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A service number is an identification code used to easily identify a person within a large group. Service numbers are most often associated with the military, however they may be used in civilian term as well. Social Security Numbers may be seen as types of service numbers.

The term "serial number" is often seen as synonym of service number, however a serial number more accurately describes manufacture and product codes, rather than personnel identification. In the Canadian military, a "Serial Number" referred to a unique number assigned each unit that mobilized for the Second World War.

Canada began using "Regimental Numbers" during the First World War.

During the Second World War, units were allocated blocks of Regimental Numbers to issue out, usually in the 5 or 6 digit range, though extremely low numbers were also possible due to the blocks.

• X12345 - the X was an alphabetic character denoting the Military District the soldier was recruited in (A represented MD1, B MD2, etc.) Up until 1945, officers never received numbers and were identified by name and rank only.

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) replaced the reigmental number in the 1960s.

• 123 456 789

The SIN was itself replaced by a Service Number in the 1990s.

• X12 345 678

The use of the SIN was granted by Revenue Canada to the CF for service numbers as a temporary measure, and was revoked in the 1990s. The new Service Number used a random alphabetic number and 8 numbers in the same format as SINs to avoid changing service forms.

The Armed forces of the United States first invented service numbers in the year 1905 and abolished their use in 1974. Prior to that time, the following formats were used to denote U.S. military service numbers:

• 12-345-678: United States Army and U.S. Air Force enlisted service numbers
• 123-45-67: United States Navy enlisted service numbers
• 12-345: United States Coast Guard enlisted service numbers
• 123456: United States Marine Corps enlisted service numbers
• 12345: Service number format for most U.S. military officers

Social Security Numbers are today used as the primary means to identify members of the U.S. military. The common format for a social security numbers is 123-45-6789.

Soldiers in the British Army are given an eight digit number, e.g 25161970. Before the end of peacetime National Service in 1960, servicemen were issued a seven digit number, e.g. 2715158. National Servicemen who voluntarily remained in the Armed Forces after this time continued to use their National Service numbers.