Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Southern Asia

Armed forces personnel in Southern Asia in 2020 — 5,482,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 115.8%.

2020 5.48M people −1.62% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 5.57M people2019
Period minimum 2.47M people1990

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Southern Asia, 1985–20202M3M4M5M6M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 2,540,700 people1989: 2,599,000 people1990: 2,468,000 people1991: 2,597,000 people1992: 2,680,000 people1993: 2,680,000 people1994: 2,686,000 people1995: 4,614,500 people1996: 4,818,400 people1997: 4,853,900 people1998: 4,816,900 people1999: 4,795,100 people2000: 4,866,600 people2001: 4,309,500 people2002: 4,514,400 people2003: 4,566,300 people2004: 4,646,000 people2005: 5,163,000 people2006: 4,706,000 people2007: 4,676,000 people2008: 4,725,000 people2009: 4,967,137 people2010: 5,043,192 people2011: 5,098,300 people2012: 5,179,450 people2013: 5,192,950 people2014: 5,149,100 people2015: 5,261,750 people2016: 5,487,600 people2017: 5,503,000 people2018: 5,549,850 people2019: 5,572,000 people2020: 5,482,000 people
Change over the period: +2.94M (+115.77%) Average annual rate: 2.22 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Southern Asia 5.48M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 5.48M −90,000 −1.62%
2019 5.57M +22,150 +0.4%
2018 5.55M +46,850 +0.85%
2017 5.5M +15,400 +0.28%
2016 5.49M +225,850 +4.29%
2015 5.26M +112,650 +2.19%
2014 5.15M −43,850 −0.84%
2013 5.19M +13,500 +0.26%
2012 5.18M +81,150 +1.59%
2011 5.1M +55,108 +1.09%
2010 5.04M +76,055 +1.53%
2009 4.97M +242,137 +5.12%
2008 4.73M +49,000 +1.05%
2007 4.68M −30,000 −0.64%
2006 4.71M −457,000 −8.85%
2005 5.16M +517,000 +11.13%
2004 4.65M +79,700 +1.75%
2003 4.57M +51,900 +1.15%
2002 4.51M +204,900 +4.75%
2001 4.31M −557,100 −11.45%
2000 4.87M +71,500 +1.49%
1999 4.8M −21,800 −0.45%
1998 4.82M −37,000 −0.76%
1997 4.85M +35,500 +0.74%
1996 4.82M +203,900 +4.42%
1995 4.61M +1.93M +71.8%
1994 2.69M +6,000 +0.22%
1993 2.68M +0 +0%
1992 2.68M +83,000 +3.2%
1991 2.6M +129,000 +5.23%
1990 2.47M −131,000 −5.04%
1989 2.6M
1985 2.54M

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.