Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (2024)

Table of Contents
Demographic breakdown Public opinion Key insights Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic Further recommended statistics Overview Overview Budget and costs Budget and costs Inventory Inventory Personnel Personnel Diversity Diversity Stationing and combat Stationing and combat FAQs References
  • ›

data-vue-regional-dropdown aria-hidden="true">

In 2022, the United States spent 877 billion U.S. dollars on its military, making it the country with the highest military spending worldwide, by a significant margin. China was ranked second, having spent nearly 300 billion U.S. dollars on their military.

As it seems, the U.S. will not lose its ranking anytime soon. The U.S. military spending is predicted to increase steadily until 2033, and estimates suggest that defense spending will exceed one trillion U.S. dollars by 2029.

The United States is also the world’s third largest army in terms of manpower, with about 1.4 million active military personnel in 2022. The United States military consists of different service branches, including the Army, Navy, Airforce, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The Army, which is the oldest branch of the U.S military, is also the service branch with the most personnel. In 2022, there were 461,657 active members in the U.S. Army. California is home to the most active duty members within the U.S., with 158,754 stationed personnel in 2021. As of 2022, the majority of U.S. active-duty military personnel around the world were stationed in the United States and its territories, with a total of 1.14 million. There were significantly less personnel deployed in other parts of the world, with 80,692 in East Asia and 65,769 in Europe.

Demographic breakdown

As of 2022, the vast majority of military personnel in active duty do not hold a college degree. As of 2022, 858,697 active members held a high school diploma, GED, or some college compared with 196,850 members holding a Bachelor’s degree. When observing the breakdown of race among the U.S. military, it appears relatively diverse compared to the population of the country as a whole. As of 2022, 897,340 active duty personnel were white, making up roughly 68.8 percent of the total number of personnel. The share of white active duty personnel is about 10 percent less than the share of white people making up the U.S. population. In the same year there were

.In the last few years there has been more diversity among enlisted women than men. As of 2019, 54 percent of active-duty enlisted women were white, whereas nearly 70 percent of enlisted men were white. Additionally, about 29 percent of enlisted women were black, compared to 17 percent of enlisted men who were black. While gender diversity within the military has increased, there remains stark differences between the occupational roles that men and women fill. In 2019,

25 percent of all active-duty enlisted women held administrative positions, a significantly greater share than among enlisted men.

Public opinion

According to a 2023 survey, 60 percent of respondents in the U.S. said they had either a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the military. Confidence levels have been steadily decreasing in the last years, with 82 percent reported in 2009. Despite steadily decreasing, the share of respondents reporting confidence in the military remains slightly higher than in 1975, when only 58 percent of Americans showed confidence in the military.

Although general confidence in the U.S. military appears to be decreasing, those who consider the U.S. as the primary global military power has been fluctuating in recent years. As of 2032, 63 percent believed the United States to be the number one military power in the world, whereas 34 percent of respondents said that the U.S. was only one of several global military powers. The year 2010 saw a peak in those who considered the U.S. as a superior military power, with 64 percent of respondents having claimed the United States to be the number one military power in the world.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Published by Statista Research Department, Jul 3, 2024

Key insights

U.S military aid to Ukraine
43.08bn USD

Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (1)

Detailed statistics

U.S. aid to Ukraine since Russian invasion 2022-2024, by type

Defense expenditure per capita
2,220 USD

Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (2)

Detailed statistics

U.S. government - defense expenditures per capita 1995-2023

Global ranking of the United States in defense spending
1

Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (3)

Detailed statistics

Countries with the highest military spending 2023

Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

National SecurityCountries with the highest military spending 2023
National SecurityU.S. number of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by age group
National SecurityU.S. defense outlays and forecast as a percentage of GDP 2000-2033

Further recommended statistics

Overview

4
  • Basic Statistic Countries with the highest military spending 2023
  • Premium Statistic Largest armies in the world by active military personnel 2024
  • Basic Statistic U.S. public confidence in the armed forces 1975-2023
  • Basic Statistic U.S. adults on military power 2023

