| 1961 | 1.2% | -7.9% |
| 1962 | 1.2% | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 1.1% | -9.1% |
| 1964 | 1.0% | -5.1% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 1.0% | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 1.0% | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 0.9% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 0.9% | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 0.8% | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | -14.1% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -11.0% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -13.4% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -11.4% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -13.5% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +14.3% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -21.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.3% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 6 |
| 1950s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 110 Kazakhstan 0.2% compare
- 111 Cape Verde 0.2% compare
- 112 Guinea-Bissau 0.2% compare
- 114 Zimbabwe 0.2% compare
- 115 Comoros 0.2% compare
- 116 Chad 0.2% compare
More population data for Netherlands
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1463 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2761 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 519.97 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 757,165 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 0.9625 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in Netherlands?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in Netherlands was 0.2% in 2022, according to Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1831.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1936.
- How does Netherlands rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- Netherlands ranks 113th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by 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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About this data
Ratio of military personnel to total population, expressed as a percentage.