Damon Mcknight
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is facing a decline in its workforce, with a 1.4% decrease in personnel over the last five years. In 2023, the Australian Army had over 27,000 personnel, a decrease from 29,923 in 2020. While the Army has struggled to retain skilled uniformed personnel, the RAAF has seen consistent growth, increasing its numbers by 5.8% since 2020. Despite these challenges, Defence has set a goal of 66,873 uniformed personnel for 2027-2028, with 32,174 projected to be in the Army.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current size of the Australian Army | 27,959 people in 2024, over 27,000 in 2023, 58,242 in 2024 |
| Australian Defence Force (ADF) size in 2023 | 57,218 full-time members |
| Australian Defence Force (ADF) size in 1983 | 62,429 members |
| Projected ADF size in 2027-2028 | 66,873 |
| Number of ADF veterans | 210,000 |
| Number of ADF veterans' dependants | 100,000 |
| Number of senior ADF officers | 219 |
| Number of ADF personnel per senior officer | 260 |
| ADF Chief of Defence's salary | over $1 million |
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What You'll Learn
- The Australian Defence Force (ADF) includes the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Second Australian Imperial Force, National Service and NORFORCE
- ADF workforce shrunk by 1.4% (867 people) over five years, despite favourable recruiting conditions
- The Australian Army has over 27,000 personnel, with 58 Brigadiers, 22 Major-Generals, 5 Lieutenant-Generals and one General
- The ADF has a growing number of senior officers, despite a decline in overall personnel numbers
- The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) supports 210,000 veterans and 100,000 dependants, but there is no comprehensive data on the total number of veterans in Australia
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) includes the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Second Australian Imperial Force, National Service and NORFORCE
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for defending Australia and its national interests. It consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The ADF also includes the Second Australian Imperial Force, National Service, and NORFORCE.
The ADF is relatively small compared to many other national militaries, with just over 90,000 personnel as of 2020. This includes 57,346 full-time active-duty personnel and 32,049 active reservists as of 30 June 2023, making it the largest military in Oceania. However, compared to its regional neighbours and several NATO countries, the number of personnel in the ADF is proportionally smaller relative to the population of Australia. This is partly due to Australia's relatively small population and the ADF's focus on a maritime strategy centred on the RAN and RAAF rather than a large ground force.
The Royal Australian Navy, the naval branch of the ADF, operates nearly 50 warships, including destroyers, frigates, submarines, patrol boats, and auxiliary ships. It also maintains a fleet of helicopters for combat, logistics, and training. The Navy's structure consists of an operational command, Fleet Command, and a support command, Navy Strategic Command. The Navy's assets are organised into five "forces" reporting to the Commander Australian Fleet: the Fleet Air Arm, Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving, Hydrographic, Meteorological and Patrol Force, Shore Force, Submarine Force, and Surface Force.
The Australian Army, established in 1901 along with the amalgamation of colonial forces, is one of the ADF's three branches. It includes Regional Force Surveillance Units such as NORFORCE and the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, which are primarily staffed by Indigenous Australian reservists. The Army's largest base is located in Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland, with 4,960 regular service members and 565 reservists as of the 2021 Census.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the ADF. While specific details about its structure and capabilities were not readily available, it is a component of the ADF's tri-service structure and contributes to Australia's defence capabilities.
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ADF workforce shrunk by 1.4% (867 people) over five years, despite favourable recruiting conditions
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) comprises the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Second Australian Imperial Force, National Service, and NORFORCE. The ADF faced a decline in its workforce, shrinking by 1.4% (867 people) over five years, despite favourable recruiting conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath significantly impacted the ADF's workforce. During the pandemic, unemployment was high, and people were confined to their homes, reconsidering their career choices. These conditions presented an opportunity for the ADF to boost its numbers. However, the ADF's recruiting performance did not meet the expected increase in personnel. While there was a modest boost, it fell short of the required 14.8% growth over four years. The ADF's workforce stood at 60,486 in 2021, but this number decreased in the following years as experienced personnel, particularly in the Army and RAN, left the force.
The ADF has consistently struggled to meet its recruitment targets. In 2024, the ADF was 4,308 people below its authorised strength, and in 2025, it enlisted 7,059 full-time personnel, falling short of its target of 8,105. The ADF's recruitment challenges are attributed to a highly competitive national labour market and low unemployment rates, making it difficult to attract individuals with the required skill sets.
To address the shortfall, the ADF has implemented several strategies. These include targeted social media campaigns aimed at younger Australians, advertising on TikTok and in video games, and recruiting from overseas, particularly from Five Eyes partner countries. Despite these efforts, the ADF's workforce continues to decline, and it remains to be seen whether these initiatives will successfully reverse the trend and meet future recruitment targets.
