Work · 50-STATE RANKING
Which states have the most Armed Forces personnel?
Compare armed forces personnel across all 50 states. Highest reported values appear first. Explore the full ranking, find your state, and share the comparison.
HIGHEST REPORTED148,959California
MIDDLE OF THE 50 STATES13,591.5Unweighted median of state values
MEASUREMENTCountPopulation size affects this ranking
READ THIS RANKING
These are reported personnel counts, not veteran counts or counts of military bases.
Where does your state stand?
2024 ACS · 5-YEAR50 states · ranks reflect highest reported values first · ties share a rank
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Supplied extract; descriptive ranks across 50 states.
Washington, D.C. & Puerto Rico · additional context
Shown separately because the main ranking compares the 50 states.
Puerto Rico ↗3,476