Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Eastern Asia

Armed forces personnel in Eastern Asia in 2020 — 4,852,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 13.5%.

2020 4.85M people −0.9% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 6.3M people1995
Period minimum 4.85M people2020

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Eastern Asia, 1985–20204.5M5M5.5M6M6.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 5,612,000 people1989: 5,867,000 people1990: 5,632,000 people1991: 5,431,000 people1992: 5,373,000 people1993: 5,140,000 people1994: 5,031,000 people1995: 6,296,600 people1996: 6,253,000 people1997: 5,823,000 people1998: 6,012,100 people1999: 6,011,400 people2000: 6,106,500 people2001: 6,036,900 people2002: 5,999,900 people2003: 5,979,400 people2004: 6,012,000 people2005: 6,031,000 people2006: 5,860,000 people2007: 5,130,000 people2008: 5,131,000 people2009: 5,261,082 people2010: 5,261,082 people2011: 5,260,786 people2012: 5,308,500 people2013: 5,308,800 people2014: 5,281,800 people2015: 5,133,800 people2016: 5,076,390 people2017: 5,077,000 people2018: 5,050,850 people2019: 4,896,000 people2020: 4,852,000 people
Change over the period: −760,000 (−13.54%) Average annual rate: -0.41 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Eastern Asia 4.85M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Eastern Asia, by year Eastern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 4.85M −44,000 −0.9%
2019 4.9M −154,850 −3.07%
2018 5.05M −26,150 −0.52%
2017 5.08M +610 +0.01%
2016 5.08M −57,410 −1.12%
2015 5.13M −148,000 −2.8%
2014 5.28M −27,000 −0.51%
2013 5.31M +300 +0.01%
2012 5.31M +47,714 +0.91%
2011 5.26M −296 −0.01%
2010 5.26M +0 +0%
2009 5.26M +130,082 +2.54%
2008 5.13M +1,000 +0.02%
2007 5.13M −730,000 −12.46%
2006 5.86M −171,000 −2.84%
2005 6.03M +19,000 +0.32%
2004 6.01M +32,600 +0.55%
2003 5.98M −20,500 −0.34%
2002 6M −37,000 −0.61%
2001 6.04M −69,600 −1.14%
2000 6.11M +95,100 +1.58%
1999 6.01M −700 −0.01%
1998 6.01M +189,100 +3.25%
1997 5.82M −430,000 −6.88%
1996 6.25M −43,600 −0.69%
1995 6.3M +1.27M +25.16%
1994 5.03M −109,000 −2.12%
1993 5.14M −233,000 −4.34%
1992 5.37M −58,000 −1.07%
1991 5.43M −201,000 −3.57%
1990 5.63M −235,000 −4.01%
1989 5.87M
1985 5.61M

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.