Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia

South Asia: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 3.72 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
3.72 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
20th
of 43 groups
All-time high
3.72 million
in 2020
All-time low
1.40 million
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia, 1985–2020

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1985200220201985: 1.4M1986: 1.4M1987: 1.4M1988: 1.4M1989: 1.4M1990: 1.4M1991: 1.5M1992: 1.5M1993: 1.5M1994: 1.5M1995: 2.6M1996: 2.7M1997: 2.7M1998: 2.8M1999: 2.8M2000: 2.8M2001: 2.8M2002: 2.9M2003: 2.9M2004: 3.2M2005: 3.6M2006: 3.1M2007: 3.1M2008: 3.1M2009: 3.2M2010: 3.2M2011: 3.2M2012: 3.3M2013: 3.4M2014: 3.4M2015: 3.4M2016: 3.7M2017: 3.7M2018: 3.7M2019: 3.7M2020: 3.7M

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

South Asia recorded 3.72 million for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in 2020. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia peaked at 3.72 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.40 million, in 1985.

That places South Asia 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2020, putting it 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 South Asia, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 1.40 million
1986 1.41 million +0.3%
1987 1.41 million +0.3%
1988 1.42 million +0.3%
1989 1.42 million +0.3%
1990 1.42 million +0.0%
1991 1.52 million +7.2%
1992 1.53 million +0.3%
1993 1.53 million +0.0%
1994 1.53 million +0.4%
1995 2.62 million +71.1%
1996 2.69 million +2.6%
1997 2.72 million +1.2%
1998 2.76 million +1.5%
1999 2.78 million +0.5%
2000 2.81 million +1.4%
2001 2.85 million +1.2%
2002 2.93 million +2.7%
2003 2.95 million +0.7%
2004 3.24 million +9.9%
2005 3.63 million +12.1%
2006 3.15 million -13.3%
2007 3.14 million -0.2%
2008 3.15 million +0.2%
2009 3.23 million +2.6%
2010 3.23 million +0.0%
2011 3.25 million +0.7%
2012 3.33 million +2.5%
2013 3.35 million +0.6%
2014 3.35 million +0.0%
2015 3.44 million +2.7%
2016 3.67 million +6.5%
2017 3.68 million +0.4%
2018 3.68 million +0.0%
2019 3.70 million +0.5%
2020 3.72 million +0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.41 million 1.40 million 1.42 million 5
1990s 2.11 million 1.42 million 2.78 million 10
2000s 3.11 million 2.81 million 3.63 million 10
2010s 3.47 million 3.23 million 3.70 million 10
2020s 3.72 million 3.72 million 3.72 million 1

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 17 Colombia 428,000 compare
  2. 18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 343,000 compare
  3. 19 Mexico 341,000 compare
  4. 20 Italy 338,000 compare
  5. 21 Algeria 326,000 compare
  6. 22 Sri Lanka 317,000 compare
  7. 23 France 304,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for South Asia

All data for South Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in South Asia was 3.72 million in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 3.72 million in 2020.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.40 million in 1985.
How does South Asia rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
South Asia ranks 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Asia 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 South Asia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/south-asia/

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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.