Afghanistan vs Africa Western and Central: Armed forces personnel, total

Afghanistan
165,000
in 2020
Africa Western and Central
532,000
in 2020
Afghanistan rank
37th
Africa Western and Central rank
40th

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • Afghanistan
  • Africa Western and Central
0200.0k400.0k600.0k198520022020

How they compare

Africa Western and Central currently reports 532,000 against 165,000 in Afghanistan, a difference of 367,000.

That makes Africa Western and Central's figure about 3.2 times Afghanistan's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1985 it was Africa Western and Central ahead.

Afghanistan ranks 37th and Africa Western and Central ranks 40th of 173 countries.

Africa Western and Central has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Afghanistan Africa Western and Central Difference Ahead
1980s 51,000 272,265 221,265 Africa Western and Central
1990s 227,900 330,562 102,662 Africa Western and Central
2000s 138,093 397,105 259,012 Africa Western and Central
2010s 314,105 446,751 132,646 Africa Western and Central
2020s 165,000 532,000 367,000 Africa Western and Central

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, Afghanistan or Africa Western and Central?
Africa Western and Central, at 532,000 against 165,000 in Afghanistan as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between Afghanistan and Africa Western and Central?
367,000, with Africa Western and Central ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and Africa Western and Central?
31 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do Afghanistan and Africa Western and Central rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
Afghanistan ranks 37th and Africa Western and Central ranks 40th of 173 countries.
Where does this data come from?
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Afghanistan vs Africa Western and Central: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/afghanistan/africa-western-and-central/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
219 places, 6,823 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.