Estimated Size of the Federation Uniformed Services

[JewelsNeeJulian]

I found this over on another forum and the points brought up are well thought out and does bring up some rather interesting points



The Federation has 100 member worlds and an unknown number of colonies.

For the sake of simplicity, let's say member planets and the colonies that are based from each have an average population of 10 billion beings.

10 billion people X 100 member worlds = 1 trillion total population (American trillion)

Let's say that 1 out of every 1000 people are active uniformed service personnel.

1 trillion people / 1 thousand = 1 billion active uniformed service personnel of all branches.

That sounds like a lot, right? Not quite. You just aren't imagining the scale. The United States military as of 2006 had a ratio of 4.76 active military for every 1000 population (and a 2.89 reservists for every 1000 population -- derived from the active troop ratio and reserve troop numbers available on globalsecurity.com). Just for comparison, a relatively de-militarized Japan has 1.88 active military per 1000 population and a heavily militarized North Korea has 44.6 active military per 1000 population.

One active uniformed personnel per 1000 population doesn't seem that much anymore, does it? (especially considering that we may or may not include the Federation Postal Service, local police forces, and the like in our numbers). This is the 24th century, and not the 21st century, and one could argue that the Federation wouldn't need as many personnel per 1000 population. Maybe or maybe not. I can only go by what I know. I no longer have the statistics on me, but I remember seeing in one of my books that the even the the Roman Empire generally had a similar military/population ratio to today -- The only thing that has significantly changed was the combat soldier/support soldier ratio.

Assuming that the numbers are correct, I broke down the total numbers into branches using the US military as a model.



Planetary Forces (combined forces of the individual member planets -- may be a combination of combat-trained soldiers, paramilitary police, and other planet-based uniformed services):
Based on the US Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard.
360 million total active. Average 3,600,000 per member planet.
390 million total reserve. Average 3,900,000 per member planet.

*75 million combat troops. Average 750,000 per member planet.
5,400 active divisions. Average 54 per member planet.
2,700 reserve divisions. Average 27 per member planet.

*Based on a ratio of 1 combat personnel for every 10 total personnel.

Remember the above is based on a population of 10 billion. Imagine if the People's Republic of China of 2006 only had 360,000 active soldiers, 390,000 reservist soldiers, and a total of 8 combat divisions.



Planetary Fleets (combined forces of individual member planets -- may be a combination of security, customs, rescue, and other space-based uniformed services)
Based on the US Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxilliary, and the Federal Republic of Germany's Navy.
235 million total active.
130 million total reserve.

*77,000 total ships. Average 770 per member planet.
12,320 total Light Cruisers. Average 120 per member planet.
16,940 total Destroyers. Average 170 per member planet.
8,470 total Escorts. Average 85 per member planet.
1,540 total Lander Transports. Average 15 per member planet.
37,730 total Auxiliaries. Average 380 per member planet.

*Uses the ship/personnel ratio of the Federal Republic of Germany Navy, a standard coastal navy as of 2006. The ship breakdowns are also based on the Federal Republic's Navy. I use these numbers because based on what we see on-screen, the crewing of a starship is similar to an equivalent sea-going ship of today (which I find weird, but whatever). The ship classifications are only for easier reference and have no real meaning

Light Cruiser - A smaller multi-role ship that can operate independently (New Orleans, Intrepid?)
Destroyer - A multi-role ship that can operate longer distances with support (Miranda)
Escort - A short-range ship (whether there is support or not) (Defiant, Saber)
Lander Transport - Planet-capable transport (Sydney?)
Auxiliary - Refuelling, Repair, Hospital, etc (Oberth, Nova, Olympic)



Spaceborne Planetary Service (Federation equivalent of a federal Army, Starfleet landing force, or combination of both)
Based on the US Marine Corps
125 million total active.
28 million total reserve.

14.3 million combat troops.
1,500 combat divisions. Can station 2 divisions in half of the member planets, 1 division in the rest.



