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Navy vs Army: size, officers, women and pay compared
A data comparison of the U.S. Navy and Army 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 Army is larger: 459,427 active-duty members vs 352,749 for the Navy (1.3 times the size), as of July 31, 2026.
- The Navy has 5.1 enlisted members per officer; the Army has 3.9.
- Women make up 22.4% of the Navy and 16.9% of the Army.
- Over the past year the Navy changed by +13,924 and the Army by +4,912.
- 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.
Navy vs Army by the numbers
| Measure | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Active-duty members | 352,749 | 459,427 |
| Officers | 57,201 | 92,102 |
| Enlisted | 291,093 | 362,784 |
| Enlisted per officer | 5.1 | 3.9 |
| Generals / admirals | 207 | 286 |
| Women (share of officers and enlisted) | 22.4% | 16.9% |
| Women among officers | 22.8% | 20.3% |
| Change from July 2025 | +13,924 | +4,912 |
| Change since FY1994 | −24.6% | −15.0% |
| Installations in our base directory | 24 | 37 |
Navy vs Army size over time
The Navy peaked at 467,742 in FY1994 and the Army at 327,697 in FY2010 within this period.
Organization
The Navy is part of the Department of the Navy and the Army the Department of the Army, both under the Department of Defense.
How to read these numbers
- Totals include academy cadets and midshipmen (4,455 for the Navy, 4,541 for the Army). 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 Navy or the Army?
The Army, with 459,427 active-duty members against 352,749 for the Navy (DMDC, July 31, 2026).
Does the Navy pay more than the Army?
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 Navy and the Army?
The Navy has 57,201 officers and the Army 92,102, including 207 and 286 generals or admirals respectively.
Where are most Navy and Army members stationed?
By DMDC state counts (August 31, 2026), the Navy is largest in Virginia, California, Florida; the Army in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina.
Has the Navy or the Army shrunk more since the 1990s?
Since FY1994 the Navy has changed −24.6% and the Army −15.0%. In FY1994 the gap between them was 72,800; it is 106,678 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.