Africa Western and Central vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Armed forces personnel, total

Africa Western and Central
532,000
in 2020
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
153,000
in 2020
Africa Western and Central rank
42nd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
41st

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • Africa Western and Central
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k600.0k198520022020

How they compare

Africa Western and Central currently reports 532,000 against 153,000 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 379,000.

That makes Africa Western and Central's figure about 3.5 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 32 shared years of data; in 1985 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 41st of 46 groups.

Across the 5 decades both report, Africa Western and Central averaged higher in 4 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Africa Western and Central United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1980s 272,265 326,000 53,735 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 330,562 253,800 76,762 Africa Western and Central
2000s 397,826 196,374 201,452 Africa Western and Central
2010s 446,751 157,072 289,679 Africa Western and Central
2020s 532,000 153,000 379,000 Africa Western and Central

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, Africa Western and Central or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Africa Western and Central, at 532,000 against 153,000 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between Africa Western and Central and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
379,000, with Africa Western and Central ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa Western and Central and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
32 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do Africa Western and Central and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 41st of 46 groups.
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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Africa Western and Central vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/africa-western-and-central/united-kingdom/

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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.