Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, IBRD only or Russia?

IBRD only, at 16.35 million against 1.45 million in Russia as of 2020.

What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between IBRD only and Russia?

14.90 million, with IBRD only ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for IBRD only and Russia?

29 years are reported by both, from 1992 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.

IBRD only vs Russia: Armed forces personnel, total

IBRD only

16.35 million

in 2020

Russia

1.45 million

in 2020

IBRD only rank

5th

Russia rank

4th

Armed forces personnel, total over time

IBRD only
Russia

How they compare

IBRD only currently reports 16.35 million against 1.45 million in Russia, a difference of 14.90 million.

That makes IBRD only's figure about 11.2 times Russia's.

Across all 29 years both countries report, IBRD only has been ahead every year.

IBRD only ranks 5th and Russia ranks 4th of 46 groups.

IBRD only has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	IBRD only	Russia	Difference	Ahead
1990s	15.82 million	1.65 million	14.16 million	IBRD only
2000s	16.29 million	1.44 million	14.85 million	IBRD only
2010s	16.08 million	1.40 million	14.68 million	IBRD only
2020s	16.35 million	1.45 million	14.90 million	IBRD only

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, IBRD only or Russia?: IBRD only, at 16.35 million against 1.45 million in Russia as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between IBRD only and Russia?: 14.90 million, with IBRD only ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for IBRD only and Russia?: 29 years are reported by both, from 1992 to 2020.
How do IBRD only and Russia rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?: IBRD only ranks 5th and Russia ranks 4th 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.

Individual pages

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: 06 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.