Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, IDA only or Japan?

IDA only, at 3.12 million against 261,000 in Japan as of 2020.

What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between IDA only and Japan?

2.86 million, with IDA only ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for IDA only and Japan?

32 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.

IDA only vs Japan: Armed forces personnel, total

IDA only

3.12 million

in 2020

Japan

261,000

in 2020

IDA only rank

24th

Japan rank

27th

Armed forces personnel, total over time

IDA only
Japan

How they compare

IDA only currently reports 3.12 million against 261,000 in Japan, a difference of 2.86 million.

That makes IDA only's figure about 12.0 times Japan's.

Across all 32 years both countries report, IDA only has been ahead every year.

IDA only ranks 24th and Japan ranks 27th of 46 groups.

IDA only has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	IDA only	Japan	Difference	Ahead
1980s	1.77 million	245,000	1.53 million	IDA only
1990s	2.74 million	247,280	2.49 million	IDA only
2000s	3.21 million	252,487	2.96 million	IDA only
2010s	3.47 million	260,371	3.21 million	IDA only
2020s	3.12 million	261,000	2.86 million	IDA only

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, IDA only or Japan?: IDA only, at 3.12 million against 261,000 in Japan as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between IDA only and Japan?: 2.86 million, with IDA only ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for IDA only and Japan?: 32 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do IDA only and Japan rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?: IDA only ranks 24th and Japan ranks 27th 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.