Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia

Malaysia: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 136,000 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
136,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
45th
of 173 countries
All-time high
140,300
in 1995
All-time low
110,000
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

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

050.0k100.0k150.0k1985200220201985: 110.0k1986: 111.2k1987: 112.5k1988: 113.8k1989: 115.0k1990: 130.0k1991: 128.0k1992: 128.0k1993: 115.0k1994: 115.0k1995: 140.3k1996: 140.3k1997: 131.6k1998: 130.1k1999: 125.1k2000: 116.1k2001: 120.6k2002: 120.1k2003: 124.1k2004: 130.0k2005: 135.0k2006: 134.0k2007: 134.0k2008: 134.0k2009: 133.6k2010: 133.6k2011: 133.6k2012: 133.6k2013: 133.6k2014: 133.6k2015: 133.6k2016: 133.6k2017: 136.0k2018: 136.0k2019: 136.0k2020: 136.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia is 136,000, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia peaked at 140,300 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 110,000, in 1985.

Malaysia ranks 45th of 173 countries 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 Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 110,000
1986 111,250 +1.1%
1987 112,500 +1.1%
1988 113,750 +1.1%
1989 115,000 +1.1%
1990 130,000 +13.0%
1991 128,000 -1.5%
1992 128,000 +0.0%
1993 115,000 -10.2%
1994 115,000 +0.0%
1995 140,300 +22.0%
1996 140,300 +0.0%
1997 131,600 -6.2%
1998 130,100 -1.1%
1999 125,100 -3.8%
2000 116,100 -7.2%
2001 120,600 +3.9%
2002 120,100 -0.4%
2003 124,100 +3.3%
2004 130,000 +4.8%
2005 135,000 +3.8%
2006 134,000 -0.7%
2007 134,000 +0.0%
2008 134,000 +0.0%
2009 133,600 -0.3%
2010 133,600 +0.0%
2011 133,600 +0.0%
2012 133,600 +0.0%
2013 133,600 +0.0%
2014 133,600 +0.0%
2015 133,600 +0.0%
2016 133,600 +0.0%
2017 136,000 +1.8%
2018 136,000 +0.0%
2019 136,000 +0.0%
2020 136,000 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 112,500 110,000 115,000 5
1990s 128,340 115,000 140,300 10
2000s 128,150 116,100 135,000 10
2010s 134,320 133,600 136,000 10
2020s 136,000 136,000 136,000 1

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 42 Greece 147,000 compare
  2. 43 Sudan 144,000 compare
  3. 44 Ethiopia 138,000 compare
  4. 46 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 134,000 compare
  5. 47 Lao People's Democratic Republic 129,000 compare
  6. 48 Romania 128,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Malaysia was 136,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 140,300 in 1995.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 110,000 in 1985.
How does Malaysia rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Malaysia ranks 45th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/malaysia/

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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.