Armed forces personnel in Cuba

Cuba: Armed forces personnel was 1.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
1.5%
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
42nd
of 171 countries
All-time high
6.9%
in 1990
All-time low
1.4%
in 2016
Years of data
31
1990–2020

Armed forces personnel in Cuba, 1990–2020

2461990200520201990: 6.9 % of total labor force1991: 6.8 % of total labor force1992: 4 % of total labor force1993: 4 % of total labor force1994: 3.2 % of total labor force1995: 2.8 % of total labor force1996: 2.6 % of total labor force1997: 1.7 % of total labor force1998: 1.7 % of total labor force1999: 2 % of total labor force2000: 1.8 % of total labor force2001: 1.5 % of total labor force2002: 1.5 % of total labor force2003: 1.5 % of total labor force2004: 1.5 % of total labor force2005: 1.6 % of total labor force2006: 1.5 % of total labor force2007: 1.5 % of total labor force2008: 1.5 % of total labor force2009: 1.5 % of total labor force2010: 1.5 % of total labor force2011: 1.5 % of total labor force2012: 1.5 % of total labor force2013: 1.5 % of total labor force2014: 1.5 % of total labor force2015: 1.4 % of total labor force2016: 1.4 % of total labor force2017: 1.5 % of total labor force2018: 1.5 % of total labor force2019: 1.5 % of total labor force2020: 1.5 % of total labor force

Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.

Analysis

Cuba recorded 1.5% for armed forces personnel in 2020.

The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Cuba peaked at 6.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2016.

Cuba ranks 42nd of 171 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Armed forces personnel in Cuba, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in Cuba, 1990 to 2020.
Year % of total labor force Change
1990 6.9%
1991 6.8% -1.2%
1992 4.0% -41.6%
1993 4.0% -0.6%
1994 3.2% -20.7%
1995 2.8% -12.1%
1996 2.6% -4.9%
1997 1.7% -34.2%
1998 1.7% -0.9%
1999 2.0% +14.6%
2000 1.8% -8.6%
2001 1.5% -14.9%
2002 1.5% -0.7%
2003 1.5% -0.8%
2004 1.5% +2.6%
2005 1.6% +0.3%
2006 1.5% -0.9%
2007 1.5% -0.7%
2008 1.5% -0.6%
2009 1.5% -3.2%
2010 1.5% +0.9%
2011 1.5% -0.5%
2012 1.5% -0.5%
2013 1.5% -0.5%
2014 1.5% -0.4%
2015 1.4% -0.4%
2016 1.4% -0.2%
2017 1.5% +0.6%
2018 1.5% +0.1%
2019 1.5% +0.4%
2020 1.5% +5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.6% 1.7% 6.9% 10
2000s 1.6% 1.5% 1.8% 10
2010s 1.5% 1.4% 1.5% 10
2020s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1

Countries ranked near Cuba

  1. 39 El Salvador 1.6% compare
  2. 40 Turkey 1.6% compare
  3. 41 Azerbaijan 1.6% compare
  4. 43 Romania 1.5% compare
  5. 44 Dominican Republic 1.5% compare
  6. 45 Ukraine 1.4% compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More public sector data for Cuba

All data for Cuba →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel in Cuba?
Armed forces personnel in Cuba was 1.5% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Cuba?
The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 1990.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Cuba?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2016.
How does Cuba rank for armed forces personnel?
Cuba ranks 42nd out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Cuba?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Cuba 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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Armed forces personnel in Cuba. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-percent-of-total-labor-force/cuba/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force)
Unit
% of total labor force
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
217 places, 6,411 data points, 1990–2020
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. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.