Armed forces personnel since 1816 in Western Africa in 2022 — 332,000 people. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 1,481%.
1960–2022 · people
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa
| Year | people | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 332,000 | +33,000 | +11.04% |
| 2021 | 299,000 | +8,000 | +2.75% |
| 2020 | 291,000 | +14,000 | +5.05% |
| 2019 | 277,000 | +19,000 | +7.36% |
| 2018 | 258,000 | +2,000 | +0.78% |
| 2017 | 256,000 | +40,000 | +18.52% |
| 2016 | 216,000 | +2,000 | +0.93% |
| 2015 | 214,000 | +2,000 | +0.94% |
| 2014 | 212,000 | −2,000 | −0.93% |
| 2013 | 214,000 | +1,000 | +0.47% |
| 2012 | 213,000 | +6,000 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 207,000 | −6,000 | −2.82% |
| 2010 | 213,000 | +2,000 | +0.95% |
| 2009 | 211,000 | −3,000 | −1.4% |
| 2008 | 214,000 | −5,000 | −2.28% |
| 2007 | 219,000 | +0 | +0% |
| 2006 | 219,000 | +0 | +0% |
| 2005 | 219,000 | +2,000 | +0.92% |
| 2004 | 217,000 | +0 | +0% |
| 2003 | 217,000 | +4,000 | +1.88% |
| 2002 | 213,000 | +9,000 | +4.41% |
| 2001 | 204,000 | +20,000 | +10.87% |
| 2000 | 184,000 | −17,000 | −8.46% |
| 1999 | 201,000 | +4,000 | +2.03% |
| 1998 | 197,000 | −1,000 | −0.51% |
| 1997 | 198,000 | −2,000 | −1% |
| 1996 | 200,000 | −2,000 | −0.99% |
| 1995 | 202,000 | +2,000 | +1% |
| 1994 | 200,000 | −9,000 | −4.31% |
| 1993 | 209,000 | −2,000 | −0.95% |
| 1992 | 211,000 | −25,000 | −10.59% |
| 1991 | 236,000 | −2,000 | −0.84% |
| 1990 | 238,000 | +4,000 | +1.71% |
| 1989 | 234,000 | +4,000 | +1.74% |
| 1988 | 230,000 | −47,000 | −16.97% |
| 1987 | 277,000 | +6,000 | +2.21% |
| 1986 | 271,000 | −11,000 | −3.9% |
| 1985 | 282,000 | −10,000 | −3.42% |
| 1984 | 292,000 | +11,000 | +3.91% |
| 1983 | 281,000 | +2,000 | +0.72% |
| 1982 | 279,000 | +5,000 | +1.82% |
| 1981 | 274,000 | +20,000 | +7.87% |
| 1980 | 254,000 | −3,000 | −1.17% |
| 1979 | 257,000 | −62,000 | −19.44% |
| 1978 | 319,000 | −87,000 | −21.43% |
| 1977 | 406,000 | +26,000 | +6.84% |
| 1976 | 380,000 | +27,000 | +7.65% |
| 1975 | 353,000 | −54,000 | −13.27% |
| 1974 | 407,000 | −2,000 | −0.49% |
| 1973 | 409,000 | +1,000 | +0.25% |
| 1972 | 408,000 | +0 | +0% |
| 1971 | 408,000 | +120,000 | +41.67% |
| 1970 | 288,000 | +92,000 | +46.94% |
| 1969 | 196,000 | +25,000 | +14.62% |
| 1968 | 171,000 | +64,000 | +59.81% |
| 1967 | 107,000 | −1,000 | −0.93% |
| 1966 | 108,000 | +11,000 | +11.34% |
| 1965 | 97,000 | −1,000 | −1.02% |
| 1964 | 98,000 | +10,000 | +11.36% |
| 1963 | 88,000 | +48,000 | +120% |
| 1962 | 40,000 | +6,000 | +17.65% |
| 1961 | 34,000 | +13,000 | +61.9% |
| 1960 | 21,000 | — | — |
The number of military personnel on active duty. The series was assembled by the Correlates of War project and continued with data of the International Institute for Strategic Studies; unlike the World Bank series, which begins in 1985, it reaches 1816 and makes military buildup over two centuries visible — including both world wars.
Important: Over two hundred years borders and the composition of countries changed, so the series before the middle of the 20th century refers to the territory of the time: comparing adjacent years is reliable, comparing 1830 with 2020 only loosely so.
Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.
The number of active-duty military personnel and paramilitary forces.
Defense Armed forces as a share of the populationWhat share of a country’s population military personnel make up — a measure of how militarized a society is.
Defense Military expenditure in dollarsThe absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.
Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)The share of GDP a country spends on defense.
Defense Military expenditure share of the budgetWhat part of government spending goes to defense.