Armed forces personnel in Arab World
Arab World: Armed forces personnel was 2.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel in Arab World, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in Arab World stood at 2.3%.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Arab World peaked at 5.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2017.
That places Arab World 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel in Arab World, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.6% | — |
| 1991 | 4.0% | -28.2% |
| 1992 | 3.6% | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +32.9% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | -7.8% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -10.5% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -12.4% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.1% | 3.3% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More public sector data for Arab World
- Arms imports 5.04 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 10.23 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0013 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -29.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 5.04 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 276.83 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0364 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 136.37 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 549.21 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Arab World?
- Armed forces personnel in Arab World was 2.3% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2017.
- How does Arab World rank for armed forces personnel?
- Arab World ranks 1st out of 44 groups with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.