Military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden
Sweden: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.1%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
131st
of 194 countries
All-time high
6.2%
in 1942
All-time low
0.1%
in 2010
Years of data
166
1819–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden, 1819–2022
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden stood at 0.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden peaked at 6.2% in 1942 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2010.
Sweden ranks 131st of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1819 | 1.5% | — |
| 1823 | 1.2% | -20.5% |
| 1828 | 1.1% | -6.3% |
| 1830 | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 1831 | 1.1% | +6.3% |
| 1833 | 1.3% | +13.5% |
| 1840 | 1.2% | -6.0% |
| 1844 | 1.1% | -4.3% |
| 1846 | 1.1% | -2.3% |
| 1848 | 1.0% | -11.1% |
| 1849 | 1.0% | +3.1% |
| 1850 | 0.7% | -31.4% |
| 1851 | 0.7% | -1.1% |
| 1852 | 1.0% | +42.8% |
| 1853 | 1.5% | +56.0% |
| 1855 | 1.5% | -2.2% |
| 1856 | 1.5% | -1.1% |
| 1857 | 1.5% | -0.8% |
| 1858 | 1.4% | -2.3% |
| 1859 | 1.4% | -0.1% |
| 1860 | 1.4% | -1.6% |
| 1861 | 1.4% | -1.5% |
| 1862 | 1.6% | +16.8% |
| 1863 | 1.6% | -1.3% |
| 1864 | 2.0% | +26.9% |
| 1865 | 2.0% | -1.2% |
| 1866 | 2.1% | +1.5% |
| 1867 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 1868 | 1.4% | -31.0% |
| 1869 | 1.4% | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 1.4% | -0.1% |
| 1871 | 1.4% | -0.5% |
| 1872 | 1.4% | +2.7% |
| 1873 | 1.4% | -5.6% |
| 1875 | 1.3% | -5.6% |
| 1876 | 0.9% | -32.4% |
| 1877 | 1.5% | +72.0% |
| 1878 | 1.3% | -9.6% |
| 1879 | 1.0% | -26.4% |
| 1880 | 1.4% | +43.0% |
| 1881 | 1.0% | -28.3% |
| 1882 | 1.0% | +1.5% |
| 1883 | 1.1% | +2.7% |
| 1884 | 0.9% | -10.7% |
| 1885 | 1.0% | +4.0% |
| 1886 | 1.0% | -0.8% |
| 1887 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 1888 | 1.0% | -1.9% |
| 1889 | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| 1890 | 1.0% | +2.8% |
| 1891 | 1.0% | -0.4% |
| 1892 | 0.9% | -4.8% |
| 1893 | 0.9% | -0.8% |
| 1894 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1895 | 0.9% | -1.0% |
| 1896 | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 1897 | 0.9% | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 0.9% | -1.0% |
| 1899 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1900 | 1.0% | +17.9% |
| 1901 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 1902 | 1.0% | -3.3% |
| 1903 | 1.4% | +40.5% |
| 1904 | 1.3% | -8.3% |
| 1905 | 1.2% | -4.1% |
| 1906 | 1.3% | +4.0% |
| 1907 | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| 1908 | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| 1909 | 1.2% | -3.9% |
| 1910 | 1.3% | +8.3% |
| 1911 | 1.3% | +3.4% |
| 1912 | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| 1913 | 1.5% | +15.4% |
| 1915 | 1.4% | -8.1% |
| 1916 | 1.7% | +23.3% |
| 1917 | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| 1918 | 1.7% | +0.6% |
| 1920 | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| 1921 | 0.4% | -75.5% |
| 1922 | 0.5% | +19.2% |
| 1923 | 0.4% | -17.0% |
| 1924 | 0.7% | +59.4% |
| 1925 | 0.5% | -25.3% |
| 1926 | 0.5% | -7.0% |
| 1927 | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| 1928 | 0.6% | +35.4% |
| 1929 | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| 1930 | 0.6% | +2.3% |
| 1931 | 0.5% | -18.2% |
| 1932 | 0.5% | -0.4% |
| 1933 | 0.5% | +5.8% |
| 1935 | 0.6% | +14.0% |
| 1936 | 0.5% | -23.3% |
| 1937 | 0.4% | -10.3% |
| 1938 | 0.7% | +51.4% |
| 1940 | 1.6% | +141.6% |
| 1942 | 6.2% | +295.6% |
| 1943 | 6.2% | -0.9% |
| 1944 | 6.1% | -1.1% |
| 1945 | 6.0% | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 0.4% | -93.7% |
| 1958 | 0.4% | -0.6% |
| 1959 | 0.4% | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 0.4% | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 1.1% | +174.4% |
| 1962 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 1963 | 0.9% | -13.0% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 0.9% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 0.9% | +6.5% |
| 1969 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | -12.3% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -14.4% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -8.6% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -35.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -17.9% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -15.0% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -29.7% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -24.1% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | +60.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -29.1% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +98.5% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -50.4% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 1830s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 3 |
| 1840s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 5 |
| 1850s | 1.3% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 9 |
| 1860s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 9 |
| 1880s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 8 |
| 1920s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 8 |
| 1940s | 5.2% | 1.6% | 6.2% | 5 |
| 1950s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 3 |
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More population data for Sweden
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7238 % change on previous year (2050)
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- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1458 % change on previous year (2100)
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- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1484 % change on previous year (2100)
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- Population density 27.91 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 479,660 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in Sweden was 0.1% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 1942.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2010.
- How does Sweden rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- Sweden ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.
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About this data
Ratio of military personnel to total population, expressed as a percentage.