In 2023, there were 720,652 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States, an increase from 708,001 the previous year. Within the provided time period, the number of full-time law enforcement officers was lowest in 2013, with 626,942 officers.
Employment in law enforcement
According to the source, law enforcement officers are defined as those individuals who regularly carry a firearm and an official badge on their person, have full powers of arrest, and whose salaries are paid from federal funds set aside specifically for sworn law enforcement. Law enforcement, particularly when it comes to officers, is a male-dominated field. Law enforcement employees can either be officers or civilians, and federal law enforcement agencies cover a wide area of jurisdictions -- from the National Park Service to the FBI.
Police in the United States
The police in the United States have come under fire over the past few years for accusations of use of unnecessary force and for the number of people who are shot to death by police in the U.S. Police officers in the United States are regularly armed, and in comparison, 19 countries, including Iceland, New Zealand, and Ireland, do not regularly arm their police forces.
Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023
The FBI defines law enforcement officers as those who regularly carry a firearm and badge, have full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds specifically for sworn law enforcement representatives.
The data from previous years can be accessed here by clicking on the required year, Police Employee Tables, and National Data.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
FBI. (September 23, 2024). Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99
FBI. "Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023." Chart. September 23, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99
FBI. (2024). Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99
FBI. "Number of Full-time Law Enforcement Officers in The United States from 2004 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99
FBI, Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99 (last visited November 22, 2024)
Number of full-time law enforcement officers in the United States from 2004 to 2023 [Graph], FBI, September 23, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/191694/number-of-law-enforcement-officers-in-the-us/?msclkid=a49b33c5a79f11ecbf08308289003a99