The Australian Army, a component of the ADF, has experienced a notable decrease in personnel. Between 2020 and 2024, the Army's numbers shrunk by 6.5%, from 29,923 to 27,959 people. This decline further highlights the challenges faced by the ADF in attracting and retaining personnel, particularly in a competitive labour market with low unemployment.
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The Australian Army has over 27,000 personnel, with 58 Brigadiers, 22 Major-Generals, 5 Lieutenant-Generals and one General
The Australian Army is facing a decline in its workforce. In 2020, the Army had 29,923 personnel, but this number had decreased to 27,959 by 2024. This is part of a wider trend of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) struggling to attract and retain skilled uniformed personnel. The ADF's current workforce stands at around 58,242 people, a 1.4% reduction from five years ago.
Despite the overall decline in personnel, the number of senior officers in the ADF has almost doubled over the past twenty years. The Australian Army, which has over 27,000 personnel, includes 58 Brigadiers, 22 Major-Generals, 5 Lieutenant-Generals, and one General, Angus Campbell, who serves as Chief of Defence. This means that for every senior officer, there are just 260 lower-ranked officers or regular personnel serving below them.
The top-heavy nature of the ADF has been criticised by Greens Senator and Defence spokesperson David Shoebridge, who said:
> When you have so much gold braid and so few troops it feels like a satire, not a military.
The ADF's Chief of Defence will collect a salary of over $1 million this year, which is far higher than the salary of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States ($329,304) and the UK Chief of the Defence Staff (£534,509).
The ADF has a forecast demand for 66,873 uniformed personnel for 2027-2028, representing a 14.8% increase from the current workforce. However, the ADF's recruiting performance over the last five years has cast doubt on its ability to meet this goal.
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The ADF has a growing number of senior officers, despite a decline in overall personnel numbers
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is facing a unique challenge, with a growing number of senior officers coupled with an overall decline in personnel numbers. This trend has led to concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of the ADF's operations and decision-making capabilities.
According to recent research, the ADF now has 219 "star-ranked" officers, which is a significant increase from 119 in 2003. This includes the top brass of the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force. For example, the Royal Australian Navy currently has 68 senior officers, including Commodores, Rear Admirals, and Vice-Admirals. The Australian Army, with over 27,000 personnel, has 58 Brigadiers, 22 Major-Generals, 5 Lieutenant-Generals, and one General, Angus Campbell, who serves as the Chief of Defence. Similarly, the Royal Australian Air Force boasts 50 Air Commodores, 14 Air Vice-Marshals, and two Air Marshals.
In contrast, the overall ADF personnel numbers have declined. In 1983, the ADF had 62,429 full-time members. However, in 2023, this number dropped to 57,218, with a further projected decline in 2024. The Army, in particular, has seen a notable decrease, shrinking by 6.5% from 2020 to 2024, with a current strength of around 27,959 personnel.
The ADF's goal of achieving a workforce of 66,873 personnel by 2027-2028 seems ambitious, especially considering the tight labour market and the specific skilled workers they require. The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted recruitment, and the ADF's workforce has shrunk by around 1.4% over the last five years.
The "'top-heavy' nature of the ADF has been criticised by Greens Senator and Defence spokesperson David Shoebridge, who has questioned the effectiveness of having a large number of senior officers relative to enlisted members. This trend raises important questions about the ADF's strategy and its ability to respond to evolving security challenges.
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The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) supports 210,000 veterans and 100,000 dependants, but there is no comprehensive data on the total number of veterans in Australia
The size of the Australian military in 2017 was 58,000, a slight increase from 2016. This number includes active-duty military personnel and paramilitary forces.
While there is no comprehensive data on the total number of veterans in Australia, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) supports around 210,000 veterans and an additional 100,000 dependants. The 2021 Census was the first to include a question about defence force service, which will provide the DVA with more accurate information on the number of veterans in Australia. This information will help the DVA and other organisations provide better support and services to veterans and their families.
The 2021 Census revealed that there were over half a million Australians (581,139) who have served or are currently serving in the ADF, with 84,865 current serving members and 496,276 former serving members. This data also showed that 13.4% of the veteran population is female, and the largest age group for veterans is 65-74 years, 90% of whom are male.
Townsville, the site of the country's largest Army base, is home to the most veterans (8,700) and current serving ADF members (5,500).
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian Army has more than 27,000 personnel as of 2024, down from 29,923 in 2020.
Defence has projected a demand for 32,174 army personnel by 2027-2028, representing a significant increase from the current numbers.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) currently has 219 senior officers for every 260 regular personnel serving below them, a ratio described as "top-heavy" by critics.
