Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Nigeria

Nigeria: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 223,000 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
223,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
30th
of 173 countries
All-time high
223,000
in 2018
All-time low
76,000
in 1992
Years of data
36
1985–2020

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

100.0k150.0k200.0k1985200220201985: 94.0k1986: 97.2k1987: 100.5k1988: 103.8k1989: 107.0k1990: 94.0k1991: 94.0k1992: 76.0k1993: 76.0k1994: 80.0k1995: 89.1k1996: 89.1k1997: 107.0k1998: 107.0k1999: 124.0k2000: 106.5k2001: 160.5k2002: 160.5k2003: 160.5k2004: 160.0k2005: 161.0k2006: 162.0k2007: 162.0k2008: 162.0k2009: 162.0k2010: 162.0k2011: 162.0k2012: 162.0k2013: 162.0k2014: 162.0k2015: 200.0k2016: 200.0k2017: 215.0k2018: 223.0k2019: 223.0k2020: 223.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 223,000 for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in 2020. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.

The figure is up 37.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Nigeria peaked at 223,000 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 76,000, in 1992.

Nigeria ranks 30th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Nigeria, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 94,000
1986 97,250 +3.5%
1987 100,500 +3.3%
1988 103,750 +3.2%
1989 107,000 +3.1%
1990 94,000 -12.1%
1991 94,000 +0.0%
1992 76,000 -19.1%
1993 76,000 +0.0%
1994 80,000 +5.3%
1995 89,100 +11.4%
1996 89,100 +0.0%
1997 107,000 +20.1%
1998 107,000 +0.0%
1999 124,000 +15.9%
2000 106,500 -14.1%
2001 160,500 +50.7%
2002 160,500 +0.0%
2003 160,500 +0.0%
2004 160,000 -0.3%
2005 161,000 +0.6%
2006 162,000 +0.6%
2007 162,000 +0.0%
2008 162,000 +0.0%
2009 162,000 +0.0%
2010 162,000 +0.0%
2011 162,000 +0.0%
2012 162,000 +0.0%
2013 162,000 +0.0%
2014 162,000 +0.0%
2015 200,000 +23.5%
2016 200,000 +0.0%
2017 215,000 +7.5%
2018 223,000 +3.7%
2019 223,000 +0.0%
2020 223,000 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 100,500 94,000 107,000 5
1990s 93,620 76,000 124,000 10
2000s 155,700 106,500 162,000 10
2010s 187,100 162,000 223,000 10
2020s 223,000 223,000 223,000 1

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 27 Japan 261,000 compare
  2. 28 Morocco 246,000 compare
  3. 29 Bangladesh 227,000 compare
  4. 31 Eritrea 202,000 compare
  5. 32 Spain 199,000 compare
  6. 33 Cambodia 191,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Nigeria?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Nigeria was 223,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 223,000 in 2018.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 76,000 in 1992.
How does Nigeria rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Nigeria ranks 30th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria 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 Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/nigeria/

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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.