Contact Contacts
Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Southern Africa

Armed forces personnel in Southern Africa in 2020 — 116,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 3.2%.

2020 116,000 people −0.85% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 299,600 people1996
Period minimum 82,000 people2004

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Southern Africa, 1985–20200100,000200,000300,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 112,400 people1989: 112,000 people1990: 96,000 people1991: 100,000 people1992: 95,000 people1993: 95,000 people1994: 95,000 people1995: 298,500 people1996: 299,600 people1997: 236,840 people1998: 235,300 people1999: 102,250 people2000: 92,700 people2001: 94,000 people2002: 87,500 people2003: 83,200 people2004: 82,000 people2005: 84,000 people2006: 131,000 people2007: 90,000 people2008: 90,000 people2009: 104,853 people2010: 104,853 people2011: 105,282 people2012: 89,800 people2013: 104,850 people2014: 109,950 people2015: 108,350 people2016: 108,300 people2017: 107,000 people2018: 116,550 people2019: 117,000 people2020: 116,000 people
Change over the period: +3,600 (+3.2%) Average annual rate: 0.09 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Southern Africa 116,000 people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 116,000 −1,000 −0.85%
2019 117,000 +450 +0.39%
2018 116,550 +9,550 +8.93%
2017 107,000 −1,300 −1.2%
2016 108,300 −50 −0.05%
2015 108,350 −1,600 −1.46%
2014 109,950 +5,100 +4.86%
2013 104,850 +15,050 +16.76%
2012 89,800 −15,482 −14.71%
2011 105,282 +429 +0.41%
2010 104,853 +0 +0%
2009 104,853 +14,853 +16.5%
2008 90,000 +0 +0%
2007 90,000 −41,000 −31.3%
2006 131,000 +47,000 +55.95%
2005 84,000 +2,000 +2.44%
2004 82,000 −1,200 −1.44%
2003 83,200 −4,300 −4.91%
2002 87,500 −6,500 −6.91%
2001 94,000 +1,300 +1.4%
2000 92,700 −9,550 −9.34%
1999 102,250 −133,050 −56.54%
1998 235,300 −1,540 −0.65%
1997 236,840 −62,760 −20.95%
1996 299,600 +1,100 +0.37%
1995 298,500 +203,500 +214.21%
1994 95,000 +0 +0%
1993 95,000 +0 +0%
1992 95,000 −5,000 −5%
1991 100,000 +4,000 +4.17%
1990 96,000 −16,000 −14.29%
1989 112,000 — —
1985 112,400 — —

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 Southern Africa

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

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

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Southern Africa by year Demography Population

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

Southern Africa by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Southern Africa by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Southern Africa by year
All indicators for Southern Africa