China vs United Kingdom: Armed forces, share of workers

Armed forces, share of workers in 2020: 0.33% of the labour force in China and 0.45% of the labour force in United Kingdom, by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by 0.11 percentage points, or 1.34 times that in China.

Watch it change on the map

% of the labour force · IISS

ChinaUnited KingdomWorld

What the numbers say

United Kingdom has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1990.
In 2020, China ranked 142 and United Kingdom ranked 121 of 168 countries, counting from the highest.
The world as a whole: 0.79% of the labour force in 2020.

Every year

% of the labour force · IISS

Year	China	United Kingdom	World
2020	0.33	0.45	0.79
2019	0.33	0.44	0.79
2018	0.35	0.44	0.8
2017	0.35	0.44	0.8
2016	0.35	0.45	0.81
2015	0.36	0.46	0.82
2014	0.38	0.47	0.82
2013	0.38	0.49	0.83
2012	0.38	0.52	0.87
2011	0.38	0.52	0.88
2010	0.38	0.55	0.89
2009	0.38	0.56	0.89
2008	0.37	0.51	0.89
2007	0.38	0.51	0.89
2006	0.47	0.58	0.95
2005	0.5	0.71	0.96
2004	0.5	0.68	0.94
2003	0.51	0.71	0.98
2002	0.52	0.71	1
2001	0.53	0.72	1.01
2000	0.55	0.73	1.07
1999	0.55	0.75	1.09
1998	0.55	0.76	1.13
1997	0.53	0.76	1.15
1996	0.61	0.78	1.18
1995	0.62	0.82	1.2
1994	0.44	0.91	0.94
1993	0.46	0.96	0.98
1992	0.48	1.03	1.03
1991	0.5	1.05	1.03
1990	0.55	1.07	1.11

Each country on its own

Good to know

Active-duty military personnel as a share of everyone working or looking for work, by the IISS Military Balance.
Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
Ranks count the 168 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

China vs United Kingdom: Armed forces, share of workers

What the numbers say

Every year

Each country on its own

Good to know

China vs United Kingdom

Health

People

Economy

Education

Politics

Conflict

Military

Climate

Technology and environment