Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — North America

Armed forces personnel in North America in 2020 — 1,467,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 34.4%.

2020 1.47M people +0.48% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 2.33M people1989
Period minimum 1.41M people2015

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — North America, 1985–20201.25M1.5M1.75M2M2.25M2.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 2,234,600 people1989: 2,328,000 people1990: 2,267,000 people1991: 2,206,000 people1992: 2,002,000 people1993: 1,896,000 people1994: 1,795,000 people1995: 1,711,300 people1996: 1,651,900 people1997: 1,606,000 people1998: 1,663,950 people1999: 1,644,950 people2000: 1,523,300 people2001: 1,486,800 people2002: 1,528,600 people2003: 1,541,600 people2004: 1,544,000 people2005: 1,617,000 people2006: 1,562,000 people2007: 1,619,000 people2008: 1,604,000 people2009: 1,629,718 people2010: 1,635,117 people2011: 1,585,800 people2012: 1,558,200 people2013: 1,498,850 people2014: 1,451,450 people2015: 1,414,800 people2016: 1,415,900 people2017: 1,431,000 people2018: 1,452,200 people2019: 1,460,000 people2020: 1,467,000 people
Change over the period: −767,600 (−34.35%) Average annual rate: -1.2 %

Comparison, 2020

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

North America 1.47M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 1.47M +7,000 +0.48%
2019 1.46M +7,800 +0.54%
2018 1.45M +21,200 +1.48%
2017 1.43M +15,100 +1.07%
2016 1.42M +1,100 +0.08%
2015 1.41M −36,650 −2.53%
2014 1.45M −47,400 −3.16%
2013 1.5M −59,350 −3.81%
2012 1.56M −27,600 −1.74%
2011 1.59M −49,317 −3.02%
2010 1.64M +5,399 +0.33%
2009 1.63M +25,718 +1.6%
2008 1.6M −15,000 −0.93%
2007 1.62M +57,000 +3.65%
2006 1.56M −55,000 −3.4%
2005 1.62M +73,000 +4.73%
2004 1.54M +2,400 +0.16%
2003 1.54M +13,000 +0.85%
2002 1.53M +41,800 +2.81%
2001 1.49M −36,500 −2.4%
2000 1.52M −121,650 −7.4%
1999 1.64M −19,000 −1.14%
1998 1.66M +57,950 +3.61%
1997 1.61M −45,900 −2.78%
1996 1.65M −59,400 −3.47%
1995 1.71M −83,700 −4.66%
1994 1.8M −101,000 −5.33%
1993 1.9M −106,000 −5.29%
1992 2M −204,000 −9.25%
1991 2.21M −61,000 −2.69%
1990 2.27M −61,000 −2.62%
1989 2.33M
1985 2.23M

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.