Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — South Asia

Armed forces personnel in South Asia in 2020 — 3,724,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 165.8%.

2020 3.72M people +0.62% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 3.72M people2020
Period minimum 1.4M people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — South Asia, 1985–20201M2M3M4M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 1,400,900 people1989: 1,420,000 people1990: 1,420,000 people1991: 1,522,000 people1992: 1,527,000 people1993: 1,527,000 people1994: 1,533,000 people1995: 2,622,500 people1996: 2,691,400 people1997: 2,722,900 people1998: 2,762,900 people1999: 2,775,500 people2000: 2,813,600 people2001: 2,848,500 people2002: 2,925,400 people2003: 2,947,300 people2004: 3,238,000 people2005: 3,630,000 people2006: 3,147,000 people2007: 3,141,000 people2008: 3,147,000 people2009: 3,227,392 people2010: 3,227,392 people2011: 3,248,950 people2012: 3,330,500 people2013: 3,351,500 people2014: 3,351,500 people2015: 3,443,550 people2016: 3,665,800 people2017: 3,681,000 people2018: 3,682,150 people2019: 3,701,000 people2020: 3,724,000 people
Change over the period: +2.32M (+165.83%) Average annual rate: 2.83 %

Comparison, 2020

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

South Asia 3.72M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 3.72M +23,000 +0.62%
2019 3.7M +18,850 +0.51%
2018 3.68M +1,150 +0.03%
2017 3.68M +15,200 +0.41%
2016 3.67M +222,250 +6.45%
2015 3.44M +92,050 +2.75%
2014 3.35M +0 +0%
2013 3.35M +21,000 +0.63%
2012 3.33M +81,550 +2.51%
2011 3.25M +21,558 +0.67%
2010 3.23M +0 +0%
2009 3.23M +80,392 +2.55%
2008 3.15M +6,000 +0.19%
2007 3.14M −6,000 −0.19%
2006 3.15M −483,000 −13.31%
2005 3.63M +392,000 +12.11%
2004 3.24M +290,700 +9.86%
2003 2.95M +21,900 +0.75%
2002 2.93M +76,900 +2.7%
2001 2.85M +34,900 +1.24%
2000 2.81M +38,100 +1.37%
1999 2.78M +12,600 +0.46%
1998 2.76M +40,000 +1.47%
1997 2.72M +31,500 +1.17%
1996 2.69M +68,900 +2.63%
1995 2.62M +1.09M +71.07%
1994 1.53M +6,000 +0.39%
1993 1.53M +0 +0%
1992 1.53M +5,000 +0.33%
1991 1.52M +102,000 +7.18%
1990 1.42M +0 +0%
1989 1.42M
1985 1.4M

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.