Overview

  • Basic Statistic Countries with the highest military spending 2023

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (7)

    Countries with the highest military spending 2023

    Countries with the highest military spending worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic Largest armies in the world by active military personnel 2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (8)

    Largest armies in the world by active military personnel 2024

    Largest armies in the world ranked by active military personnel as of January 2024 (in 1,000s)

  • Basic Statistic U.S. public confidence in the armed forces 1975-2023

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (9)

    U.S. public confidence in the armed forces 1975-2023

    Public confidence levels in the United States armed forces from 1975 to 2023

  • Basic Statistic U.S. adults on military power 2023

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (10)

    U.S. adults on military power 2023

    Do you think the United States is the No. 1 in the world militarily, or that it is one of several leading military powers?

    See Also
    United States Army | History, Generals, Battles, Flag, Structure, & Facts

Budget and costs

8
  • Basic Statistic U.S. defense outlays and forecast 2000-2034
  • Basic Statistic U.S. defense outlays and forecast as a percentage of GDP 2000-2033
  • Basic Statistic U.S. government - defense expenditures per capita 1995-2023
  • Premium Statistic U.S. armed forces budget and outlays estimates 2024
  • Premium Statistic U.S armed forces budget plan for 2024, by department and appropriation
  • Premium Statistic U.S. Army and overseas operations budget FY 2001-2024
  • Premium Statistic U.S. budget of the Navy and Marine Corps 2001-2024
  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force budget FY 2007- FY 2024

Budget and costs

  • Basic Statistic U.S. defense outlays and forecast 2000-2034

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (11)

    U.S. defense outlays and forecast 2000-2034

    Defense outlays and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2034 (in billion U.S. dollars)

  • Basic Statistic U.S. defense outlays and forecast as a percentage of GDP 2000-2033

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (12)

    U.S. defense outlays and forecast as a percentage of GDP 2000-2033

    Defense outlays and forecast of the United States from 2000 to 2033 (as a percentage of gross domestic product)

  • Basic Statistic U.S. government - defense expenditures per capita 1995-2023

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (13)

    U.S. government - defense expenditures per capita 1995-2023

    Per capita defense expenditure of the United States from 1995 to 2023 (in 2015 U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic U.S. armed forces budget and outlays estimates 2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (14)

    U.S. armed forces budget and outlays estimates 2024

    Budget and outlays estimates of the U.S. armed forces for the fiscal year of 2024, by military department (in billion U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic U.S armed forces budget plan for 2024, by department and appropriation

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (15)

    U.S armed forces budget plan for 2024, by department and appropriation

    Budget plan of the United States armed forces for the fiscal year of 2024, by military department and appropriation title (in million U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic U.S. Army and overseas operations budget FY 2001-2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (16)

    U.S. Army and overseas operations budget FY 2001-2024

    Budget of the United States Army including overseas operations from fiscal year 2001 to 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic U.S. budget of the Navy and Marine Corps 2001-2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (17)

    U.S. budget of the Navy and Marine Corps 2001-2024

    Budget of the Navy and the Marine Corps in the United States from fiscal year 2001 to 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force budget FY 2007- FY 2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (18)

    U.S. Air Force budget FY 2007- FY 2024

    Budget of the United States Air Force from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Inventory

5
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total deployable battle force ships of the Navy 2011-2024
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total aircraft force (includes ICBMs) of the Air Force 2002-2022
  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force total aircraft fleet FY 2020-2023 by type
  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force total number of fighters and bombers 2022, by type
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total aircraft inventory of the Navy FY 2022-2024, by type

Inventory

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total deployable battle force ships of the Navy 2011-2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (19)

    U.S. total deployable battle force ships of the Navy 2011-2024

    Total deployable battle force ships of the United States Navy for the fiscal years 2011 to 2024, by ship type

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total aircraft force (includes ICBMs) of the Air Force 2002-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (20)

