Military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America
United States of America: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.4%
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
55th
of 194 countries
All-time high
8.7%
in 1945
All-time low
0.1%
in 1893
Years of data
207
1816–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America, 1816–2022
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America is 0.4%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America peaked at 8.7% in 1945 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1893.
United States of America ranks 55th 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 States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 0.2% | — |
| 1817 | 0.2% | -14.1% |
| 1818 | 0.2% | -9.1% |
| 1819 | 0.1% | -9.5% |
| 1820 | 0.2% | +12.5% |
| 1821 | 0.1% | -29.0% |
| 1822 | 0.1% | -12.0% |
| 1823 | 0.1% | +6.6% |
| 1824 | 0.1% | -3.0% |
| 1825 | 0.1% | -2.9% |
| 1826 | 0.1% | +6.0% |
| 1827 | 0.1% | -2.8% |
| 1828 | 0.1% | -10.8% |
| 1829 | 0.1% | +6.2% |
| 1830 | 0.1% | -2.6% |
| 1831 | 0.1% | -11.2% |
| 1832 | 0.1% | +5.7% |
| 1833 | 0.1% | +5.1% |
| 1834 | 0.1% | -2.9% |
| 1835 | 0.1% | +4.7% |
| 1836 | 0.1% | +18.1% |
| 1837 | 0.1% | +26.0% |
| 1838 | 0.1% | -20.3% |
| 1839 | 0.1% | +2.9% |
| 1840 | 0.1% | +12.8% |
| 1841 | 0.1% | -7.8% |
| 1842 | 0.1% | +5.9% |
| 1843 | 0.1% | -11.6% |
| 1844 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 1845 | 0.1% | -3.0% |
| 1846 | 0.2% | +80.2% |
| 1847 | 0.3% | +44.5% |
| 1848 | 0.3% | +0.6% |
| 1849 | 0.1% | -62.7% |
| 1850 | 0.1% | -11.2% |
| 1851 | 0.1% | -3.4% |
| 1852 | 0.1% | -3.3% |
| 1853 | 0.1% | -3.2% |
| 1854 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 1855 | 0.1% | +20.1% |
| 1856 | 0.1% | -2.9% |
| 1857 | 0.1% | +0.9% |
| 1858 | 0.1% | +4.4% |
| 1859 | 0.1% | -2.7% |
| 1860 | 0.1% | -6.0% |
| 1861 | 0.7% | +654.9% |
| 1862 | 2.0% | +202.3% |
| 1863 | 2.8% | +39.1% |
| 1864 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 1865 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 0.2% | -92.9% |
| 1867 | 0.2% | -4.8% |
| 1868 | 0.2% | -13.9% |
| 1869 | 0.1% | -22.9% |
| 1870 | 0.1% | -5.9% |
| 1871 | 0.1% | -18.1% |
| 1872 | 0.1% | -2.5% |
| 1873 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 1874 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 1875 | 0.1% | -15.6% |
| 1876 | 0.1% | +5.5% |
| 1877 | 0.1% | -18.9% |
| 1878 | 0.1% | +3.6% |
| 1879 | 0.1% | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 1881 | 0.1% | -2.5% |
| 1882 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 1883 | 0.1% | -4.9% |
| 1884 | 0.1% | +3.0% |
| 1885 | 0.1% | -2.3% |
| 1886 | 0.1% | -2.2% |
| 1887 | 0.1% | -2.2% |
| 1888 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 1889 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 1890 | 0.1% | -2.0% |
| 1891 | 0.1% | -4.5% |
| 1892 | 0.1% | +0.6% |
| 1893 | 0.1% | -1.9% |
| 1894 | 0.1% | +5.6% |
| 1895 | 0.1% | -1.9% |
| 1896 | 0.1% | -1.8% |
| 1897 | 0.1% | +2.9% |
| 1898 | 0.3% | +426.8% |
| 1899 | 0.1% | -58.4% |
| 1900 | 0.2% | +23.9% |
| 1901 | 0.1% | -12.8% |
| 1902 | 0.1% | -2.9% |
| 1903 | 0.1% | -6.2% |
| 1904 | 0.1% | +1.8% |
| 1905 | 0.1% | -3.8% |
| 1906 | 0.1% | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 0.1% | -5.3% |
| 1908 | 0.1% | +17.2% |
| 1909 | 0.2% | +7.9% |
| 1910 | 0.2% | -4.1% |
| 1911 | 0.2% | +2.7% |
| 1912 | 0.2% | +3.9% |
| 1913 | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| 1914 | 0.2% | +5.1% |
| 1915 | 0.2% | +3.3% |
| 1916 | 0.2% | +1.4% |
| 1917 | 0.6% | +255.2% |
| 1918 | 2.8% | +350.1% |
| 1919 | 1.1% | -60.0% |
| 1920 | 0.3% | -71.3% |
| 1921 | 0.4% | +10.7% |
| 1922 | 0.2% | -31.2% |
| 1923 | 0.2% | -10.1% |
| 1924 | 0.2% | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 0.2% | -4.9% |
| 1926 | 0.2% | -3.3% |
| 1927 | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| 1928 | 0.2% | -0.4% |
| 1929 | 0.2% | +0.5% |
| 1930 | 0.2% | -0.8% |
| 1931 | 0.2% | -1.9% |
| 1932 | 0.2% | -3.8% |
| 1933 | 0.2% | -1.0% |
| 1934 | 0.2% | +0.6% |
| 1935 | 0.2% | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 0.2% | +14.7% |
| 1937 | 0.2% | +6.6% |
| 1938 | 0.2% | +2.7% |
| 1939 | 0.3% | +2.6% |
| 1940 | 0.3% | +36.0% |
| 1941 | 1.4% | +289.5% |
| 1942 | 2.9% | +112.0% |
| 1943 | 6.6% | +131.2% |
| 1944 | 8.3% | +25.1% |
| 1945 | 8.7% | +4.7% |
| 1946 | 2.1% | -75.3% |
| 1947 | 1.1% | -48.7% |
| 1948 | 1.0% | -10.6% |
| 1949 | 1.1% | +9.8% |
| 1950 | 1.0% | -11.1% |
| 1951 | 2.1% | +118.8% |
| 1952 | 2.3% | +10.0% |
| 1953 | 2.2% | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 2.0% | -8.7% |
| 1955 | 1.8% | -12.7% |
| 1956 | 1.7% | -6.1% |
| 1957 | 1.6% | -2.1% |
| 1958 | 1.4% | -15.2% |
| 1959 | 1.3% | -5.0% |
| 1960 | 1.3% | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 1.3% | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 1.5% | +19.8% |
| 1963 | 1.4% | -5.2% |
| 1964 | 1.4% | -1.9% |
| 1965 | 1.4% | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 1.6% | +14.8% |
| 1967 | 1.7% | +8.2% |
| 1968 | 1.8% | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 1.7% | -3.5% |
| 1970 | 1.5% | -12.3% |
| 1971 | 1.3% | -12.5% |
| 1972 | 1.1% | -15.5% |
| 1973 | 1.0% | -5.9% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -10.0% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -6.4% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -9.0% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 1820s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.2% | 0.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.3% | 0.3% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More population data for United States of America
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in United States of America was 0.4% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7% in 1945.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1893.
- How does United States of America rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- United States of America ranks 55th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.