Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe, includes air defense), Joint Support Service (Streitkraeftebasis, SKB), Central Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst, ZSanDstBw), Cyber and Information Space Command (Kommando Cyber und Informationsraum, Kdo CIR) (2022)
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021)
1.5% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $60.1 billion)
1.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $55.4 billion)
note: in 2022, the German Government said defense spending would reach 2% of GDP by 2025
approximately 184,000 active duty personnel (63,000 Army; 16,000 Navy; 27,000 Air Force; 27,000 Joint Support Service; 20,000 Medical Service, 16,000 Cyber and Information Space Command; 15,000 other, including central staff, support, etc.) (2022)
note: Germany in 2020 announced it planned to increase the size of the military to about 200,000 troops by 2025
the German Federal Armed Forces inventory is comprised of weapons systems produced domestically or jointly with other European countries and Western imports, particularly from the US; since 2010, the US has been the leading foreign supplier; Germany's defense industry is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems, and is one of the world's leading arms exporters (2022)
17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); conscription ended July 2011; service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years; women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001 (2022)
note: in 2021, women accounted for about 12% of the German military
up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 1,030 Lithuania (NATO); up to 1,400 Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM); 280 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)
note 1: in November 2022, Germany pledged to withdraw its troops from Mali by Spring 2024
note 2: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Germany, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
the Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in May 1955; with the reunification of Germany in October 1990, the states of the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany in its membership of NATO
the German Army has incorporated a joint Franco-German mechanized infantry brigade since 1989, a Dutch airmobile infantry brigade since 2014, and a Dutch mechanized infantry brigade since 2016; in addition, the German Navy’s Sea Battalion (includes marine infantry, naval divers, reconnaissance, and security forces) has worked closely with the Dutch Marine Corps since 2016, including as a binational amphibious landing group (2022)
NOTE: The information regarding Germany on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Germany 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Germany 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
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