Chile vs South Africa: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled

Chile
114,000
in 2020
South Africa
89,000
in 2020
Chile rank
51st
South Africa rank
54th

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled over time

  • Chile
  • South Africa
50.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k300.0k198520022020

How they compare

Chile currently reports 114,000 against 89,000 in South Africa, a difference of 25,000.

That makes Chile's figure about 1.3 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1985 it was South Africa ahead.

Chile ranks 51st and South Africa ranks 54th of 173 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Chile averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Chile South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 98,000 103,200 5,200 South Africa
1990s 109,390 145,209 35,819 South Africa
2000s 111,487 66,945 44,542 Chile
2010s 112,672 79,944 32,729 Chile
2020s 114,000 89,000 25,000 Chile

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled, Chile or South Africa?
Chile, at 114,000 against 89,000 in South Africa as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled between Chile and South Africa?
25,000, with Chile ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Chile and South Africa?
36 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do Chile and South Africa rank globally for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Chile ranks 51st and South Africa ranks 54th of 173 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Chile vs South Africa: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/chile/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
219 places, 7,420 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.