Overview

• The Bundeswehr received 52,100 applications in 2024, an 18.5% increase from 2023's 43,200 submissions.
• The Military Counterintelligence Service conducted 67,900 background checks in 2024, reflecting an 18% rise from the prior year.
• Despite the recruitment surge, active personnel decreased to 181,174 by the end of 2024, 340 fewer than in 2023.
• Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has reaffirmed a target of 203,000 active soldiers by 2031, with 230,000 needed for full combat readiness.
• Ongoing challenges include high dropout rates, infrastructure shortfalls, and adapting to evolving security demands in Europe.