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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Afghanistan

Armed forces personnel in Afghanistan in 2020 — 165,000 people. Ranked 37 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 251.1%.

2020 165,000 people −40.65% vs 2019
World rank 37of 170
Period maximum 429,000 people1996
Period minimum 27,000 people2004

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Afghanistan, 1985–20200200,000400,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 47,000 people1989: 55,000 people1990: 58,000 people1991: 45,000 people1992: 45,000 people1993: 45,000 people1994: 45,000 people1995: 383,000 people1996: 429,000 people1997: 429,000 people1998: 400,000 people1999: 400,000 people2000: 400,000 people2002: 120,000 people2003: 130,000 people2004: 27,000 people2005: 27,000 people2006: 51,000 people2007: 51,000 people2008: 94,000 people2009: 255,745 people2010: 306,800 people2011: 340,350 people2012: 338,150 people2013: 330,650 people2014: 308,800 people2015: 319,400 people2016: 323,000 people2017: 323,000 people2018: 272,900 people2019: 278,000 people2020: 165,000 people
Change over the period: +118,000 (+251.06%) Average annual rate: 3.65 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 165,000 people
World 27.41M people
South Asia 3.72M people
Southern Asia computed 5.48M people
Low-income countries computed 2.94M people
Armed forces personnel — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 165,000 −113,000 −40.65%
2019 278,000 +5,100 +1.87%
2018 272,900 −50,100 −15.51%
2017 323,000 +0 +0%
2016 323,000 +3,600 +1.13%
2015 319,400 +10,600 +3.43%
2014 308,800 −21,850 −6.61%
2013 330,650 −7,500 −2.22%
2012 338,150 −2,200 −0.65%
2011 340,350 +33,550 +10.94%
2010 306,800 +51,055 +19.96%
2009 255,745 +161,745 +172.07%
2008 94,000 +43,000 +84.31%
2007 51,000 +0 +0%
2006 51,000 +24,000 +88.89%
2005 27,000 +0 +0%
2004 27,000 −103,000 −79.23%
2003 130,000 +10,000 +8.33%
2002 120,000 — —
2000 400,000 +0 +0%
1999 400,000 +0 +0%
1998 400,000 −29,000 −6.76%
1997 429,000 +0 +0%
1996 429,000 +46,000 +12.01%
1995 383,000 +338,000 +751.11%
1994 45,000 +0 +0%
1993 45,000 +0 +0%
1992 45,000 +0 +0%
1991 45,000 −13,000 −22.41%
1990 58,000 +3,000 +5.45%
1989 55,000 — —
1985 47,000 — —

Southern Asia, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

IN India 3.07M PK Pakistan 943,000 IR Iran 650,000 LK Sri Lanka 317,000 BD Bangladesh 227,000 AF Afghanistan 165,000 NP Nepal 112,000
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for Afghanistan

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Afghanistan by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Afghanistan by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

Afghanistan by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Afghanistan by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

Afghanistan by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Afghanistan by year
All indicators for Afghanistan