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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Colombia

Armed forces personnel in Colombia in 2020 — 428,000 people. Ranked 17 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 546.5%.

2020 428,000 people −11.02% vs 2019
World rank 17of 170
Period maximum 481,200 people2018
Period minimum 66,200 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Colombia, 1985–20200200,000400,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 66,200 people1989: 91,000 people1990: 110,000 people1991: 110,000 people1992: 139,000 people1993: 139,000 people1994: 146,000 people1995: 233,400 people1996: 233,300 people1997: 233,300 people1998: 233,300 people1999: 231,000 people2000: 247,000 people2001: 262,600 people2002: 262,600 people2003: 304,600 people2004: 336,000 people2005: 336,000 people2006: 398,000 people2007: 411,000 people2008: 411,000 people2009: 441,828 people2010: 441,828 people2011: 440,224 people2012: 440,224 people2013: 455,750 people2014: 455,750 people2015: 481,100 people2016: 481,100 people2017: 481,000 people2018: 481,200 people2019: 481,000 people2020: 428,000 people
Change over the period: +361,800 (+546.53%) Average annual rate: 5.48 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Colombia 428,000 people
World 27.41M people
Latin America & Caribbean 2.74M people
South America computed 2.08M people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 7.86M people
Armed forces personnel — Colombia, by year Colombia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 428,000 −53,000 −11.02%
2019 481,000 −200 −0.04%
2018 481,200 +200 +0.04%
2017 481,000 −100 −0.02%
2016 481,100 +0 +0%
2015 481,100 +25,350 +5.56%
2014 455,750 +0 +0%
2013 455,750 +15,526 +3.53%
2012 440,224 +0 +0%
2011 440,224 −1,604 −0.36%
2010 441,828 +0 +0%
2009 441,828 +30,828 +7.5%
2008 411,000 +0 +0%
2007 411,000 +13,000 +3.27%
2006 398,000 +62,000 +18.45%
2005 336,000 +0 +0%
2004 336,000 +31,400 +10.31%
2003 304,600 +42,000 +15.99%
2002 262,600 +0 +0%
2001 262,600 +15,600 +6.32%
2000 247,000 +16,000 +6.93%
1999 231,000 −2,300 −0.99%
1998 233,300 +0 +0%
1997 233,300 +0 +0%
1996 233,300 −100 −0.04%
1995 233,400 +87,400 +59.86%
1994 146,000 +7,000 +5.04%
1993 139,000 +0 +0%
1992 139,000 +29,000 +26.36%
1991 110,000 +0 +0%
1990 110,000 +19,000 +20.88%
1989 91,000 — —
1985 66,200 — —

South America, 2020

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

BR Brazil 762,000 CO Colombia 428,000 VE Venezuela 343,000 PE Peru 158,000 CL Chile 114,000 AR Argentina 103,000 BO Bolivia 71,000 EC Ecuador 42,000 PY Paraguay 29,000 UY Uruguay 22,000 GY Guyana 3,000 SR Suriname 2,000
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 Colombia

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Colombia by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Colombia by year Demography Population

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

Colombia by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Colombia by year Defense Arms exports

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

Colombia by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Colombia by year
All indicators for Colombia