Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only

IBRD only: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 16.35 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
16.35 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
4th
of 43 groups
All-time high
17.71 million
in 1996
All-time low
11.34 million
in 1991
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only, 1985–2020

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M1985200220201985: 12.1M1986: 12.4M1987: 12.6M1988: 12.8M1989: 13.1M1990: 12.4M1991: 11.3M1992: 13.6M1993: 12.9M1994: 12.8M1995: 17.6M1996: 17.7M1997: 17.4M1998: 17.4M1999: 17.0M2000: 17.1M2001: 16.6M2002: 16.4M2003: 16.4M2004: 15.6M2005: 16.7M2006: 16.4M2007: 15.7M2008: 15.9M2009: 16.1M2010: 16.1M2011: 16.2M2012: 16.4M2013: 15.6M2014: 15.9M2015: 16.0M2016: 16.0M2017: 16.1M2018: 16.4M2019: 16.2M2020: 16.4M

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only is 16.35 million, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only peaked at 17.71 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, 11.34 million, in 1991.

That places IBRD only 4th out of 43 groups with data for 2020, putting it 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 IBRD only, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 12.12 million
1986 12.36 million +2.0%
1987 12.60 million +1.9%
1988 12.84 million +1.9%
1989 13.08 million +1.9%
1990 12.45 million -4.8%
1991 11.34 million -8.9%
1992 13.65 million +20.3%
1993 12.95 million -5.2%
1994 12.76 million -1.5%
1995 17.65 million +38.3%
1996 17.71 million +0.4%
1997 17.36 million -2.0%
1998 17.44 million +0.4%
1999 17.02 million -2.4%
2000 17.08 million +0.4%
2001 16.60 million -2.8%
2002 16.40 million -1.2%
2003 16.37 million -0.2%
2004 15.58 million -4.9%
2005 16.70 million +7.2%
2006 16.43 million -1.6%
2007 15.68 million -4.6%
2008 15.89 million +1.4%
2009 16.15 million +1.6%
2010 16.13 million -0.1%
2011 16.18 million +0.3%
2012 16.36 million +1.1%
2013 15.58 million -4.8%
2014 15.87 million +1.9%
2015 15.95 million +0.5%
2016 16.00 million +0.3%
2017 16.11 million +0.7%
2018 16.37 million +1.6%
2019 16.24 million -0.8%
2020 16.35 million +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 12.60 million 12.12 million 13.08 million 5
1990s 15.03 million 11.34 million 17.71 million 10
2000s 16.29 million 15.58 million 17.08 million 10
2010s 16.08 million 15.58 million 16.37 million 10
2020s 16.35 million 16.35 million 16.35 million 1

Countries ranked near IBRD only

  1. 1 India 3.07 million compare
  2. 2 China 2.54 million compare
  3. 3 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 1.47 million compare
  4. 4 Russian Federation 1.45 million compare
  5. 5 United States of America 1.40 million compare
  6. 6 Pakistan 943,000 compare
  7. 7 Egypt 836,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for IBRD only

All data for IBRD only →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IBRD only was 16.35 million in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IBRD only?
The highest recorded value was 17.71 million in 1996.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IBRD only?
The lowest recorded value was 11.34 million in 1991.
How does IBRD only rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
IBRD only ranks 4th out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in IBRD only?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IBRD only 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 IBRD only. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/ibrd-only/

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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.