The French Foreign Legion and its structure fully updated for 2018. The data reflect changes which occurred in the current Foreign Legion units in the previous year.

In 2018, the French Foreign Legion is composed of more than 8,900 men – about 450 officers, 2000 NCOs and 6,500 legionnaires. That means, by the way, a 24 percent increase in comparision to 2013. Five years ago, the Legion consisted of 7,200 men only.

The legionnaires are an integral part of the French Army. Today, they constitute some 7-8% of its strength (or 11% of the Ground Operational Forces, FOT, French Army operational units).

In 2018, the Foreign Legion comprises over 140 nationalities. An important number of legionnaires were born in Central and Eastern Europe, or in the Balkans (40% together). That means Russians, Ukrainians, Poles or Romanians in the majority. Asians follow with some 16% (a significant number of them come from China), then South Americans with 14% (mainly Brazilians). The recruits from Western world make up to 12%, just as those from Arab countries. The rest comes from Africa (exluding its Arab nations). Around 8% of all legionnaires are Francophones, to ensure the functioning of the institution. In particular, as intermediaries between officers and enlisted volunteers during the initial instruction.

Born in the 1830’s, the French Foreign Legion successfully remains an exceptional multicultural society, having no parallel on this planet. Consisting of men of all races, religions, social classes and political views, the Legion still runs like clockwork, for decades. Its strict policy of “close your mouth, forget about your past and adapt you as quickly as possible” forms the newcomers into a cohesive team, a solid block of soldiers with a strong esprit de corps. They are ready to fight and even lay down their lives for the new Family and for their new Homeland. This has always fascinated the rest of the world.

The current Foreign Legion consists of the main Legion Command (COMLE) and 11 units, with 6 operational regiments between them. In the links posted bellow, you can see information regarding each of these Foreign Legion units with data updated for 2018.

See the current structure of the Foreign Legion Command



See the current structure of the 1st Foreign Regiment



See the current structure of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment



See the current structure of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment



See the current structure of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment



See the current structure of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment



See the current structure of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment



See the current structure of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment



See the current structure of the 4th Foreign Regiment



See the current structure of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion



See the current structure of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte



See the current structure of the Foreign Legion Recruiting Group

