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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Sub-Saharan Africa

Armed forces personnel in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 — 1,732,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 82.2%.

2020 1.73M people −11.23% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 1.95M people2019
Period minimum 950,830 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1985–2020500,0001M1.5M2M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 950,830 people1989: 1,238,000 people1990: 1,256,000 people1991: 1,148,000 people1992: 1,083,000 people1993: 1,121,000 people1994: 1,062,000 people1995: 1,698,300 people1996: 1,659,600 people1997: 1,623,660 people1998: 1,641,450 people1999: 1,704,800 people2000: 1,725,200 people2001: 1,642,800 people2002: 1,609,550 people2003: 1,544,100 people2004: 1,500,450 people2005: 1,534,250 people2007: 1,526,450 people2008: 1,531,450 people2009: 1,555,811 people2010: 1,677,181 people2011: 1,858,822 people2012: 1,860,810 people2013: 1,845,910 people2014: 1,887,010 people2015: 1,916,310 people2016: 1,796,540 people2017: 1,790,000 people2018: 1,843,470 people2019: 1,951,000 people2020: 1,732,000 people
Change over the period: +781,170 (+82.16%) Average annual rate: 1.73 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 1.73M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 1.73M −219,000 −11.23%
2019 1.95M +107,530 +5.83%
2018 1.84M +53,470 +2.99%
2017 1.79M −6,540 −0.36%
2016 1.8M −119,770 −6.25%
2015 1.92M +29,300 +1.55%
2014 1.89M +41,100 +2.23%
2013 1.85M −14,900 −0.8%
2012 1.86M +1,988 +0.11%
2011 1.86M +181,641 +10.83%
2010 1.68M +121,370 +7.8%
2009 1.56M +24,361 +1.59%
2008 1.53M +5,000 +0.33%
2007 1.53M — —
2005 1.53M +33,800 +2.25%
2004 1.5M −43,650 −2.83%
2003 1.54M −65,450 −4.07%
2002 1.61M −33,250 −2.02%
2001 1.64M −82,400 −4.78%
2000 1.73M +20,400 +1.2%
1999 1.7M +63,350 +3.86%
1998 1.64M +17,790 +1.1%
1997 1.62M −35,940 −2.17%
1996 1.66M −38,700 −2.28%
1995 1.7M +636,300 +59.92%
1994 1.06M −59,000 −5.26%
1993 1.12M +38,000 +3.51%
1992 1.08M −65,000 −5.66%
1991 1.15M −108,000 −8.6%
1990 1.26M +18,000 +1.45%
1989 1.24M — —
1985 950,830 — —

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 Sub-Saharan Africa

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Demography Population

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

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Defense Arms exports

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

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year
All indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa