The U.S. Army is the biggest branch of America’s armed forces, with 465,239 active-duty personnel as of June 30, a decline from 486,141 in the same period a year ago. The U.S. armed forces strength, as measured by total personnel, is 1,357,753, a decrease from 1,393,912 a year ago. (Other militaries are larger. This is the country with the largest military.)
Every state has active-duty Army personnel, but some states are home to considerably more Army soldiers than others, based on the presence of military installations.
To determine the states that have the most active-duty Army personnel, 24/7 Wall St. used military personnel data from the Department of Defense, current as of March 2022 and adjusted per 100,000 total state population. We based our ranking on active duty personnel only — men and women serving in the Army. Data on the largest base by personnel in each state came from the “2020 Demographics Report,” compiled by Defense Department contractor Military OneSource. Total base personnel counts only include service men and women.
In terms of raw numbers, Southern states have the highest totals of active-duty Army personnel. Three Southern states have more than 40,000 Army soldiers each, with Texas having the most by far at 71,876. Southern states also occupy four of the top 10 spots for active-duty Army personnel per 100,000 people.
Ten states have fewer than 100 active-duty Army personnel — four of them are among the least populous U.S. states. Wyoming, the least populous state, has just 25 active-duty Army personnel, and Vermont, the second-least populous, has 39. Neither state has an Army base within its boundaries. In fact, 21 states do not host an Army base. (Though not necessarily Army, these are the countries where the U.S. has the biggest military presence.)
The U.S. Army is falling short of its recruitment goals. Army vice chief of staff, Gen. Joseph M. Martin, told a House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness hearing in July that the regular Army may fall about 19,000 soldiers short of its staffing goal in fiscal 2022.
The Army is facing problems not only in recruiting soldiers but also retaining them. The reasons include a challenging post-pandemic recruiting environment, a lack of recruits because of factors such as obesity and lack of education, and declining morale among those in the service who cite frequent reassignments as causing a strain on family life.
Click here to see states with the largest US army presence.
50. Minnesota
> Active-duty Army personnel: 2.8 per 100,000 people (total: 160)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Snelling (262 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 50.6 per 100,000 (total: 2,889)
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Source: Courtesy of The Connecticut National Guard via Facebook
49. Connecticut
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.0 per 100,000 people (total: 109)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 34.7 per 100,000 (total: 1,252)
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48. Iowa
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.2 per 100,000 people (total: 103)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 62.5 per 100,000 (total: 1,994)
Source: GarysFRP / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
47. Oregon
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.3 per 100,000 people (total: 138)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 10.4 per 100,000 (total: 441)
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46. West Virginia
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.7 per 100,000 people (total: 66)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 72.9 per 100,000 (total: 1,308)
45. Idaho
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.8 per 100,000 people (total: 69)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 35.3 per 100,000 (total: 649)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
44. Ohio
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.9 per 100,000 people (total: 460)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Columbus Def Depot (198 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 45.3 per 100,000 (total: 5,345)
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43. New Hampshire
> Active-duty Army personnel: 3.9 per 100,000 people (total: 54)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 66.4 per 100,000 (total: 915)
Source: thenationalguard / Flickr
42. Arkansas
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.3 per 100,000 people (total: 128)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 54.5 per 100,000 (total: 1,640)
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41. Wyoming
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.3 per 100,000 people (total: 25)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 12.8 per 100,000 (total: 74)
40. North Dakota
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.5 per 100,000 people (total: 35)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 23.2 per 100,000 (total: 181)
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39. Michigan
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.5 per 100,000 people (total: 457)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Detroit Arsenal (127 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 25.9 per 100,000 (total: 2,607)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
38. Maine
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.6 per 100,000 people (total: 63)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 29.7 per 100,000 (total: 404)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
37. Tennessee
> Active-duty Army personnel: 4.8 per 100,000 people (total: 329)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 49.1 per 100,000 (total: 3,393)
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36. Montana
> Active-duty Army personnel: 5.0 per 100,000 people (total: 54)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 57.5 per 100,000 (total: 623)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
35. Utah
> Active-duty Army personnel: 5.3 per 100,000 people (total: 174)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 84.4 per 100,000 (total: 2,760)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
34. Massachusetts
> Active-duty Army personnel: 5.3 per 100,000 people (total: 374)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 40.0 per 100,000 (total: 2,810)
33. Nevada
> Active-duty Army personnel: 6.0 per 100,000 people (total: 185)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 47.0 per 100,000 (total: 1,460)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
32. Delaware
> Active-duty Army personnel: 6.0 per 100,000 people (total: 59)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 55.0 per 100,000 (total: 544)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
31. Vermont
> Active-duty Army personnel: 6.1 per 100,000 people (total: 39)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 18.8 per 100,000 (total: 121)
30. South Dakota
> Active-duty Army personnel: 6.1 per 100,000 people (total: 54)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 38.9 per 100,000 (total: 345)
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29. New Jersey
> Active-duty Army personnel: 6.6 per 100,000 people (total: 609)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Dix (917 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 43.8 per 100,000 (total: 4,064)
Source: thenationalguard / Flickr
28. Pennsylvania
> Active-duty Army personnel: 7.6 per 100,000 people (total: 984)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Carlisle Barracks (503 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 52.4 per 100,000 (total: 6,813)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. Illinois
> Active-duty Army personnel: 7.7 per 100,000 people (total: 991)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Rock Island Arsenal (371 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 43.9 per 100,000 (total: 5,620)
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26. Wisconsin
> Active-duty Army personnel: 7.9 per 100,000 people (total: 463)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort McCoy (290 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 60.8 per 100,000 (total: 3,584)
25. Nebraska
> Active-duty Army personnel: 8.1 per 100,000 people (total: 159)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 51.8 per 100,000 (total: 1,016)
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24. Indiana
> Active-duty Army personnel: 9.1 per 100,000 people (total: 618)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Benjamin Harrison (426 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 36.9 per 100,000 (total: 2,505)
23. Rhode Island
> Active-duty Army personnel: 12.7 per 100,000 people (total: 139)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 47.3 per 100,000 (total: 519)
Source: Courtesy of Mississippi Army National Guard Warrant Officer Recruiting via Facebook
22. Mississippi
> Active-duty Army personnel: 14.9 per 100,000 people (total: 440)
> Total no. of Army bases: 0
> Largest base: N/A
> Army reserve personnel: 52.8 per 100,000 (total: 1,563)
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Source: Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
21. New Mexico
> Active-duty Army personnel: 16.9 per 100,000 people (total: 358)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: White Sands Missile Range (426 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 30.3 per 100,000 (total: 641)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. California
> Active-duty Army personnel: 18.3 per 100,000 people (total: 7,244)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Presidio of Monterey (4,132 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 39.9 per 100,000 (total: 15,790)
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Source: thenationalguard / Flickr
19. Florida
> Active-duty Army personnel: 27.8 per 100,000 people (total: 5,991)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Southern Command (1,370 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 46.8 per 100,000 (total: 10,078)
Source: wingedwolf / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
18. Arizona
> Active-duty Army personnel: 57.9 per 100,000 people (total: 4,140)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Huachuca (4,139 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 45.9 per 100,000 (total: 3,284)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Alabama
> Active-duty Army personnel: 83.8 per 100,000 people (total: 4,210)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Rucker (3,860 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 87.1 per 100,000 (total: 4,376)
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16. New York
> Active-duty Army personnel: 85.3 per 100,000 people (total: 17,231)
> Total no. of Army bases: 5
> Largest base: Fort Drum (15,195 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 34.5 per 100,000 (total: 6,977)
15. Missouri
> Active-duty Army personnel: 111.2 per 100,000 people (total: 6,845)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Leonard Wood (12,218 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 72.4 per 100,000 (total: 4,459)
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14. South Carolina
> Active-duty Army personnel: 133.5 per 100,000 people (total: 6,835)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Jackson (11,545 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 74.0 per 100,000 (total: 3,788)
13. Maryland
> Active-duty Army personnel: 136.3 per 100,000 people (total: 8,419)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Fort George G. Meade (11,140 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 93.6 per 100,000 (total: 5,781)
Source: scguard / Flickr / Public Domain
12. Louisiana
> Active-duty Army personnel: 170.8 per 100,000 people (total: 7,955)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Polk (7,783 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 34.8 per 100,000 (total: 1,619)
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Source: Phototreat / iStock via Getty Images
11. Virginia
> Active-duty Army personnel: 226.5 per 100,000 people (total: 19,554)
> Total no. of Army bases: 6
> Largest base: Fort Story (8,790 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 85.0 per 100,000 (total: 7,339)
Source: MMADIA / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
10. Texas
> Active-duty Army personnel: 246.6 per 100,000 people (total: 71,876)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Fort Hood (36,697 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 61.7 per 100,000 (total: 17,980)
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Source: Rockfinder / iStock via Getty Images
9. Oklahoma
> Active-duty Army personnel: 268.1 per 100,000 people (total: 10,615)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Sill (13,310 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 42.3 per 100,000 (total: 1,675)
8. Washington
> Active-duty Army personnel: 367.8 per 100,000 people (total: 28,342)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Lewis (26,512 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 62.6 per 100,000 (total: 4,820)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. North Carolina
> Active-duty Army personnel: 448.8 per 100,000 people (total: 46,852)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Bragg (45,055 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 59.5 per 100,000 (total: 6,211)
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Source: Stephen Morton / Getty Images News via Getty Images
6. Georgia
> Active-duty Army personnel: 449.1 per 100,000 people (total: 48,102)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Fort Benning (24,305 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 70.6 per 100,000 (total: 7,563)
Source: Chmiel / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
5. Colorado
> Active-duty Army personnel: 480.2 per 100,000 people (total: 27,728)
> Total no. of Army bases: 1
> Largest base: Fort Carson (24,520 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 65.8 per 100,000 (total: 3,797)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Kansas
> Active-duty Army personnel: 614.6 per 100,000 people (total: 18,057)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Riley (15,214 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 76.3 per 100,000 (total: 2,241)
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
3. Kentucky
> Active-duty Army personnel: 756.4 per 100,000 people (total: 34,081)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Campbell (26,824 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 87.1 per 100,000 (total: 3,926)
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
2. Hawaii
> Active-duty Army personnel: 1,072.2 per 100,000 people (total: 15,603)
> Total no. of Army bases: 3
> Largest base: Schofield Barracks (15,057 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 170.0 per 100,000 (total: 2,474)
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1. Alaska
> Active-duty Army personnel: 1,385.5 per 100,000 people (total: 10,161)
> Total no. of Army bases: 2
> Largest base: Fort Jonathan Wainwright (2,863 active-duty personnel)
> Army reserve personnel: 45.7 per 100,000 (total: 335)
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