Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, China or IDA & IBRD total?

IDA & IBRD total, at 20.87 million against 2.54 million in China as of 2020.

What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between China and IDA & IBRD total?

18.34 million, with IDA & IBRD total ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and IDA & IBRD total?

33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.

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.

China vs IDA & IBRD total: Armed forces personnel, total

China

2.54 million

in 2020

IDA & IBRD total

20.87 million

in 2020

China rank

3rd

IDA & IBRD total rank

2nd

Armed forces personnel, total over time

China
IDA & IBRD total

How they compare

IDA & IBRD total currently reports 20.87 million against 2.54 million in China, a difference of 18.34 million.

That makes IDA & IBRD total's figure about 8.2 times China's.

Across all 33 years both countries report, IDA & IBRD total has been ahead every year.

China ranks 3rd and IDA & IBRD total ranks 2nd of 174 countries.

IDA & IBRD total has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	IDA & IBRD total	Difference	Ahead
1980s	3.90 million	15.09 million	11.19 million	IDA & IBRD total
1990s	3.54 million	18.76 million	15.22 million	IDA & IBRD total
2000s	3.51 million	20.69 million	17.18 million	IDA & IBRD total
2010s	2.83 million	20.90 million	18.07 million	IDA & IBRD total
2020s	2.54 million	20.87 million	18.34 million	IDA & IBRD total

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, China or IDA & IBRD total?: IDA & IBRD total, at 20.87 million against 2.54 million in China as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between China and IDA & IBRD total?: 18.34 million, with IDA & IBRD total ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and IDA & IBRD total?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do China and IDA & IBRD total rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?: China ranks 3rd and IDA & IBRD total ranks 2nd of 174 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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China vs IDA & IBRD total: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/china/ida-and-ibrd-total/

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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: 20 August 2026

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.