Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — South America

Armed forces personnel in South America in 2020 — 2,077,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 143.4%.

2020 2.08M people −2.85% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 2.14M people2018
Period minimum 853,200 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — South America, 1985–2020500,0001M1.5M2M2.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 853,200 people1989: 912,000 people1990: 917,000 people1991: 896,000 people1992: 913,000 people1993: 913,000 people1994: 930,000 people1995: 1,581,300 people1996: 1,599,020 people1997: 1,639,260 people1998: 1,636,780 people1999: 1,597,230 people2000: 1,603,100 people2001: 1,633,300 people2002: 1,638,200 people2003: 1,668,400 people2004: 1,646,190 people2005: 1,638,190 people2006: 1,731,400 people2007: 1,853,300 people2008: 1,846,300 people2009: 1,867,931 people2010: 1,867,931 people2011: 1,864,827 people2012: 1,866,694 people2013: 1,884,103 people2014: 1,991,540 people2015: 2,016,690 people2016: 2,037,140 people2017: 2,105,000 people2018: 2,139,740 people2019: 2,138,000 people2020: 2,077,000 people
Change over the period: +1.22M (+143.44%) Average annual rate: 2.57 %

Comparison, 2020

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

South America 2.08M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 2.08M −61,000 −2.85%
2019 2.14M −1,740 −0.08%
2018 2.14M +34,740 +1.65%
2017 2.11M +67,860 +3.33%
2016 2.04M +20,450 +1.01%
2015 2.02M +25,150 +1.26%
2014 1.99M +107,437 +5.7%
2013 1.88M +17,409 +0.93%
2012 1.87M +1,867 +0.1%
2011 1.86M −3,104 −0.17%
2010 1.87M +0 +0%
2009 1.87M +21,631 +1.17%
2008 1.85M −7,000 −0.38%
2007 1.85M +121,900 +7.04%
2006 1.73M +93,210 +5.69%
2005 1.64M −8,000 −0.49%
2004 1.65M −22,210 −1.33%
2003 1.67M +30,200 +1.84%
2002 1.64M +4,900 +0.3%
2001 1.63M +30,200 +1.88%
2000 1.6M +5,870 +0.37%
1999 1.6M −39,550 −2.42%
1998 1.64M −2,480 −0.15%
1997 1.64M +40,240 +2.52%
1996 1.6M +17,720 +1.12%
1995 1.58M +651,300 +70.03%
1994 930,000 +17,000 +1.86%
1993 913,000 +0 +0%
1992 913,000 +17,000 +1.9%
1991 896,000 −21,000 −2.29%
1990 917,000 +5,000 +0.55%
1989 912,000
1985 853,200

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.