Contact Contacts
Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Canada

Armed forces personnel in Canada in 2020 — 72,000 people. Ranked 58 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 13.3%.

2020 72,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 58of 170
Period maximum 88,000 people1989
Period minimum 61,600 people2002

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Canada, 1985–202060,00070,00080,00090,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 83,000 people1989: 88,000 people1990: 87,000 people1991: 86,000 people1992: 82,000 people1993: 76,000 people1994: 75,000 people1995: 75,700 people1996: 79,800 people1997: 72,700 people1998: 69,950 people1999: 69,950 people2000: 68,500 people2001: 66,100 people2002: 61,600 people2003: 61,600 people2004: 71,000 people2005: 71,000 people2006: 64,000 people2007: 64,000 people2008: 64,000 people2009: 65,722 people2010: 65,700 people2011: 65,700 people2012: 66,000 people2013: 65,700 people2014: 70,200 people2015: 67,500 people2016: 67,500 people2017: 72,000 people2018: 72,400 people2019: 72,000 people2020: 72,000 people
Change over the period: −11,000 (−13.25%) Average annual rate: -0.41 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Canada 72,000 people
World 27.41M people
North America 1.47M people
High-income countries computed 6.77M people
Armed forces personnel — Canada, by year Canada All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 72,000 +0 +0%
2019 72,000 −400 −0.55%
2018 72,400 +400 +0.56%
2017 72,000 +4,500 +6.67%
2016 67,500 +0 +0%
2015 67,500 −2,700 −3.85%
2014 70,200 +4,500 +6.85%
2013 65,700 −300 −0.45%
2012 66,000 +300 +0.46%
2011 65,700 +0 +0%
2010 65,700 −22 −0.03%
2009 65,722 +1,722 +2.69%
2008 64,000 +0 +0%
2007 64,000 +0 +0%
2006 64,000 −7,000 −9.86%
2005 71,000 +0 +0%
2004 71,000 +9,400 +15.26%
2003 61,600 +0 +0%
2002 61,600 −4,500 −6.81%
2001 66,100 −2,400 −3.5%
2000 68,500 −1,450 −2.07%
1999 69,950 +0 +0%
1998 69,950 −2,750 −3.78%
1997 72,700 −7,100 −8.9%
1996 79,800 +4,100 +5.42%
1995 75,700 +700 +0.93%
1994 75,000 −1,000 −1.32%
1993 76,000 −6,000 −7.32%
1992 82,000 −4,000 −4.65%
1991 86,000 −1,000 −1.15%
1990 87,000 −1,000 −1.14%
1989 88,000 — —
1985 83,000 — —

Northern America, 2020

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

US United States 1.4M CA Canada 72,000
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 Canada

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Canada by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Canada by year Demography Population

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

Canada by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Canada by year Defense Arms exports

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

Canada by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Canada by year
All indicators for Canada