Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia

Colombia: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 428,000 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
428,000
Change on year
down 11.0%
World rank
17th
of 173 countries
All-time high
481,200
in 2018
All-time low
66,200
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia, 1985–2020

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1985200220201985: 66.2k1986: 72.4k1987: 78.6k1988: 84.8k1989: 91.0k1990: 110.0k1991: 110.0k1992: 139.0k1993: 139.0k1994: 146.0k1995: 233.4k1996: 233.3k1997: 233.3k1998: 233.3k1999: 231.0k2000: 247.0k2001: 262.6k2002: 262.6k2003: 304.6k2004: 336.0k2005: 336.0k2006: 398.0k2007: 411.0k2008: 411.0k2009: 441.8k2010: 441.8k2011: 440.2k2012: 440.2k2013: 455.8k2014: 455.8k2015: 481.1k2016: 481.1k2017: 481.0k2018: 481.2k2019: 481.0k2020: 428.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2020, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia stood at 428,000.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.0% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia peaked at 481,200 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 66,200, in 1985.

Colombia ranks 17th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 66,200
1986 72,400 +9.4%
1987 78,600 +8.6%
1988 84,800 +7.9%
1989 91,000 +7.3%
1990 110,000 +20.9%
1991 110,000 +0.0%
1992 139,000 +26.4%
1993 139,000 +0.0%
1994 146,000 +5.0%
1995 233,400 +59.9%
1996 233,300 -0.0%
1997 233,300 +0.0%
1998 233,300 +0.0%
1999 231,000 -1.0%
2000 247,000 +6.9%
2001 262,600 +6.3%
2002 262,600 +0.0%
2003 304,600 +16.0%
2004 336,000 +10.3%
2005 336,000 +0.0%
2006 398,000 +18.5%
2007 411,000 +3.3%
2008 411,000 +0.0%
2009 441,828 +7.5%
2010 441,828 +0.0%
2011 440,224 -0.4%
2012 440,224 +0.0%
2013 455,750 +3.5%
2014 455,750 +0.0%
2015 481,100 +5.6%
2016 481,100 +0.0%
2017 481,000 -0.0%
2018 481,200 +0.0%
2019 481,000 -0.0%
2020 428,000 -11.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 78,600 66,200 91,000 5
1990s 180,830 110,000 233,400 10
2000s 341,063 247,000 441,828 10
2010s 463,918 440,224 481,200 10
2020s 428,000 428,000 428,000 1

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 14 Myanmar 463,000 compare
  2. 15 Iraq 459,000 compare
  3. 16 Thailand 455,000 compare
  4. 18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 343,000 compare
  5. 19 Mexico 341,000 compare
  6. 20 Italy 338,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia was 428,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 481,200 in 2018.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 66,200 in 1985.
How does Colombia rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Colombia ranks 17th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Colombia data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/colombia/

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How this figure is calculated

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
219 places, 7,420 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.