    U.S. total aircraft force (includes ICBMs) of the Air Force 2002-2022

    Total aircraft force (includes ICBMs) of the United States Air Force for fiscal years 2002 to 2022

  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force total aircraft fleet FY 2020-2023 by type

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (21)

    U.S. Air Force total aircraft fleet FY 2020-2023 by type

    Total aircraft force of the United States Air Force for the fiscal year 2020 to 2023, by type

  • Premium Statistic U.S. Air Force total number of fighters and bombers 2022, by type

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (22)

    U.S. Air Force total number of fighters and bombers 2022, by type

    Total number of fighters and bombers in the active inventory of the United States Air Force for fiscal year 2022, by type

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total aircraft inventory of the Navy FY 2022-2024, by type

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (23)

    U.S. total aircraft inventory of the Navy FY 2022-2024, by type

    Total aircraft inventory of the United States Navy from the fiscal year of 2022 to 2024, by type

Personnel

12
  • Basic Statistic U.S. Active duty Department of Defense personnel numbers 1995-2022
  • Basic Statistic U.S. total Department of Defense Reserve personnel 1995-2022
  • Basic Statistic U.S. military force numbers 2022, by service branch and reserve component
  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Army personnel numbers 1995-2022
  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Navy personnel from 1995-2022
  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Air Force personnel 1995-2022
  • Basic Statistic U.S. number of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by age group
  • Basic Statistic U.S. education level of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Navy FY 2022-2024, by rank
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Air Force FY 2022-2024, by rank
  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Army FY 2022-2024, by rank
  • Premium Statistic U.S. basic monthly pay for officers and enlisted members of the armed forces 2024

Personnel

  • Basic Statistic U.S. Active duty Department of Defense personnel numbers 1995-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (24)

    U.S. Active duty Department of Defense personnel numbers 1995-2022

    Total active duty United States Department of Defense personnel numbers from 1995 to 2022

  • Basic Statistic U.S. total Department of Defense Reserve personnel 1995-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (25)

    U.S. total Department of Defense Reserve personnel 1995-2022

    Total United States Department of Defense Selected Reserve personnel numbers from 1995 to 2022

  • Basic Statistic U.S. military force numbers 2022, by service branch and reserve component

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (26)

    U.S. military force numbers 2022, by service branch and reserve component

    Active and reserve United States military force personnel in 2022, by service branch and reserve component

  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Army personnel numbers 1995-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (27)

    U.S. active duty Army personnel numbers 1995-2022

    Active Duty United States Army personnel from 1995 to 2022

  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Navy personnel from 1995-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (28)

    U.S. active duty Navy personnel from 1995-2022

    Active Duty United States Navy personnel from 1995 to 2022

  • Basic Statistic U.S. active duty Air Force personnel 1995-2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (29)

    U.S. active duty Air Force personnel 1995-2022

    Active Duty United States Air Force personnel from 1995 to 2022

  • Basic Statistic U.S. number of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by age group

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (30)

    U.S. number of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by age group

    Number of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2022, by age group

  • Basic Statistic U.S. education level of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (31)

    U.S. education level of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022

    Education level of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2022

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Navy FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (32)

    U.S. total military personnel Navy FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Total military personnel of the United States Navy from the fiscal year of 2022 to 2024, by rank

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Air Force FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (33)

    U.S. total military personnel Air Force FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Total military personnel of the United States Air Force for the fiscal years 2022 to 2024, by rank

  • Premium Statistic U.S. total military personnel Army FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (34)

    U.S. total military personnel Army FY 2022-2024, by rank

    Total military personnel of the United States Army for fiscal years 2022 to 2024, by rank

  • Premium Statistic U.S. basic monthly pay for officers and enlisted members of the armed forces 2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (35)

    U.S. basic monthly pay for officers and enlisted members of the armed forces 2024

    Basic monthly pay for officers and enlisted members of the United States armed forces in 2024, by years of service (in U.S. dollars)

