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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Western Asia

Armed forces personnel in Western Asia in 2020 — 2,280,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 8.5%.

2020 2.28M people +6.69% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 3.3M people1990
Period minimum 1.98M people2017

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Western Asia, 1985–20201.5M2M2.5M3M3.5M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 2,491,800 people1989: 2,841,000 people1990: 3,300,000 people1991: 2,465,000 people1992: 2,263,000 people1993: 2,263,000 people1994: 2,354,000 people1995: 2,632,100 people1996: 2,700,800 people1997: 2,788,850 people1998: 2,783,420 people1999: 2,802,450 people2000: 2,832,100 people2001: 2,606,000 people2002: 2,554,800 people2003: 2,565,000 people2004: 2,243,000 people2005: 2,359,750 people2006: 2,638,750 people2007: 2,498,750 people2008: 2,714,750 people2009: 2,824,720 people2010: 2,969,683 people2011: 2,745,604 people2012: 2,744,110 people2013: 2,077,810 people2014: 2,093,810 people2015: 1,983,710 people2016: 2,026,410 people2017: 1,975,000 people2018: 2,083,900 people2019: 2,137,000 people2020: 2,280,000 people
Change over the period: −211,800 (−8.5%) Average annual rate: -0.25 %

Comparison, 2020

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

Western Asia 2.28M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 2.28M +143,000 +6.69%
2019 2.14M +53,100 +2.55%
2018 2.08M +108,900 +5.51%
2017 1.98M −51,410 −2.54%
2016 2.03M +42,700 +2.15%
2015 1.98M −110,100 −5.26%
2014 2.09M +16,000 +0.77%
2013 2.08M −666,300 −24.28%
2012 2.74M −1,494 −0.05%
2011 2.75M −224,079 −7.55%
2010 2.97M +144,963 +5.13%
2009 2.82M +109,970 +4.05%
2008 2.71M +216,000 +8.64%
2007 2.5M −140,000 −5.31%
2006 2.64M +279,000 +11.82%
2005 2.36M +116,750 +5.21%
2004 2.24M −322,000 −12.55%
2003 2.57M +10,200 +0.4%
2002 2.55M −51,200 −1.96%
2001 2.61M −226,100 −7.98%
2000 2.83M +29,650 +1.06%
1999 2.8M +19,030 +0.68%
1998 2.78M −5,430 −0.19%
1997 2.79M +88,050 +3.26%
1996 2.7M +68,700 +2.61%
1995 2.63M +278,100 +11.81%
1994 2.35M +91,000 +4.02%
1993 2.26M +0 +0%
1992 2.26M −202,000 −8.19%
1991 2.47M −835,000 −25.3%
1990 3.3M +459,000 +16.16%
1989 2.84M — —
1985 2.49M — —

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 Western Asia

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Western Asia by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Western Asia by year Demography Population

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

Western Asia by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Western Asia by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Western Asia by year
All indicators for Western Asia