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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Costa Rica

Armed forces personnel in Costa Rica in 2020 — 10,000 people. Ranked 131 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 24.2%.

2020 10,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 131of 170
Period maximum 25,900 people2002
Period minimum 8,000 people1989

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Costa Rica, 1985–2020010,00020,00030,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 13,200 people1989: 8,000 people1990: 8,000 people1991: 8,000 people1992: 8,000 people1993: 8,000 people1994: 8,000 people1995: 16,200 people1996: 16,200 people1997: 15,400 people1998: 15,400 people1999: 15,400 people2000: 15,400 people2001: 21,900 people2002: 25,900 people2003: 17,000 people2006: 10,000 people2007: 10,000 people2008: 10,000 people2009: 9,800 people2010: 9,800 people2011: 9,800 people2012: 9,800 people2013: 9,800 people2014: 9,800 people2015: 9,800 people2016: 9,800 people2017: 10,000 people2018: 10,000 people2019: 10,000 people2020: 10,000 people
Change over the period: −3,200 (−24.24%) Average annual rate: -0.79 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Costa Rica 10,000 people
World 27.41M people
Latin America & Caribbean 2.74M people
Central America computed 501,000 people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 7.86M people
Armed forces personnel — Costa Rica, by year Costa Rica All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 10,000 +0 +0%
2019 10,000 +0 +0%
2018 10,000 +0 +0%
2017 10,000 +200 +2.04%
2016 9,800 +0 +0%
2015 9,800 +0 +0%
2014 9,800 +0 +0%
2013 9,800 +0 +0%
2012 9,800 +0 +0%
2011 9,800 +0 +0%
2010 9,800 +0 +0%
2009 9,800 −200 −2%
2008 10,000 +0 +0%
2007 10,000 +0 +0%
2006 10,000 — —
2003 17,000 −8,900 −34.36%
2002 25,900 +4,000 +18.26%
2001 21,900 +6,500 +42.21%
2000 15,400 +0 +0%
1999 15,400 +0 +0%
1998 15,400 +0 +0%
1997 15,400 −800 −4.94%
1996 16,200 +0 +0%
1995 16,200 +8,200 +102.5%
1994 8,000 +0 +0%
1993 8,000 +0 +0%
1992 8,000 +0 +0%
1991 8,000 +0 +0%
1990 8,000 +0 +0%
1989 8,000 — —
1985 13,200 — —

Central America, 2020

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

MX Mexico 341,000 GT Guatemala 43,000 SV El Salvador 42,000 PA Panama 28,000 HN Honduras 23,000 NI Nicaragua 12,000 CR Costa Rica 10,000 BZ Belize 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 Costa Rica

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Costa Rica by year Demography Population

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

Costa Rica by year Defense Arms exports

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

Costa Rica by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Costa Rica by year
All indicators for Costa Rica