Starfleet (Might also include non-Starfleet federal space services)
Based on the US Navy.
260 million active.
60 million reserve.

*64,000 total ships
7,000 Battleships
2,560 Battlecruisers
5,760 Heavy Cruisers
12,160 Light Cruisers
9,600 Destroyers
7,000 Escorts
2,560 Lander Transports
17,280 Auxiliaries

*Uses the ship/personnel ratio of the US Navy, a multi-ocean navy as of 2006. The ship breakdowns are also based on the US Navy. The ship classifications, as with above are just for easier reference

Battleship - The best and largest ships -- an actual "line of battle ship" has no meaning in Starfleet. (Galaxy, Ambassador, Sovereign)
Battlecruiser - A ship with similar capabilities as a "Battleship", except limited in some way -- such as size, range, or whatever. Still "better" than a cruiser. (Akira, Nebula)
Heavy Cruiser - A larger multi-role ship that can operate independently. (Excelsior as of 24th century)



Just for reference, I consider Starfleet to be a combination of the US Navy, US Coast Guard, NASA, and US Geological Survey -- with a greater emphasis on the last three.

These numbers have already caused a pretty big argument, and only 3 people have seen it so far.

One person believes it is wrong and was outraged.
One person thought the numbers were okay, but were not in the spirit of Star Trek.
One person thought the numbers were reconcilable with a pacifistic UFP (though doesn't make sense canonically).

I think these numbers would be somewhat "realistic", but on-screen evidence shows a considerably tinier Starfleet -- I think everyone can agree with that. I also recognize that this is completely based on the assumption that the Federation and its uniformed services operate in the same way as a 21st century nation (especially the USA)-- we all (yes, including me) have arguments on how that isn't necessarily so

 

[Timo]

To provide some counterpoint of the second kind, we have seen that even very central UFP worlds lack starship defenses. If each planet did contribute hundreds of ships, or even dozens, then surely there'd be some at standby to cover emergencies like sudden planetary plagues or hostile intruders or whatnot.

Also, while 77,000 ships in all might be a reasonable number, we saw in DS9 that the total combat forces of the Feds probably didn't number much past 10,000 if that - and this apparently includes ships down to escort size. After all, Klingons contributed just a few thousand ships according to "Tacking Into the Wind", and that clearly included their smallest Birds of Prey. The UFP Starfleet can't be that much more powerful than its nearest competitors or else Star Trek could not happen.

Thus, while your percentages seem acceptable as such, they don't seem to correspond to the absolutes we observe. Perhaps the future society makes do with a much smaller military because it can... Or perhaps because it has to, because only a much smaller fraction of the population agrees to serve in the military?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[kes7]

Thus, while your percentages seem acceptable as such, they don't seem to correspond to the absolutes we observe. Perhaps the future society makes do with a much smaller military because it can... Or perhaps because it has to, because only a much smaller fraction of the population agrees to serve in the military?

Timo Saloniemi

Kind of makes you wonder if maybe Starfleet is full of the malcontents and misfits of Federation society, and normal people just want to hang out on their planets enjoying all the great utopian technology. Maybe this "best and the brightest" stuff is just what they tell themselves to take the sting out of the fact that everyone else thinks they're nuts ...

I don't think that's actually the case (and it's certainly not any kind of commentary on my views on the present-day military, so please don't misunderstand me!), but it's fun to think about.

 

[NIUPonyBoy]

Just looking over that, is that assuming everone in the Fed in uniform is in Starfleet? I understand it is a Starfleet uniform, but there are explorers/doctors/scientists etc in Starfleet. Hence the specific Starfleet medical/scientific/etc ships.

Surely a large group of those in Starfleet are not true combat personelle or anything close to it.

 

[KimMH]

Thus, while your percentages seem acceptable as such, they don't seem to correspond to the absolutes we observe. Perhaps the future society makes do with a much smaller military because it can... Or perhaps because it has to, because only a much smaller fraction of the population agrees to serve in the military?

