Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — India

Armed forces personnel in India in 2020 — 3,068,000 people. Ranked 1 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 143.5%.

2020 3.07M people +0.76% vs 2019
World rank 1of 170
Period maximum 3.07M people2020
Period minimum 1.26M people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — India, 1985–20201M1.5M2M2.5M3M3.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 1,260,000 people1989: 1,260,000 people1990: 1,260,000 people1991: 1,270,000 people1992: 1,270,000 people1993: 1,270,000 people1994: 1,270,000 people1995: 2,149,500 people1996: 2,223,000 people1997: 2,233,000 people1998: 2,265,000 people1999: 2,263,000 people2000: 2,372,000 people2001: 2,352,700 people2002: 2,387,700 people2003: 2,414,700 people2004: 2,617,000 people2005: 3,047,000 people2006: 2,589,000 people2007: 2,576,000 people2008: 2,582,000 people2009: 2,625,586 people2010: 2,625,586 people2011: 2,647,150 people2012: 2,728,700 people2013: 2,749,700 people2014: 2,749,700 people2015: 2,798,800 people2016: 2,981,050 people2017: 3,031,000 people2018: 3,026,500 people2019: 3,045,000 people2020: 3,068,000 people
Change over the period: +1.81M (+143.49%) Average annual rate: 2.58 %

Comparison, 2020

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

India 3.07M people
World 27.41M people
South Asia 3.72M people
Southern Asia computed 5.48M people
Lower-middle-income countries computed 9.31M people
Armed forces personnel — India, by year India All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 3.07M +23,000 +0.76%
2019 3.05M +18,500 +0.61%
2018 3.03M −4,500 −0.15%
2017 3.03M +49,950 +1.68%
2016 2.98M +182,250 +6.51%
2015 2.8M +49,100 +1.79%
2014 2.75M +0 +0%
2013 2.75M +21,000 +0.77%
2012 2.73M +81,550 +3.08%
2011 2.65M +21,564 +0.82%
2010 2.63M +0 +0%
2009 2.63M +43,586 +1.69%
2008 2.58M +6,000 +0.23%
2007 2.58M −13,000 −0.5%
2006 2.59M −458,000 −15.03%
2005 3.05M +430,000 +16.43%
2004 2.62M +202,300 +8.38%
2003 2.41M +27,000 +1.13%
2002 2.39M +35,000 +1.49%
2001 2.35M −19,300 −0.81%
2000 2.37M +109,000 +4.82%
1999 2.26M −2,000 −0.09%
1998 2.27M +32,000 +1.43%
1997 2.23M +10,000 +0.45%
1996 2.22M +73,500 +3.42%
1995 2.15M +879,500 +69.25%
1994 1.27M +0 +0%
1993 1.27M +0 +0%
1992 1.27M +0 +0%
1991 1.27M +10,000 +0.79%
1990 1.26M +0 +0%
1989 1.26M
1985 1.26M

Southern Asia, 2020

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

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.