The number of civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence has fallen by more than half over the past three decades, according to new figures released in response to a parliamentary question.
In a written answer to Conservative MP James Cartlidge on 11 July, Defence Minister Al Carns provided a full breakdown of the MOD’s civil service workforce from 1995 to 2025. At the start of the period, on 1 April 1995, the department employed 121,654 staff on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis, with a headcount of 123,776.
By 1 April 2025, that figure had fallen to 55,802 FTE and 57,854 in headcount terms, a reduction of more than 53 per cent. The steepest reductions occurred during the early 2010s. Between 2010 and 2014 alone, the FTE total fell from 75,651 to 55,509, a loss of over 20,000 positions in just four years.
The figures include civilian personnel in Executive Agencies and predecessor organisations, as well as Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff. RFA personnel were counted from 1999 onwards. Locally engaged civilians, who are employed on separate terms and conditions, are not included in the totals.
Despite a gradual rise in numbers between 2017 and 2024, the latest data for April 2025 shows a renewed decline in civilian staffing. The MOD had 57,875 staff in April 2024, 2,073 more than the current headcount.
Here’s the table from the MOD response.
| Date | FTE (Total) | Headcount (Total) |
| 01/04/1995 | 121,654 | 123,776 |
| 01/04/1996 | 116,093 | 118,183 |
| 01/04/1997 | 115,260 | 117,379 |
| 01/04/1998 | 108,772 | 110,804 |
| 01/04/1999 | 108,143 | 110,254 |
| 01/04/2000 | 106,430 | 108,622 |
| 01/04/2001 | 104,823 | 107,083 |
| 01/04/2002 | 95,976 | 98,242 |
| 01/04/2003 | 93,737 | 96,002 |
| 01/04/2004 | 93,619 | 95,647 |
| 01/04/2005 | 92,812 | 94,815 |
| 01/04/2006 | 88,832 | 91,007 |
| 01/04/2007 | 83,843 | 86,289 |
| 01/04/2008 | 78,260 | 80,589 |
| 01/04/2009 | 76,072 | 78,357 |
| 01/04/2010 | 75,651 | 77,986 |
| 01/04/2011 | 72,486 | 74,782 |
| 01/04/2012 | 61,621 | 63,445 |
| 01/04/2013 | 57,148 | 58,772 |
| 01/04/2014 | 55,509 | 57,134 |
| 01/04/2015 | 53,143 | 54,749 |
| 01/04/2016 | 51,896 | 53,455 |
| 01/04/2017 | 52,430 | 54,065 |
| 01/04/2018 | 52,641 | 54,345 |
| 01/04/2019 | 53,509 | 55,324 |
| 01/04/2020 | 54,665 | 56,579 |
| 01/04/2021 | 56,291 | 58,234 |
| 01/04/2022 | 56,123 | 58,021 |
| 01/04/2023 | 56,849 | 58,770 |
| 01/04/2024 | 57,875 | 59,859 |
| 01/04/2025 | 55,802 | 57,854 |
These figures show MOD civil servants, including personnel in Executive Agencies and their predecessor organisations, dating back to 1995.
The table includes personnel employed in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in support of Naval operations. These personnel are classified as civil servants for contractual purposes but exclude locally engaged civilians (LECs), who are employed under alternate terms and conditions. Please note that RFA data was not recorded in personnel numbers until 1 April 1999. RFA personnel are classified as Headcount personnel.
So has the Armed Forces, so whats the point of this story?, is it the Government trying claim they got numbers down, Its smoke and mirrors out of date bending the facts story. Trying to claim its was some ones idea, only reason there is less as there is less military.
I did a little online research and total regular numbers 1995 were 320,600. Now they are 147,300.
So MOD staff as a % of regulars in 1995 38%
MOD staff as a % of regulars in 2025 38 %
The fact that they have stayed constant for 30yrs under very different governments does suggest they have real jobs to do.
Part of the problem with getting parts is how few of them there are across so many projects.
You need a minimum sized team with the expertise.
Meanwhile the armed forces (are we still allowed to use forces?) have nigh on disappeared.
Even O rings and gaskets!