Military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.22 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.22
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
102nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
10.35
in 1945
All-time low
0.2197
in 2020
Years of data
206
1816–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom, 1816–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.22 for military personnel as a share of total population in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom peaked at 10.35 in 1945 and was at its lowest, 0.2197, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 102nd 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 1.31 | — |
| 1817 | 0.9589 | -26.6% |
| 1818 | 0.8605 | -10.3% |
| 1819 | 0.7014 | -18.5% |
| 1820 | 0.6961 | -0.7% |
| 1821 | 0.6617 | -5.0% |
| 1822 | 0.5858 | -11.5% |
| 1823 | 0.5769 | -1.5% |
| 1824 | 0.6006 | +4.1% |
| 1825 | 0.5924 | -1.4% |
| 1826 | 0.66 | +11.4% |
| 1827 | 0.6777 | +2.7% |
| 1828 | 0.6684 | -1.4% |
| 1829 | 0.6297 | -5.8% |
| 1830 | 0.5879 | -6.6% |
| 1831 | 0.6215 | +5.7% |
| 1832 | 0.5949 | -4.3% |
| 1833 | 0.5853 | -1.6% |
| 1834 | 0.551 | -5.9% |
| 1835 | 0.5411 | -1.8% |
| 1836 | 0.5649 | +4.4% |
| 1837 | 0.5575 | -1.3% |
| 1838 | 0.5984 | +7.3% |
| 1839 | 0.6069 | +1.4% |
| 1840 | 0.6342 | +4.5% |
| 1841 | 0.6467 | +2.0% |
| 1842 | 0.6814 | +5.4% |
| 1843 | 0.5797 | -14.9% |
| 1844 | 0.6721 | +15.9% |
| 1845 | 0.6408 | -4.7% |
| 1846 | 0.6821 | +6.4% |
| 1847 | 0.69 | +1.2% |
| 1848 | 0.7477 | +8.4% |
| 1849 | 0.7325 | -2.0% |
| 1850 | 0.7303 | -0.3% |
| 1851 | 0.7228 | -1.0% |
| 1852 | 0.7323 | +1.3% |
| 1853 | 0.7734 | +5.6% |
| 1854 | 0.846 | +9.4% |
| 1855 | 1.18 | +39.8% |
| 1856 | 1.36 | +15.3% |
| 1857 | 0.965 | -29.2% |
| 1858 | 1.03 | +6.6% |
| 1859 | 1.1 | +7.1% |
| 1860 | 1.21 | +9.4% |
| 1861 | 1.09 | -9.6% |
| 1862 | 1.04 | -4.4% |
| 1863 | 1.06 | +1.5% |
| 1864 | 0.9771 | -7.7% |
| 1865 | 0.9891 | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 0.9487 | -4.1% |
| 1867 | 0.9306 | -1.9% |
| 1868 | 0.9091 | -2.3% |
| 1869 | 0.8716 | -4.1% |
| 1870 | 0.8222 | -5.7% |
| 1871 | 0.7637 | -7.1% |
| 1872 | 0.7969 | +4.3% |
| 1873 | 0.7832 | -1.7% |
| 1874 | 0.7631 | -2.6% |
| 1875 | 0.7461 | -2.2% |
| 1876 | 0.7349 | -1.5% |
| 1877 | 0.7476 | +1.7% |
| 1878 | 0.7689 | +2.9% |
| 1879 | 0.7579 | -1.4% |
| 1880 | 0.7163 | -5.5% |
| 1881 | 0.707 | -1.3% |
| 1882 | 0.7016 | -0.8% |
| 1883 | 0.6742 | -3.9% |
| 1884 | 0.6718 | -0.4% |
| 1885 | 0.7108 | +5.8% |
| 1886 | 0.7298 | +2.7% |
| 1887 | 0.7459 | +2.2% |
| 1888 | 0.7402 | -0.8% |
| 1889 | 0.7397 | -0.1% |
| 1890 | 0.7416 | +0.3% |
| 1891 | 0.7433 | +0.2% |
| 1892 | 0.7552 | +1.6% |
| 1893 | 0.7638 | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 0.7772 | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 0.7878 | +1.4% |
| 1896 | 0.7955 | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 0.7978 | +0.3% |
| 1898 | 0.8197 | +2.7% |
| 1899 | 0.8118 | -1.0% |
| 1900 | 1.18 | +45.8% |
| 1901 | 1.25 | +6.0% |
| 1902 | 1.17 | -6.9% |
| 1903 | 0.9847 | -15.6% |
| 1904 | 0.9599 | -2.5% |
| 1905 | 0.9167 | -4.5% |
| 1906 | 0.8856 | -3.4% |
| 1907 | 0.8437 | -4.7% |
| 1908 | 0.8249 | -2.2% |
| 1909 | 0.8558 | +3.7% |
| 1910 | 0.8282 | -3.2% |
| 1911 | 0.8303 | +0.2% |
| 1912 | 1.15 | +38.6% |
| 1913 | 1.17 | +1.4% |
| 1914 | 1.16 | -1.1% |
| 1915 | 9.81 | +749.3% |
| 1917 | 10.24 | +4.3% |
| 1918 | 9.79 | -4.3% |
| 1919 | 2.99 | -69.5% |
| 1920 | 1.28 | -57.1% |
| 1921 | 0.9498 | -25.9% |
| 1922 | 0.8294 | -12.7% |
| 1923 | 0.7557 | -8.9% |
| 1924 | 0.7503 | -0.7% |
| 1925 | 0.759 | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 0.7539 | -0.7% |
| 1927 | 0.7447 | -1.2% |
| 1928 | 0.724 | -2.8% |
| 1929 | 0.7116 | -1.7% |
| 1930 | 0.6933 | -2.6% |
| 1931 | 0.6924 | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 0.6841 | -1.2% |
| 1933 | 0.6793 | -0.7% |
| 1934 | 0.6814 | +0.3% |
| 1935 | 0.6849 | +0.5% |
| 1936 | 0.7137 | +4.2% |
| 1937 | 0.7401 | +3.7% |
| 1938 | 0.7768 | +5.0% |
| 1939 | 0.8249 | +6.2% |
| 1940 | 2.12 | +156.4% |
| 1941 | 4.77 | +125.5% |
| 1942 | 7 | +46.8% |
| 1943 | 8.5 | +21.3% |
| 1944 | 10 | +17.7% |
| 1945 | 10.35 | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 4.17 | -59.7% |
| 1947 | 2.63 | -37.0% |
| 1948 | 1.69 | -35.6% |
| 1949 | 1.53 | -9.6% |
| 1950 | 1.36 | -11.0% |
| 1951 | 1.63 | +20.0% |
| 1952 | 1.72 | +5.2% |
| 1953 | 1.7 | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 1.64 | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 1.58 | -3.9% |
| 1956 | 1.48 | -6.3% |
| 1957 | 1.36 | -8.2% |
| 1958 | 1.18 | -12.9% |
| 1959 | 1.08 | -8.5% |
| 1960 | 0.991 | -8.6% |
| 1961 | 0.8995 | -9.2% |
| 1962 | 0.8913 | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 0.8392 | -5.9% |
| 1964 | 0.8057 | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 0.782 | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 0.7778 | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 0.7733 | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 0.7426 | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7032 | -5.3% |
