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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — G20

Armed forces personnel in the G20 in 2020 — 13,157,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 13.8%.

2020 13.16M people +0.21% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 15M people1995
Period minimum 11.41M people1991

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — G20, 1985–202011M12M13M14M15M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 11,557,500 people1989: 12,148,000 people1990: 11,729,000 people1991: 11,410,000 people1992: 12,890,000 people1993: 12,121,000 people1994: 11,874,000 people1995: 14,998,800 people1996: 14,906,000 people1997: 14,598,780 people1998: 14,701,240 people1999: 14,247,610 people2000: 14,137,900 people2001: 13,823,400 people2002: 13,826,200 people2003: 13,796,100 people2004: 14,118,000 people2005: 14,645,000 people2006: 14,096,000 people2007: 13,346,000 people2008: 13,357,000 people2009: 13,441,102 people2010: 13,409,490 people2011: 13,343,498 people2012: 13,408,080 people2013: 13,258,730 people2014: 13,226,950 people2015: 13,183,700 people2016: 13,182,340 people2017: 13,237,000 people2018: 13,275,150 people2019: 13,129,000 people2020: 13,157,000 people
Change over the period: +1.6M (+13.84%) Average annual rate: 0.37 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: G20

G20 13.16M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — G20, by year G20 All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 13.16M +28,000 +0.21%
2019 13.13M −146,150 −1.1%
2018 13.28M +38,150 +0.29%
2017 13.24M +54,660 +0.41%
2016 13.18M −1,360 −0.01%
2015 13.18M −43,250 −0.33%
2014 13.23M −31,780 −0.24%
2013 13.26M −149,350 −1.11%
2012 13.41M +64,582 +0.48%
2011 13.34M −65,992 −0.49%
2010 13.41M −31,612 −0.24%
2009 13.44M +84,102 +0.63%
2008 13.36M +11,000 +0.08%
2007 13.35M −750,000 −5.32%
2006 14.1M −549,000 −3.75%
2005 14.65M +527,000 +3.73%
2004 14.12M +321,900 +2.33%
2003 13.8M −30,100 −0.22%
2002 13.83M +2,800 +0.02%
2001 13.82M −314,500 −2.22%
2000 14.14M −109,710 −0.77%
1999 14.25M −453,630 −3.09%
1998 14.7M +102,460 +0.7%
1997 14.6M −307,220 −2.06%
1996 14.91M −92,800 −0.62%
1995 15M +3.12M +26.32%
1994 11.87M −247,000 −2.04%
1993 12.12M −769,000 −5.97%
1992 12.89M +1.48M +12.97%
1991 11.41M −319,000 −2.72%
1990 11.73M −419,000 −3.45%
1989 12.15M — —
1985 11.56M — —

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 the G20

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

G20 by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

G20 by year Demography Population

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

G20 by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

G20 by year Defense Arms exports

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

G20 by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

G20 by year
All indicators for the G20