Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only

IDA only: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 3.12 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
3.12 million
Change on year
down 8.3%
Rank
23rd
of 43 groups
All-time high
3.67 million
in 2000
All-time low
1.64 million
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

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

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1985200220201985: 1.6M1986: 1.7M1987: 1.8M1988: 1.8M1989: 1.9M1990: 2.0M1991: 2.0M1992: 2.0M1993: 2.0M1994: 1.8M1995: 3.4M1996: 3.5M1997: 3.5M1998: 3.5M1999: 3.7M2000: 3.7M2001: 3.0M2002: 3.3M2003: 3.3M2004: 3.1M2005: 3.1M2006: 3.1M2007: 3.1M2008: 3.1M2009: 3.3M2010: 3.5M2011: 3.5M2012: 3.5M2013: 3.5M2014: 3.5M2015: 3.5M2016: 3.5M2017: 3.4M2018: 3.4M2019: 3.4M2020: 3.1M

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only is 3.12 million, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only peaked at 3.67 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.64 million, in 1985.

IDA only ranks 23rd of 43 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 1.64 million
1986 1.71 million +4.2%
1987 1.77 million +4.0%
1988 1.84 million +3.8%
1989 1.91 million +3.7%
1990 2.04 million +6.9%
1991 2.02 million -1.3%
1992 1.96 million -2.5%
1993 2.00 million +2.1%
1994 1.85 million -7.8%
1995 3.38 million +82.8%
1996 3.49 million +3.4%
1997 3.50 million +0.1%
1998 3.48 million -0.6%
1999 3.66 million +5.3%
2000 3.67 million +0.2%
2001 3.00 million -18.0%
2002 3.27 million +8.8%
2003 3.25 million -0.4%
2004 3.08 million -5.4%
2005 3.08 million -0.1%
2006 3.08 million +0.2%
2007 3.09 million +0.2%
2008 3.14 million +1.5%
2009 3.34 million +6.7%
2010 3.54 million +5.7%
2011 3.52 million -0.3%
2012 3.54 million +0.4%
2013 3.50 million -1.1%
2014 3.48 million -0.7%
2015 3.52 million +1.2%
2016 3.48 million -1.2%
2017 3.37 million -3.0%
2018 3.35 million -0.6%
2019 3.40 million +1.5%
2020 3.12 million -8.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.77 million 1.64 million 1.91 million 5
1990s 2.74 million 1.85 million 3.66 million 10
2000s 3.20 million 3.00 million 3.67 million 10
2010s 3.47 million 3.35 million 3.54 million 10
2020s 3.12 million 3.12 million 3.12 million 1

Countries ranked near IDA only

  1. 20 Italy 338,000 compare
  2. 21 Algeria 326,000 compare
  3. 22 Sri Lanka 317,000 compare
  4. 23 France 304,000 compare
  5. 24 Ukraine 298,000 compare
  6. 25 Saudi Arabia 282,000 compare
  7. 26 Syrian Arab Republic 269,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for IDA only

All data for IDA only →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA only was 3.12 million in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IDA only?
The highest recorded value was 3.67 million in 2000.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IDA only?
The lowest recorded value was 1.64 million in 1985.
How does IDA only rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
IDA only ranks 23rd out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in IDA only?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA 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 IDA only. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/ida-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.