Brussels – What is the size of the armed forces in Europe? Drawing on the latest data published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), it is possible to estimate the strength of both NATO and non-NATO forces across EU and non-EU countries, including both active and reserve personnel.
Of the approximately 3.65 million NATO active personnel, 1,315,600 are from the United States and 1,285,970 from the 23 EU member states that are also part of the Alliance – excluding Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta. Reserve personnel in EU NATO member states amount to 942,850, exceeding that of the United States (799,500) by more than 100,000.
Within the European Union, the largest active forces are those of France (203,900), Germany (179,850), Poland (164,100), and Italy (160,400). With the exception of Greece, Romania, and Spain, all other EU countries fall below 40,000.
Among non-EU NATO members, excluding the United States, Türkiye has the largest armed forces, with 355,000 active personnel and 380,000 reserves. The United Kingdom follows with 150,000, while Canada (62,300), Norway (24,000), and the three Balkan members – Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia – trail far behind.
Finally, the European non-NATO members. The four EU countries outside the Alliance maintain relatively small armed forces – Austria has the largest, with 22,500 personnel – alongside the EU candidate countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo and Serbia) and other non-EU European states.
Ukraine is a notable exception, having become the second-largest military force in Europe, with 677,000 active personnel following the mobilisation that came after the Russian invasion in 2022.
Only Russia can field a larger force. With 1,264,000 active personnel and approximately 2 million reserves, its military is potentially larger than that of the United States but comparable to the combined forces of EU–NATO members, Ukraine, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom.
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