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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Central America

Armed forces personnel in Central America in 2020 — 501,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 62.8%.

2020 501,000 people +2.66% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 505,000 people2018
Period minimum 290,000 people1994

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Central America, 1985–2020200,000300,000400,000500,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 307,800 people1989: 349,000 people1990: 339,000 people1991: 336,000 people1992: 320,000 people1993: 320,000 people1994: 290,000 people1995: 349,400 people1996: 357,300 people1997: 350,450 people1998: 327,350 people1999: 329,820 people2000: 348,100 people2001: 348,100 people2002: 350,100 people2003: 343,600 people2004: 301,000 people2005: 315,000 people2006: 400,000 people2007: 411,000 people2008: 428,000 people2009: 453,312 people2010: 453,312 people2011: 459,200 people2012: 459,200 people2013: 454,900 people2014: 474,150 people2015: 484,650 people2016: 488,650 people2017: 494,000 people2018: 505,000 people2019: 488,000 people2020: 501,000 people
Change over the period: +193,200 (+62.77%) Average annual rate: 1.4 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Central America 501,000 people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 501,000 +13,000 +2.66%
2019 488,000 −17,000 −3.37%
2018 505,000 +11,000 +2.23%
2017 494,000 +5,350 +1.09%
2016 488,650 +4,000 +0.83%
2015 484,650 +10,500 +2.21%
2014 474,150 +19,250 +4.23%
2013 454,900 −4,300 −0.94%
2012 459,200 +0 +0%
2011 459,200 +5,888 +1.3%
2010 453,312 +0 +0%
2009 453,312 +25,312 +5.91%
2008 428,000 +17,000 +4.14%
2007 411,000 +11,000 +2.75%
2006 400,000 +85,000 +26.98%
2005 315,000 +14,000 +4.65%
2004 301,000 −42,600 −12.4%
2003 343,600 −6,500 −1.86%
2002 350,100 +2,000 +0.57%
2001 348,100 +0 +0%
2000 348,100 +18,280 +5.54%
1999 329,820 +2,470 +0.75%
1998 327,350 −23,100 −6.59%
1997 350,450 −6,850 −1.92%
1996 357,300 +7,900 +2.26%
1995 349,400 +59,400 +20.48%
1994 290,000 −30,000 −9.38%
1993 320,000 +0 +0%
1992 320,000 −16,000 −4.76%
1991 336,000 −3,000 −0.88%
1990 339,000 −10,000 −2.87%
1989 349,000 — —
1985 307,800 — —

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 Central America

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Central America by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Central America by year Demography Population

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

Central America by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Central America by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Central America by year
All indicators for Central America