Timo Saloniemi

Kind of makes you wonder if maybe Starfleet is full of the malconents and misfits of Federation society, and normal people just want to hang out on their planets enjoying all the great utopian technology. Maybe this "best and the brightest" stuff is just what they tell themselves to take the sting out of the fact that everyone else thinks they're nuts ...

I don't think that's actually the case (and it's certainly not any kind of commentary on my views on the present-day military, so please don't misunderstand me!), but it's fun to think about.

Some of the books characterize Starfleet as people who are too curious, too rambunctious or too unusual to fit well into their own societies finding they go like peas and carrots in Starfleet. This only adds to Starfleets cache for me: the idea of an organization using the talents of people not recognized for thier value by their own societies becoming the protectors and unifiers of the quadrant. very compelling to make a home for the unhomed. ANd a prophet is never recognized by his own town and all . . .

 

[JewelsNeeJulian]

These thoughts also don't say anything very positive about Federation Society either. But then every society has it's dark side....

 

[NIUPonyBoy]

These thoughts also don't say anything very positive about Federation Society either. But then every society has it's dark side....

Why?

If everyone where the same it would be one boring universe.

 

[Pauln6]

If the Federation had 235 million active starfleet personel, wouldn't they need more than one Starfleet Acadamy? I think Starfleet is a tiny organisation run primarily by humans. If the whole Federation was represented equally perhaps 1% of Starfleet crews would be human when it runs at about 80%. Federation worlds have their own defence forces that can be 'drafted' but I think that Starfleet itself is more like the UN.

 

[JewelsNeeJulian]

Thus, while your percentages seem acceptable as such, they don't seem to correspond to the absolutes we observe. Perhaps the future society makes do with a much smaller military because it can... Or perhaps because it has to, because only a much smaller fraction of the population agrees to serve in the military?

Timo Saloniemi

Kind of makes you wonder if maybe Starfleet is full of the malconents and misfits of Federation society, and normal people just want to hang out on their planets enjoying all the great utopian technology. Maybe this "best and the brightest" stuff is just what they tell themselves to take the sting out of the fact that everyone else thinks they're nuts ...

I don't think that's actually the case (and it's certainly not any kind of commentary on my views on the present-day military, so please don't misunderstand me!), but it's fun to think about.

Personally, I wouldn't be able to stand Utopia and want off the planet as soon as possible

 

[Crewman47]

I think it's been mentioned on here before that maybe Starfleet does have more than one Academy and that maybe the one in San Francisco is the primary campus. There could be one for each continent on Earth plus several on other planets.

The college I work in can take in around 8,000 to 10,000 students in a year and some of the bigger colleges and Uni's probably have more than twice that so if the San Francisco Academy only takes in around 10,000 cadets split 4 ways for each year then it would only make sense to have more than one campus.

 

[NIUPonyBoy]

If the Federation had 235 million active starfleet personel, wouldn't they need more than one Starfleet Acadamy? I think Starfleet is a tiny organisation run primarily by humans. If the whole Federation was represented equally perhaps 1% of Starfleet crews would be human when it runs at about 80%. Federation worlds have their own defence forces that can be 'drafted' but I think that Starfleet itself is more like the UN.

SF Academy should only be for the Officers, and the best of the best of the officers. Like West Point or Annapolis is for the US. Other officers can be appointed elsewhere and by other means. Enlisted should have many many training facilities, just like most organizations with large populations.

 

[kv1at3485]

Personally, I wouldn't be able to stand Utopia and want off the planet as soon as possible

Ah, the old and puzzling "now that subsistence is no longer tied to work, there is no longer an incentive to do anything, literally, or anything useful" belief.

 

[EmperorTiberius]

The main mistake of the original argument is comparing Starfleet to US forces.

 

[Sci]

The Federation has 100 member worlds and an unknown number of colonies.

Picard cites over 150 Member worlds in Star Trek: First Contact, actually. The novels have established that the Federation consisted of 155 Member States as of December 2380.

For the sake of simplicity, let's say member planets and the colonies that are based from each have an average population of 10 billion beings.

I'm going to have to disagree with these two assumptions. First off, we have little canonical data about the average population of a Member State -- which can, let's recall, encompass multiple worlds, such as the Federation Member State of United Earth encompassing at least the planet Earth and its moon, Luna. The newest film establishes that Vulcan's population in the alternate reality created by Nero's temporal incursion was approximately 6 billion. That seems unlikely to have been affected by the destruction of the U.S.S. Kelvin.

Secondly, 10 billion seems to me a disturbingly high number. Ecologists today are worried that 6.5 billion people is too much for the ecosystem; having to support 10 billion, even with advanced technology, just seems like a bad idea. Plus, it's an established fact that when a society is better-educated, its citizens tend to reproduce at a lower rate (which is why the average American household has 2.5 kids instead of 8.5). Surely the well-educated Federation would try not to exceed 6 billion per M-Class planet at the most, and probably would probably prefer something in the area of 3 billion.

Now, setting aside the fact that a Member State's territory might encompass multiple worlds... Let's presume that that's the average population of a Member State is 6 billion.

Now, we don't know how many colonies the Federation has -- nor do we know how many of those colonies are actually part of a given Member State's territory (in the same sense that Long Island is part of the State of New York's territory) and how many are administered directly by the Federation government itself. However, the vast majority of colonies depicted in Trek have been very small -- only a few thousand colonists per world. Even if we hype that number up a bit, 10 billion seems unlikely. I'd imagine that the average colony world might have a population of 5 million or so.

10 billion people X 100 member worlds = 1 trillion total population (American trillion)

Though it's non-canonical (and though it's been affected by the events of the subsequent novel trilogy Star Trek: Destiny, in which an unknown number of Federation worlds were destroyed), I'm inclined to go with the 155 number.

6,000,000,000 (155) = 930 billion.

These next few numbers are just pulled out of my ass, but let's assume that all 155 Member States have an average of 5 colonies with 5 million people per colony. That's 25 million people to add to the populations of the capital worlds of each Member State -- so 25(155) = 3 billion 875 million more people to add to the total of 930 billion. So 933.875 billion people.

Let's presume that the Federation itself administers about 100 colonies of about 2 million each (since Federation colonies we've seen have been a bit smaller, and I want to be a bit conservative). That's an extra 200 million people.

So 933,875,000,000+200,000,000=934,075,000,000. So 934.075 billion Federation citizens throughout the UFP.

Let's say that 1 out of every 1000 people are active uniformed service personnel.

That seems an arbitrary number to me, but several of my assumptions are a bit arbitrary too, so what the hell?

934.075 billion / 1,000 = 934,075,000 Starfleet officers.

That sounds like a lot, right? Not quite. You just aren't imagining the scale. The United States military as of 2006 had a ratio of 4.76 active military for every 1000 population (and a 2.89 reservists for every 1000 population -- derived from the active troop ratio and reserve troop numbers available on globalsecurity.com). Just for comparison, a relatively de-militarized Japan has 1.88 active military per 1000 population and a heavily militarized North Korea has 44.6 active military per 1000 population.

One active uniformed personnel per 1000 population doesn't seem that much anymore, does it? (especially considering that we may or may not include the Federation Postal Service, local police forces, and the like in our numbers).

I don't think it's clear that there is a Federation Postal Service. Though, to be fair, I don't see how there could possibly not be a Federation Postal Service, since that's sort of necessary for the functioning of any government.

 

[kes7]

Ecologists today aren't factoring in replicators and the ability to mine other planets, asteroids, etc., for additional resources. I'm pretty sure the "overpopulation" scare would be finished by then.