| 1970 | 0.701 | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 0.6616 | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 0.6596 | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 0.6705 | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 0.6384 | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 0.6189 | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 0.5995 | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 0.5802 | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 0.5696 | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 0.5761 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 0.5858 | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 0.6051 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 0.5948 | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 0.5907 | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 0.5946 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 0.5892 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 0.5822 | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 0.5753 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 0.5668 | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 0.5544 | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 0.5351 | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 0.5208 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 0.5051 | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 0.4657 | -7.8% |
| 1994 | 0.4401 | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 0.3976 | -9.7% |
| 1996 | 0.3758 | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 0.3746 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 0.3717 | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3711 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 0.3604 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 0.3569 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 0.3533 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.3568 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 0.3484 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 0.3417 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.358 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 0.3133 | -12.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2951 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 0.2593 | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 0.282 | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2851 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.2771 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 0.2568 | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2599 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 0.2431 | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 0.2356 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2291 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.2247 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 0.2205 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.2197 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2261 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 0.22 | -2.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.22 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3016, 73% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.22 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.2903, 76% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | +749.3% | 1.16 | 9.81 |
| 1940 | +156.4% | 0.8249 | 2.12 |
| 1941 | +125.5% | 2.12 | 4.77 |
| 1919 | -69.5% | 9.79 | 2.99 |
| 1946 | -59.7% | 10.35 | 4.17 |
| 1920 | -57.1% | 2.99 | 1.28 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.9568 | 0.7014 | 1.31 | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.6349 | 0.5769 | 0.6961 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.5809 | 0.5411 | 0.6215 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.6707 | 0.5797 | 0.7477 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.9446 | 0.7228 | 1.36 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1 | 0.8716 | 1.21 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.7684 | 0.7349 | 0.8222 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.7137 | 0.6718 | 0.7459 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.7794 | 0.7416 | 0.8197 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.9876 | 0.8249 | 1.25 | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.22 | 0.8282 | 10.24 | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.8261 | 0.7116 | 1.28 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.7171 | 0.6793 | 0.8249 | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.28 | 1.53 | 10.35 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.47 | 1.08 | 1.72 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8205 | 0.7032 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.6275 | 0.5696 | 0.701 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5839 | 0.5544 | 0.6051 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4358 | 0.3711 | 0.5351 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3343 | 0.2593 | 0.3604 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2514 | 0.2205 | 0.2851 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.222 | 0.2197 | 0.2261 | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in United Kingdom was 0.22 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.35 in 1945.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2197 in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- United Kingdom ranks 102nd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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