Diversity

5
  • Basic Statistic U.S. gender distribution of DoD Officers 2022, by service branch
  • Basic Statistic U.S. military active duty officers 2022, by gender and service branch
  • Basic Statistic U.S. occupational roles of women and men in the military 2019
  • Premium Statistic U.S. number of DoD active duty personnel 2022, by race
  • Basic Statistic U.S. distribution of race and ethnicity among the military 2019

Diversity

  • Basic Statistic U.S. gender distribution of DoD Officers 2022, by service branch

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (36)

    U.S. gender distribution of DoD Officers 2022, by service branch

    Gender distribution of active duty officers in the United States Department of Defense in 2022, by service branch

  • Basic Statistic U.S. military active duty officers 2022, by gender and service branch

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (37)

    U.S. military active duty officers 2022, by gender and service branch

    Distribution of commissioned active duty officers in the United States military in 2022, by gender and service branch

  • Basic Statistic U.S. occupational roles of women and men in the military 2019

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (38)

    U.S. occupational roles of women and men in the military 2019

    Occupational roles of women and men in the United States military in 2019

  • Premium Statistic U.S. number of DoD active duty personnel 2022, by race

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (39)

    U.S. number of DoD active duty personnel 2022, by race

    Number of United States Department of Defense active duty personnel in 2022, by race

  • Basic Statistic U.S. distribution of race and ethnicity among the military 2019

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (40)

    U.S. distribution of race and ethnicity among the military 2019

    Distribution of active-duty enlisted women and men in the United States military in 2019, by race and ethnicity

Stationing and combat

5
  • Basic Statistic U.S. stationing of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by state
  • Basic Statistic Deployment of U.S. troops in selected world regions 2023
  • Basic Statistic Fallen American soldiers in Iraq up to 2020
  • Basic Statistic Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan 2001-2021
  • Basic Statistic Number of United States military fatalities in major wars 1775-2024

Stationing and combat

  • Basic Statistic U.S. stationing of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by state

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (41)

    U.S. stationing of active duty Armed Forces personnel 2022, by state

    Geographic stationing of active duty United States Armed Forces personnel in 2022, by U.S. state

  • Basic Statistic Deployment of U.S. troops in selected world regions 2023

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (42)

    Deployment of U.S. troops in selected world regions 2023

    Deployment of U.S. active-duty military & civilian personnel around the world as of September 2023, by selected regions

  • Basic Statistic Fallen American soldiers in Iraq up to 2020

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (43)

    Fallen American soldiers in Iraq up to 2020

    Number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war from 2003 to 2020

  • Basic Statistic Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan 2001-2021

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (44)

    Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan 2001-2021

    Number of fatalities among Western coalition soldiers involved in the execution of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2021

  • Basic Statistic Number of United States military fatalities in major wars 1775-2024

    Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (45)

    Number of United States military fatalities in major wars 1775-2024

    Number of military fatalities in all major wars involving the United States from 1775 to 2024

Topic: Armed Forces of the U.S. (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 armed forces of the US? ›

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard are the armed forces of the United States. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority.

Find Out More ›
What is the purpose of the US Armed Forces? ›

We Are Your Defense

Our mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.

Tell Me More ›
What is the hardest US military to get into? ›

The Air Force, for example, is often cited as the hardest military branch to get into due to its high academic standards and a strong focus on technology and aviation.

Keep Reading ›
Can I join the military at 55 years old? ›

Age limits

Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 41. Marine Corps: 17 - 28. Navy: 17 - 41.

Get More Info ›
What are the 4 types of military? ›

The US military has five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. As shown in the graphic below, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are housed under the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD is headed by The Secretary of Defense, a civilian appointed by the President.

Find Out More ›
What is the Big 5 Army? ›

Americas preeminent ground combat capability is the result of the Big Five acquisition that produced the Abrams main battle tank, the Bradley fighting vehicle, the Apache attack helicopter, the Black Hawk utility helicopter, and the Patriot air defense missile system.

Read More ›
What are 3 benefits to being in the US military? ›

Intangible qualities like leadership, comraderie, discipline and determination are perhaps the most rewarding of all military benefits. Still, it's nice to know that service in the Military comes with tangible benefits too, including education, medical/dental care, 30 days of paid vacation, travel discounts and more.

