The UK Armed Forces currently have a combined full-time trained strength of 127,036 personnel, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Defence.
In response to a written question from Carla Lockhart MP of the Democratic Unionist Party, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Luke Pollard directed attention to the most recent personnel statistics, published on the government’s website.
Breakdown of Active Service Personnel
As of 1 January 2025, the UK Armed Forces’ Full-Time Trained Strength (FTTS) across all branches stood as follows:
- Royal Navy & Royal Marines: 28,085 personnel
- Army: 71,151 personnel
- Royal Air Force: 27,800 personnel
- Total Armed Forces: 127,036 personnel
These figures represent the number of fully trained and operational personnel available for deployment.
Reserve Forces Strength
Alongside full-time personnel, the UK’s reserve forces play a crucial role in national defence. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Trained Future Reserves 2020 Strength (FR20) numbers stand at:
- Total Reserves: 29,265 personnel
- Maritime Reserve: 2,610 personnel
- Army Reserve: 23,897 personnel
- Royal Air Force Reserve: 2,758 personnel
The latest personnel figures come as the UK Armed Forces continue efforts to modernise and address recruitment challenges. The Army has recently been working to stabilise numbers, while the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are investing in new capabilities to maintain operational readiness.
The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews personnel levels, ensuring the UK remains prepared for emerging threats while meeting international commitments. These figures are updated quarterly and can be accessed via the government’s official statistics page.
When I joined in 1983 the RAF was around 88,000. How times have changed.
When I joined the army in 1975, Regs were 180,000 strong of which 55,000 were in West Germany, 5,000 were in Berlin, about 15,000 in N. Ireland. TA was about 60,000. Things have certainly changed.
The real figure will be around 68k-69k once the Med Discharges/CDTs/NTTs filter through by the end of the year.
I think you spelt Andorra wrong.
The numbers are stark. How the mighty have fallen.
How can Gov even talk about deployments to Ukraine? They must be living in the past glory days!
Israel has a pupulation of about 7million, their defence budget in 2023 was roughly $25bn. For that the Israeli taxpayer gets 170,000 active personnel, 465,000 trained reservists, 2250 tanks, 530 artillery guns of 155mm and above, 340 combat aircraft, 150 attack helicopters, 5 submarines, 50 patrol and coastal ships and a highly effective air defence system based around their outstanding Iron Dome system
As a result the Israelis regularly wipe the floor with their adversaries.
The UK spent $68bn on defence in 2023. For that we have about 50 combat ready Challenger II tanks, about 100 guns, 50 attack helicopters, 30 combat ready Typhoon jets (and those without the latest radars), 25 F35b warplanes (with pilots in training) and roughly 14 frigates and destroyers – plus the carriers – which cannot operate without US Navy/Marines support. We also have six Astute subs with one in build – however only two or three are at sea at any one time due to shortages of RN sailors. And no homeland air defence system whatsoever.
We do, however have 65,000 MoD civil servants – only slightly less than the Army at 75,000. Clearly, our defence system needs root and branch reform to give us more bang for our buck
Israel spends over 5% of it GDP on defence ( and gets a big chuck of aid from the US) It would also seems that the avg Israeli army wage is USD35000 which is quite likely lower than the UK
The defence review needs a stepwise approach, rather than merely ordaining how things are going to be like previous ones.
We know budget will grow but won’t be hugely generous to start, so setting milestones like filling current capability gaps and starting to grow the regulars and reserv s should be the initial goal, inc more munitions and training facilities.
Later stages could add or increase capabilities (e.g. new or more platforms) and further grow the numbers to the overall end state.