Contact Contacts
Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Northern Africa

Armed forces personnel in Northern Africa in 2020 — 1,600,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 72.3%.

2020 1.6M people +1.85% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 1.72M people2012
Period minimum 928,700 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Northern Africa, 1985–2020800,0001M1.2M1.4M1.6M1.8M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 928,700 people1989: 962,000 people1990: 941,000 people1991: 941,000 people1992: 947,000 people1993: 947,000 people1994: 948,000 people1995: 1,282,900 people1996: 1,300,400 people1997: 1,395,700 people1998: 1,408,700 people1999: 1,443,700 people2000: 1,467,200 people2001: 1,567,200 people2002: 1,584,700 people2003: 1,573,000 people2004: 1,610,000 people2005: 1,615,000 people2006: 1,570,000 people2007: 1,697,000 people2008: 1,697,000 people2009: 1,696,100 people2010: 1,573,100 people2011: 1,710,600 people2012: 1,717,600 people2013: 1,717,600 people2014: 1,710,600 people2015: 1,710,600 people2016: 1,570,600 people2017: 1,571,000 people2018: 1,570,400 people2019: 1,571,000 people2020: 1,600,000 people
Change over the period: +671,300 (+72.28%) Average annual rate: 1.57 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Northern Africa

Northern Africa 1.6M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Northern Africa, by year Northern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 1.6M +29,000 +1.85%
2019 1.57M +600 +0.04%
2018 1.57M −600 −0.04%
2017 1.57M +400 +0.03%
2016 1.57M −140,000 −8.18%
2015 1.71M +0 +0%
2014 1.71M −7,000 −0.41%
2013 1.72M +0 +0%
2012 1.72M +7,000 +0.41%
2011 1.71M +137,500 +8.74%
2010 1.57M −123,000 −7.25%
2009 1.7M −900 −0.05%
2008 1.7M +0 +0%
2007 1.7M +127,000 +8.09%
2006 1.57M −45,000 −2.79%
2005 1.62M +5,000 +0.31%
2004 1.61M +37,000 +2.35%
2003 1.57M −11,700 −0.74%
2002 1.58M +17,500 +1.12%
2001 1.57M +100,000 +6.82%
2000 1.47M +23,500 +1.63%
1999 1.44M +35,000 +2.48%
1998 1.41M +13,000 +0.93%
1997 1.4M +95,300 +7.33%
1996 1.3M +17,500 +1.36%
1995 1.28M +334,900 +35.33%
1994 948,000 +1,000 +0.11%
1993 947,000 +0 +0%
1992 947,000 +6,000 +0.64%
1991 941,000 +0 +0%
1990 941,000 −21,000 −2.18%
1989 962,000 — —
1985 928,700 — —

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 Northern Africa

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Northern Africa by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Northern Africa by year Demography Population

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

Northern Africa by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Northern Africa by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Northern Africa by year
All indicators for Northern Africa