Get More Info ›
What military branch pays the most? ›

On average, however, the Air Force is the military branch that has the highest pay because, in the Air Force, there are more opportunities to be promoted to the next rank, which leads to many recruits becoming officers. This, in turn, increases the average salary a little bit compared to the other military branches.

Keep Reading ›
Who has the biggest military? ›

China has the largest standing army, with over 2 million active personnel. With increasing defense spending over the last decades, the country also ranks third in the number of tanks and second in the number of aircraft carriers in service.

Discover More ›
What is the safest military branch? ›

The primary mission of the Coast Guard is to protect domestic waterways. What is the safest military branch? The Space Force is the safest military branch in terms of man-to-man combat and machine-to-machine accidents.

View Details ›

Who is the toughest US soldier? ›

David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL and is the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training (including two Hell Weeks), the U.S. Army Ranger School (where he graduated as Enlisted Honor Man) and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.

Read More ›
Is a navy seal harder than a Marine? ›

Training to become a SEAL is an order of magnitude more difficult than the Marine bootcamp. The drop out rate for SEAL classes is usually around 80 percent. Officers and enlisted men train side-by-side. However, this program is not open to women.

Know More ›
Which US military branch is the best? ›

The Marine Corps is known for being the most elite and intense branch of the military. They are often the first to respond to any crisis, and they have a reputation for being fearless and tough.

Read The Full Story ›
Is 52 too old to join the Army? ›

To join as a soldier, the upper age limit for enlistment is the day before the candidate's 43rd birthday. Rejoiners can still join as a soldier until their 52nd birthday, and as an officer (if they have previously commissioned) until their 57th birthday.

Discover More ›
Is 60 too old to join the military? ›

In general, the Defense Department restricts enlistment to those 35 and younger. Prior enlisted service members can subtract their previous years of service from their age in order to extend eligibility. For example, the current age cutoff in the Air Force is 39.

Read More ›
What are the 5 armed forces pillars? ›

The five pillars are organized in the Department of Defense order of precedence: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force/Space Force and Coast Guard. On November 11, 2021, the Space Force was officially recognized as the sixth service branch under the Air Force command.

Get More Info Here ›
Who are the top five military forces? ›

List of the Top 10 Countries With Most Powerful Military 2024
RankRank & NationTotal Military Personnel (est)
1United States2,127,500
2Russia3,570,000
3China3,170,000
4India5,137,550
6 more rows
Jan 17, 2024

Read On ›
Are there 4 or 5 branches of the military? ›

Six branches make up the armed forces of the United States. Find out about each branch's mission and history. Use resources from the National Archives to research the history of the U.S. military.

Find Out More ›
What is the Air Force equivalent of Navy SEALs? ›

* PJs and CROs are the Air Force's equivalent of Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs: highly trained and motivated specialists who endure an incredibly grueling training process to earn the right to wear the distinctive flash on their hard earned beret.

Explore More ›

References

Top Articles
Kappa Delta Pi.Pdf - eBook and Manual Free download
o2 Rechnung online einsehen und Zahlungen verwalten
Webscheduler Centracare
Town Of Amherst Ny Taxes
Best Dating Apps And Sites For Serious Relationships Of 2024
Best Dating Sites
Sigalert Com Inland Empire
Sd Zillow
UltiPro | Human Capital Management for Your Global Workforce
Ultibro® Breezhaler®, 85 Mikrogramm / 43 Mikrogramm, Hartkapseln mit Pulver zur Inhalation - PatientenInfo-Service
Mein erster Number Cake zum 30. Geburtstag - Meine Torteria
Bestes Number Cake Rezept - Zahlenkuchen - so einfach geht der Kuchentrend « Castlemaker Foodblog & Lifestyle Magazin
Latest Posts
Scammers and Fake Banks
Deposit Receipt - PDF Templates | Jotform
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6436

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.