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Marine Corps vs Navy: size, officers, women and pay compared
A data comparison of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy from official Defense Manpower Data Center counts and the 2026 DFAS pay tables. It covers personnel, not combat capability or culture.
Data vintage: DMDC counts as of July 31, 2026 (year-earlier July 2025, state counts August 31, 2026); DFAS pay effective January 1, 2026. Last checked 2026-10-27 by The CompareTheData team.
Data: DMDC and DFAS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Key takeaways
- The Navy is larger: 352,749 active-duty members vs 170,956 for the Marine Corps (2.1 times the size), as of July 31, 2026.
- The Marine Corps has 6.9 enlisted members per officer; the Navy has 5.1.
- Women make up 10.4% of the Marine Corps and 22.4% of the Navy.
- Over the past year the Marine Corps changed by −112 and the Navy by +13,924.
- Basic pay is identical: an E-4 with over 2 years earns $3,303.00 a month and an O-3 with over 4 years $7,382.70 in either branch (2026 DFAS tables). Housing allowance depends on location and dependents, not branch.
- Both belong to the Department of the Navy. The Marine Corps is a separate service with its own commandant, and Navy corpsmen and chaplains serve with Marine units.
Marine Corps vs Navy by the numbers
| Measure | Marine Corps | Navy |
|---|---|---|
| Active-duty members | 170,956 | 352,749 |
| Officers | 21,694 | 57,201 |
| Enlisted | 149,262 | 291,093 |
| Enlisted per officer | 6.9 | 5.1 |
| Generals / admirals | 98 | 207 |
| Women (share of officers and enlisted) | 10.4% | 22.4% |
| Women among officers | 10.9% | 22.8% |
| Change from July 2025 | −112 | +13,924 |
| Change since FY1994 | −1.9% | −24.6% |
| Installations in our base directory | 12 | 24 |
Marine Corps vs Navy size over time
The Marine Corps peaked at 203,075 in FY2009 and the Navy at 174,217 in FY1994 within this period.
Organization
The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy and the Navy the Department of the Navy, both under the Department of Defense.
How to read these numbers
- Totals include academy cadets and midshipmen (0 for the Marine Corps, 4,455 for the Navy). Guard, reserve and civilian employees are not included.
- Base counts reflect the 119 installations in our directory; joint bases count for each service that runs them.
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Marine Corps or the Navy?
The Navy, with 352,749 active-duty members against 170,956 for the Marine Corps (DMDC, July 31, 2026).
Does the Marine Corps pay more than the Navy?
No. All services use the same DFAS basic pay table, and housing (BAH) and subsistence (BAS) allowances follow the same rules. Special and incentive pays (for example flight, sea or dive pay) depend on the job, so take-home pay can differ by specialty.
How many officers are in the Marine Corps and the Navy?
The Marine Corps has 21,694 officers and the Navy 57,201, including 98 and 207 generals or admirals respectively.
Where are most Marine Corps and Navy members stationed?
By DMDC state counts (August 31, 2026), the Marine Corps is largest in California, North Carolina, South Carolina; the Navy in Virginia, California, Florida.
Has the Marine Corps or the Navy shrunk more since the 1990s?
Since FY1994 the Marine Corps has changed −1.9% and the Navy −24.6%. In FY1994 the gap between them was 293,525; it is 181,793 now.
Related comparisons
Sources
- DMDC, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service/Rank and Grade, July 2026 (and July 2025). as of July 31, 2026.
- DMDC, Active Duty Military Personnel by Rank/Grade, women only, July 2026. as of July 31, 2026.
- DMDC, Active Duty Military Strength by Service, FY1994–FY2020 and September 2025 reports. fiscal-year-end counts.
- DMDC, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service and Location (by state), August 2026 and September 2025. as of August 31, 2026; prior September 30, 2025.
- DFAS, Military Pay Tables effective January 1, 2026 (DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 1). page updated January 12, 2026.