Active Duty Military Personnel, 1940–2011

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
Year Army Air Force Navy Marine Corps Total1
1940 269,023   160,997 28,345 458,365
1945 8,266,373   3,319,586 469,925 12,055,884
1950 593,167 411,277 380,739 74,279 1,459,462
1955 1,109,296 959,946 660,695 205,170 2,935,107
1960 873,078 814,752 616,987 170,621 2,475,438
1965 969,066 824,662 669,985 190,213 2,653,926
1970 1,322,548 791,349 691,126 259,737 3,064,760
1975 784,333 612,751 535,085 195,951 2,128,120
1980 777,036 557,969 527,153 188,469 2,050,627
1985 780,787 601,515 570,705 198,025 2,151,032
1990 732,403 535,233 579,417 196,652 2,043,705
1991 710,821 510,432 570,262 194,040 1,985,555
1992 610,450 470,315 541,886 184,529 1,807,177
1993 572,423 444,351 509,950 178,379 1,705,103
1994 541,343 426,327 468,662 174,158 1,610,490
1995 508,559 400,409 434,617 174,639 1,518,224
1996 491,103 389,001 416,735 174,883 1,471,722
1997 491,707 377,385 395,564 173,906 1,438,562
1998 483,880 367,470 382,338 173,142 1,406,830
1999 479,426 360,590 373,046 172,641 1,385,703
2000 482,170 355,654 373,193 173,321 1,384,338
2001 480,801 353,571 377,810 172,934 1,385,116
2002 486,542 368,251 385,051 173,733 1,413,577
2003 490,174 376,402 379,742 177,030 1,423,348
2004 494,112 369,523 370,445 177,207 1,411,287
2005 488,944 351,666 358,700 178,704 1,378,014
2006 (June) 496,362 352,620 353,496 178,923 1,381,401
2007 (Aug.) 519,471 337,312 338,671 184,574 1,380,082
2011 (Sept.) 565,463 333,370 325,123 201,157 1,468,364
NOTE: Figures for 1998 through August 2007 include cadets/midshipmen.
1. Military personnel on extended or continuous active duty. Excludes reserves on active duty for training.
Source: Department of Defense.

 

U.S. Military Ranks Military Personnel U.S. Military Personnel on Active Duty in Selected Regions/Countries

 

 
Military Personnel
Sources +