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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — South Africa

Armed forces personnel in South Africa in 2020 — 89,000 people. Ranked 54 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 16.4%.

2020 89,000 people −1.11% vs 2019
World rank 54of 170
Period maximum 277,900 people1996
Period minimum 55,000 people2004

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — South Africa, 1985–20200100,000200,000300,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 106,400 people1989: 100,000 people1990: 85,000 people1991: 80,000 people1992: 75,000 people1993: 75,000 people1994: 75,000 people1995: 276,900 people1996: 277,900 people1997: 217,440 people1998: 211,700 people1999: 78,150 people2000: 71,600 people2001: 67,000 people2002: 60,000 people2003: 55,700 people2004: 55,000 people2005: 56,000 people2006: 103,000 people2007: 62,000 people2008: 62,000 people2009: 77,153 people2010: 77,153 people2011: 77,582 people2012: 62,100 people2013: 77,150 people2014: 82,250 people2015: 82,150 people2016: 81,400 people2017: 80,000 people2018: 89,650 people2019: 90,000 people2020: 89,000 people
Change over the period: −17,400 (−16.35%) Average annual rate: -0.51 %

Comparison, 2020

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

South Africa 89,000 people
World 27.41M people
Sub-Saharan Africa 1.73M people
Southern Africa computed 116,000 people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 7.86M people
Armed forces personnel — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 89,000 −1,000 −1.11%
2019 90,000 +350 +0.39%
2018 89,650 +9,650 +12.06%
2017 80,000 −1,400 −1.72%
2016 81,400 −750 −0.91%
2015 82,150 −100 −0.12%
2014 82,250 +5,100 +6.61%
2013 77,150 +15,050 +24.24%
2012 62,100 −15,482 −19.96%
2011 77,582 +429 +0.56%
2010 77,153 +0 +0%
2009 77,153 +15,153 +24.44%
2008 62,000 +0 +0%
2007 62,000 −41,000 −39.81%
2006 103,000 +47,000 +83.93%
2005 56,000 +1,000 +1.82%
2004 55,000 −700 −1.26%
2003 55,700 −4,300 −7.17%
2002 60,000 −7,000 −10.45%
2001 67,000 −4,600 −6.42%
2000 71,600 −6,550 −8.38%
1999 78,150 −133,550 −63.08%
1998 211,700 −5,740 −2.64%
1997 217,440 −60,460 −21.76%
1996 277,900 +1,000 +0.36%
1995 276,900 +201,900 +269.2%
1994 75,000 +0 +0%
1993 75,000 +0 +0%
1992 75,000 −5,000 −6.25%
1991 80,000 −5,000 −5.88%
1990 85,000 −15,000 −15%
1989 100,000 — —
1985 106,400 — —

Southern Africa, 2020

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

ZA South Africa 89,000 NA Namibia 16,000 BW Botswana 9,000 LS Lesotho 2,000
Full table for all countries

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 South Africa

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

South Africa by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

South Africa by year Demography Population

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

South Africa by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

South Africa by year Defense Arms exports

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

South Africa by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa