Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Middle East & North Africa

Armed forces personnel in Middle East & North Africa in 2020 — 4,829,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 24.9%.

2020 4.83M people +0.92% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 5.45M people2010
Period minimum 3.47M people1994

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Middle East & North Africa, 1985–20203M3.5M4M4.5M5M5.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 3,867,500 people1989: 4,129,000 people1990: 4,451,000 people1991: 3,607,000 people1992: 3,514,000 people1993: 3,514,000 people1994: 3,470,000 people1995: 4,882,300 people1996: 5,133,500 people1997: 5,196,800 people1998: 5,138,350 people1999: 5,146,500 people2000: 5,246,200 people2001: 4,690,400 people2002: 4,782,100 people2003: 4,825,700 people2004: 4,374,000 people2005: 4,618,000 people2006: 4,985,000 people2007: 4,838,000 people2008: 5,097,000 people2009: 5,355,421 people2010: 5,451,487 people2011: 5,260,930 people2012: 5,272,490 people2013: 4,598,690 people2014: 4,563,840 people2015: 4,581,440 people2016: 4,624,890 people2017: 4,574,000 people2018: 4,728,300 people2019: 4,785,000 people2020: 4,829,000 people
Change over the period: +961,500 (+24.86%) Average annual rate: 0.64 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 4.83M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 4.83M +44,000 +0.92%
2019 4.79M +56,700 +1.2%
2018 4.73M +154,300 +3.37%
2017 4.57M −50,890 −1.1%
2016 4.62M +43,450 +0.95%
2015 4.58M +17,600 +0.39%
2014 4.56M −34,850 −0.76%
2013 4.6M −673,800 −12.78%
2012 5.27M +11,560 +0.22%
2011 5.26M −190,557 −3.5%
2010 5.45M +96,066 +1.79%
2009 5.36M +258,421 +5.07%
2008 5.1M +259,000 +5.35%
2007 4.84M −147,000 −2.95%
2006 4.99M +367,000 +7.95%
2005 4.62M +244,000 +5.58%
2004 4.37M −451,700 −9.36%
2003 4.83M +43,600 +0.91%
2002 4.78M +91,700 +1.96%
2001 4.69M −555,800 −10.59%
2000 5.25M +99,700 +1.94%
1999 5.15M +8,150 +0.16%
1998 5.14M −58,450 −1.12%
1997 5.2M +63,300 +1.23%
1996 5.13M +251,200 +5.15%
1995 4.88M +1.41M +40.7%
1994 3.47M −44,000 −1.25%
1993 3.51M +0 +0%
1992 3.51M −93,000 −2.58%
1991 3.61M −844,000 −18.96%
1990 4.45M +322,000 +7.8%
1989 4.13M
1985 3.87M

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.