Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Western Africa

Armed forces personnel in Western Africa in 2020 — 423,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 130.6%.

2020 423,000 people −17.06% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 510,000 people2019
Period minimum 183,430 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Western Africa, 1985–2020100,000200,000300,000400,000500,000600,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 183,430 people1989: 241,000 people1990: 238,000 people1991: 236,000 people1992: 211,000 people1993: 207,000 people1994: 195,000 people1995: 264,750 people1996: 275,550 people1997: 287,200 people1998: 269,100 people1999: 275,600 people2000: 252,300 people2001: 313,100 people2002: 321,800 people2003: 317,700 people2004: 303,800 people2005: 329,800 people2007: 329,000 people2008: 326,000 people2009: 326,688 people2010: 308,138 people2011: 303,300 people2012: 298,950 people2013: 302,950 people2014: 327,950 people2015: 366,250 people2016: 368,250 people2017: 389,000 people2018: 402,200 people2019: 510,000 people2020: 423,000 people
Change over the period: +239,570 (+130.61%) Average annual rate: 2.42 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Western Africa 423,000 people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 423,000 −87,000 −17.06%
2019 510,000 +107,800 +26.8%
2018 402,200 +13,200 +3.39%
2017 389,000 +20,750 +5.63%
2016 368,250 +2,000 +0.55%
2015 366,250 +38,300 +11.68%
2014 327,950 +25,000 +8.25%
2013 302,950 +4,000 +1.34%
2012 298,950 −4,350 −1.43%
2011 303,300 −4,838 −1.57%
2010 308,138 −18,550 −5.68%
2009 326,688 +688 +0.21%
2008 326,000 −3,000 −0.91%
2007 329,000
2005 329,800 +26,000 +8.56%
2004 303,800 −13,900 −4.38%
2003 317,700 −4,100 −1.27%
2002 321,800 +8,700 +2.78%
2001 313,100 +60,800 +24.1%
2000 252,300 −23,300 −8.45%
1999 275,600 +6,500 +2.42%
1998 269,100 −18,100 −6.3%
1997 287,200 +11,650 +4.23%
1996 275,550 +10,800 +4.08%
1995 264,750 +69,750 +35.77%
1994 195,000 −12,000 −5.8%
1993 207,000 −4,000 −1.9%
1992 211,000 −25,000 −10.59%
1991 236,000 −2,000 −0.84%
1990 238,000 −3,000 −1.24%
1989 241,000
1985 183,430

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.