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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — OECD

Armed forces personnel in the OECD in 2020 — 5,861,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 20.5%.

2020 5.86M people −1.26% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 8.02M people1989
Period minimum 5.86M people2020

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — OECD, 1985–20205M6M7M8M9M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 7,375,800 people1989: 8,015,000 people1990: 7,914,000 people1991: 7,815,000 people1992: 7,392,000 people1993: 7,265,000 people1994: 7,269,000 people1995: 7,361,800 people1996: 7,269,620 people1997: 7,195,290 people1998: 7,188,990 people1999: 7,077,470 people2000: 6,733,900 people2001: 6,519,900 people2002: 6,532,200 people2003: 6,524,100 people2004: 6,320,112 people2005: 6,573,112 people2006: 6,406,242 people2007: 6,422,242 people2008: 6,423,342 people2009: 6,348,656 people2010: 6,375,125 people2011: 6,234,850 people2012: 6,235,724 people2013: 6,156,570 people2014: 6,080,920 people2015: 5,955,250 people2016: 5,968,960 people2017: 5,950,000 people2018: 5,953,405 people2019: 5,936,000 people2020: 5,861,000 people
Change over the period: −1.51M (−20.54%) Average annual rate: -0.65 %

Comparison, 2020

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

OECD 5.86M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 5.86M −75,000 −1.26%
2019 5.94M −17,405 −0.29%
2018 5.95M +3,405 +0.06%
2017 5.95M −18,960 −0.32%
2016 5.97M +13,710 +0.23%
2015 5.96M −125,670 −2.07%
2014 6.08M −75,650 −1.23%
2013 6.16M −79,154 −1.27%
2012 6.24M +874 +0.01%
2011 6.23M −140,275 −2.2%
2010 6.38M +26,469 +0.42%
2009 6.35M −74,686 −1.16%
2008 6.42M +1,100 +0.02%
2007 6.42M +16,000 +0.25%
2006 6.41M −166,870 −2.54%
2005 6.57M +253,000 +4%
2004 6.32M −203,988 −3.13%
2003 6.52M −8,100 −0.12%
2002 6.53M +12,300 +0.19%
2001 6.52M −214,000 −3.18%
2000 6.73M −343,570 −4.85%
1999 7.08M −111,520 −1.55%
1998 7.19M −6,300 −0.09%
1997 7.2M −74,330 −1.02%
1996 7.27M −92,180 −1.25%
1995 7.36M +92,800 +1.28%
1994 7.27M +4,000 +0.06%
1993 7.27M −127,000 −1.72%
1992 7.39M −423,000 −5.41%
1991 7.82M −99,000 −1.25%
1990 7.91M −101,000 −1.26%
1989 8.02M — —
1985 7.38M — —

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 OECD

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

OECD by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

OECD by year Demography Population

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

OECD by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

OECD by year Defense Arms exports

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

OECD by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

OECD by year
All indicators for the OECD