Defence Force facts and figures
Our Defence Force is comprised of more than 15,000 regular force personnel, reserves, and civilian employees, as set out in the following tables.
Information last updated: 30 June 2022
Total Defence Force Personnel (including Reservists) by Service and HQNZDF civilians
| Navy | Army | Air Force | Civilian | Total | ||||
| 2,830 | 18.6% | 6,584 | 43.3% | 2,831 | 18.6% | 2,946 | 19.4% | 15,191 |
NZDF headcount by service and arm
|
Service |
Defence |
Navy |
Army |
Air Force |
Total |
|
Regular Force |
- |
2,219 |
4,519 |
2,477 |
9,215 |
|
Reserve Force |
- |
611 |
2,065 |
354 |
3,030 |
|
Civilian |
2,946 |
- |
- |
- |
2,946 |
|
Total |
2,946 |
2,830 |
6,584 |
2,831 |
15,191 |
Regular Force headcount by gender and service
|
Gender |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Navy |
601 |
1,618 |
2,219 |
|
Army |
659 |
3,860 |
4,519 |
|
Air Force |
532 |
1,945 |
2,477 |
|
Total |
1,792 |
7,423 |
9,215 |
NZDF headcount by gender and arm
|
Gender |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Regular Force |
1,792 |
7,423 |
9,215 |
|
Non-regular Force |
546 |
2,484 |
3,030 |
|
Civilian |
1,318 |
1,628 |
2,946 |
|
Total |
3,656 |
11,535 |
15,191 |
Total Defence Force personnel by employment status
| Regular Force | 9,215 | 60.7% |
| Reserve Force | 3,030 | 19.9% |
| Civilian | 2,946 | 19.4% |
Defence Force gender breakdown
|
|
Regular Force |
Civilians |
Total |
|||
|
Male |
7,423 |
80.6% |
1,628 |
55.3% |
9,051 |
74.4% |
|
Female |
1,792 |
19.4% |
1,318 |
44.7% |
3,110 |
25.6% |
|
Total |
9,215 |
|
2,946 |
|
12,161 |
|
Defence Force Regular Force strength by year
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Navy |
2,116 |
2,116 |
2,117 |
2,184 |
2,268 |
2,334 |
2,219 |
|
Army |
4,523 |
4,595 |
4.673 |
4,655 |
4,637 |
4,848 |
4,519 |
|
Air Force |
2,646 |
2,497 |
2,554 |
2,489 |
2,542 |
2,541 |
2,477 |
|
TOTAL |
9,285 |
9,208 |
9,354 |
9,328 |
9,447 |
9,723 |
9,215 |
Defence Force Reserve Force strength by year
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Navy |
440 |
464 |
480 |
528 |
543 |
535 |
611 |
|
Army |
1,666 |
1,663 |
1,685 |
1,812 |
1,778 |
1,864 |
2,065 |
|
Air Force |
213 |
228 |
255 |
249 |
285 |
302 |
354 |
|
TOTAL |
2,319 |
2,355 |
2,420 |
2,589 |
2,606 |
2,701 |
3,030 |