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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Sri Lanka

Armed forces personnel in Sri Lanka in 2020 — 317,000 people. Ranked 22 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 1,367.6%.

2020 317,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 22of 170
Period maximum 317,000 people2017
Period minimum 21,600 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Sri Lanka, 1985–20200100,000200,000300,000400,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 21,600 people1989: 22,000 people1990: 22,000 people1991: 110,000 people1992: 110,000 people1993: 110,000 people1994: 110,000 people1995: 235,500 people1996: 225,200 people1997: 227,200 people1998: 225,200 people1999: 218,300 people2000: 203,600 people2001: 209,600 people2002: 246,500 people2003: 240,900 people2004: 239,000 people2005: 200,000 people2006: 213,000 people2007: 213,000 people2008: 213,000 people2009: 223,100 people2010: 223,100 people2011: 223,100 people2012: 223,100 people2013: 223,100 people2014: 223,100 people2015: 265,200 people2016: 305,200 people2017: 317,000 people2018: 317,000 people2019: 317,000 people2020: 317,000 people
Change over the period: +295,400 (+1,367.59%) Average annual rate: 7.98 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Sri Lanka 317,000 people
World 27.41M people
South Asia 3.72M people
Southern Asia computed 5.48M people
Lower-middle-income countries computed 9.31M people
Armed forces personnel — Sri Lanka, by year Sri Lanka All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 317,000 +0 +0%
2019 317,000 +0 +0%
2018 317,000 +0 +0%
2017 317,000 +11,800 +3.87%
2016 305,200 +40,000 +15.08%
2015 265,200 +42,100 +18.87%
2014 223,100 +0 +0%
2013 223,100 +0 +0%
2012 223,100 +0 +0%
2011 223,100 +0 +0%
2010 223,100 +0 +0%
2009 223,100 +10,100 +4.74%
2008 213,000 +0 +0%
2007 213,000 +0 +0%
2006 213,000 +13,000 +6.5%
2005 200,000 −39,000 −16.32%
2004 239,000 −1,900 −0.79%
2003 240,900 −5,600 −2.27%
2002 246,500 +36,900 +17.6%
2001 209,600 +6,000 +2.95%
2000 203,600 −14,700 −6.73%
1999 218,300 −6,900 −3.06%
1998 225,200 −2,000 −0.88%
1997 227,200 +2,000 +0.89%
1996 225,200 −10,300 −4.37%
1995 235,500 +125,500 +114.09%
1994 110,000 +0 +0%
1993 110,000 +0 +0%
1992 110,000 +0 +0%
1991 110,000 +88,000 +400%
1990 22,000 +0 +0%
1989 22,000 — —
1985 21,600 — —

Southern Asia, 2020

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

IN India 3.07M PK Pakistan 943,000 IR Iran 650,000 LK Sri Lanka 317,000 BD Bangladesh 227,000 AF Afghanistan 165,000 NP Nepal 112,000
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 Sri Lanka

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Sri Lanka by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Sri Lanka by year Demography Population

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

Sri Lanka by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Sri Lanka by year Defense Arms exports

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

Sri Lanka by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Sri Lanka by year
All indicators for Sri Lanka