Permanent, reserve and ex-serving ADF members
As of 31 December 2019, there were around 373,500 Australians who had served at least one day in the ADF between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2019. Of these, just over 358,000 were still alive of which 59,000 were permanent, 38,700 reserve and nearly 261,000 ex-serving.
There were more males than females, with males accounting for 84% (or 300,000) of all living ADF members and 16% were female (or 58,600). Within the permanent population, almost 1 in 5 members were female (19%).
|
Service status |
Males |
Males |
Females |
Females |
Persons(a) |
Persons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permanent |
47,924 |
81.2 |
11,112 |
18.8 |
59,045 |
100.0 |
|
Reserve |
32,353 |
83.7 |
6,306 |
16.3 |
38,660 |
100.0 |
|
Ex-serving |
219,411 |
84.2 |
41,213 |
15.8 |
260,624 |
100.0 |
|
Total in all service |
299,688 |
83.6 |
58,631 |
16.4 |
358,329 |
100.0 |
(a) The number of persons who were permanent or reserve include persons who have identified as intersex.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked Defence Historical Personnel data–PMKeyS–NDI data 1985–2019; Defence population snapshots, 2002–2019.