Abigail Tierney
Research expert covering U.S. politics and economics
Armed forces of the U.S. - statistics & facts
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The United States spent over 2,000 U.S. dollars per person on its military in 2023. With total spending reaching 916 billion U.S. dollars, the United States was the highest military spender worldwide. As it stands, it will not lose its position anytime soon. According to estimates, the country’s military expenditure will continue to grow throughout the next decade, exceeding one trillion U.S. dollars by 2029. The U.S. also ranks high in terms of manpower, with about 1.3 million active military personnel in 2024.
br> Despite this trend, belief in the U.S. as the world’s top military power has remained strong, with almost two-thirds of Americans viewing the U.S. as the leading global military force. As the U.S. military continues to grow in both size and spending, its ability to adapt to changing public perceptions and global dynamics will shape its future role on the world stage.
Where the military stands today
The United States military consists of different service branches, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The Army, the oldest branch of the military, also happens to be the service branch with the most personnel, with almost 450,000 active members. The United States and its territories had 1.1 million active-duty military personnel around the world, with most of them stationed in the United States. California is home to the most active-duty members within the U.S., with 156,000 stationed personnel in 2023. There were significantly fewer personnel deployed in other parts of the world, with over 80,000 in East Asia and 65,000 in Europe.Diversity in the ranks
While the military continues to diversify, disparities persist in representation across gender and ethnicity. In 2023, female officers were significantly outnumbered by their male counterparts, particularly in the Marine Corps, where there were 19,000 male officers compared to only 2,000 female officers. However, progress is evident in some branches, with women comprising 24 percent of active-duty officers in the Air Force and 21 percent in the Navy. While the majority of active-duty personnel are white, Black or African American personnel make up a substantial portion of active-duty forces relative to the country’s population.Trust in the armed forces
While political divides exist across many issues, both Democrats and Republicans have expressed relatively high levels of confidence in the U.S. military, pointing to its status as a unifying institution in an often-polarized political landscape. However, confidence in the U.S. military has been steadily declining in recent years for various reasons. A 2024 survey revealed 61 percent of Americans expressed significant trust in the military, down from 82 percent in 2009.br> Despite this trend, belief in the U.S. as the world’s top military power has remained strong, with almost two-thirds of Americans viewing the U.S. as the leading global military force. As the U.S. military continues to grow in both size and spending, its ability to adapt to changing public perceptions and global dynamics will shape its future role on the world stage.
Abigail Tierney
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Feb 10, 2025
Abigail Tierney
Research expert covering U.S. politics and economics
