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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Low-income countries

Armed forces personnel in low-income countries in 2020 — 2,935,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 57.5%.

2020 2.94M people −7.3% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 3.35M people2000
Period minimum 1.86M people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Low-income countries, 1985–20201.5M2M2.5M3M3.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 1,863,530 people1989: 2,216,000 people1990: 2,506,000 people1991: 2,343,000 people1992: 2,264,000 people1993: 2,201,000 people1994: 2,071,000 people1995: 3,117,050 people1996: 3,109,850 people1997: 3,117,900 people1998: 3,095,500 people1999: 3,272,300 people2000: 3,351,900 people2001: 2,810,900 people2002: 2,946,250 people2003: 2,890,700 people2004: 2,766,800 people2005: 2,789,800 people2007: 2,772,000 people2008: 2,820,000 people2009: 3,075,723 people2010: 3,266,598 people2011: 3,260,650 people2012: 3,275,850 people2013: 3,238,470 people2014: 3,212,220 people2015: 3,212,170 people2016: 3,216,000 people2017: 3,142,000 people2018: 3,116,550 people2019: 3,166,000 people2020: 2,935,000 people
Change over the period: +1.07M (+57.5%) Average annual rate: 1.31 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 2.94M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 2.94M −231,000 −7.3%
2019 3.17M +49,450 +1.59%
2018 3.12M −25,450 −0.81%
2017 3.14M −74,000 −2.3%
2016 3.22M +3,830 +0.12%
2015 3.21M −50 −0%
2014 3.21M −26,250 −0.81%
2013 3.24M −37,380 −1.14%
2012 3.28M +15,200 +0.47%
2011 3.26M −5,948 −0.18%
2010 3.27M +190,875 +6.21%
2009 3.08M +255,723 +9.07%
2008 2.82M +48,000 +1.73%
2007 2.77M — —
2005 2.79M +23,000 +0.83%
2004 2.77M −123,900 −4.29%
2003 2.89M −55,550 −1.89%
2002 2.95M +135,350 +4.82%
2001 2.81M −541,000 −16.14%
2000 3.35M +79,600 +2.43%
1999 3.27M +176,800 +5.71%
1998 3.1M −22,400 −0.72%
1997 3.12M +8,050 +0.26%
1996 3.11M −7,200 −0.23%
1995 3.12M +1.05M +50.51%
1994 2.07M −130,000 −5.91%
1993 2.2M −63,000 −2.78%
1992 2.26M −79,000 −3.37%
1991 2.34M −163,000 −6.5%
1990 2.51M +290,000 +13.09%
1989 2.22M — —
1985 1.86M — —

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 low-income countries

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Low-income countries by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Low-income countries by year Demography Population

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

Low-income countries by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Low-income countries by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Low-income countries by year
All indicators for low-income countries