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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — World

Armed forces personnel in the world in 2020 — 27,406,000 people. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 23.4%.

2020 27.41M people −0.96% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 30.2M people1996
Period minimum 22.21M people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — World, 1985–202022M24M26M28M30M32M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 22,209,230 people1989: 24,298,000 people1990: 23,918,000 people1991: 22,726,000 people1992: 24,533,000 people1993: 23,741,000 people1994: 23,195,000 people1995: 30,182,200 people1996: 30,196,640 people1997: 29,863,220 people1998: 29,926,660 people1999: 29,584,140 people2000: 29,353,100 people2001: 28,211,700 people2002: 28,306,950 people2003: 28,161,400 people2004: 27,081,142 people2005: 28,539,442 people2006: 27,029,682 people2007: 27,253,882 people2008: 27,493,342 people2009: 27,924,096 people2010: 28,133,971 people2011: 28,020,079 people2012: 28,154,374 people2013: 27,206,623 people2014: 27,309,630 people2015: 27,437,280 people2016: 27,542,350 people2017: 27,414,000 people2018: 27,645,315 people2019: 27,671,000 people2020: 27,406,000 people
Change over the period: +5.2M (+23.4%) Average annual rate: 0.6 %

Comparison, 2020

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

World 27.41M people
World 27.41M people
Armed forces personnel — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 27.41M −265,000 −0.96%
2019 27.67M +25,685 +0.09%
2018 27.65M +231,315 +0.84%
2017 27.41M −128,350 −0.47%
2016 27.54M +105,070 +0.38%
2015 27.44M +127,650 +0.47%
2014 27.31M +103,007 +0.38%
2013 27.21M −947,751 −3.37%
2012 28.15M +134,295 +0.48%
2011 28.02M −113,892 −0.4%
2010 28.13M +209,875 +0.75%
2009 27.92M +430,754 +1.57%
2008 27.49M +239,460 +0.88%
2007 27.25M +224,200 +0.83%
2006 27.03M −1.51M −5.29%
2005 28.54M +1.46M +5.38%
2004 27.08M −1.08M −3.84%
2003 28.16M −145,550 −0.51%
2002 28.31M +95,250 +0.34%
2001 28.21M −1.14M −3.89%
2000 29.35M −231,040 −0.78%
1999 29.58M −342,520 −1.14%
1998 29.93M +63,440 +0.21%
1997 29.86M −333,420 −1.1%
1996 30.2M +14,440 +0.05%
1995 30.18M +6.99M +30.12%
1994 23.2M −546,000 −2.3%
1993 23.74M −792,000 −3.23%
1992 24.53M +1.81M +7.95%
1991 22.73M −1.19M −4.98%
1990 23.92M −380,000 −1.56%
1989 24.3M — —
1985 22.21M — —

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.

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The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

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The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

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

World by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

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Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

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Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

World by year
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