Germany vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Armed forces personnel, total

Germany
183,000
in 2020
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1.73 million
in 2020
Germany rank
35th
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
32nd

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • Germany
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M198520022020

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) currently reports 1.73 million against 183,000 in Germany, a difference of 1.55 million.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)'s figure about 9.5 times Germany's.

Across all 32 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 35th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 32nd of 173 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) Difference Ahead
1980s 490,500 1.09 million 603,915 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1990s 396,410 1.40 million 1.00 million Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2000s 268,718 1.57 million 1.31 million Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2010s 189,586 1.84 million 1.65 million Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2020s 183,000 1.73 million 1.55 million Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, Germany or Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), at 1.73 million against 183,000 in Germany as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
1.55 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
32 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
Germany ranks 35th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 32nd 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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Germany vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/germany/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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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.