Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 317,000 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
317,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
22nd
of 173 countries
All-time high
317,000
in 2017
All-time low
21,600
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka, 1985–2020

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1985200220201985: 21.6k1986: 21.7k1987: 21.8k1988: 21.9k1989: 22.0k1990: 22.0k1991: 110.0k1992: 110.0k1993: 110.0k1994: 110.0k1995: 235.5k1996: 225.2k1997: 227.2k1998: 225.2k1999: 218.3k2000: 203.6k2001: 209.6k2002: 246.5k2003: 240.9k2004: 239.0k2005: 200.0k2006: 213.0k2007: 213.0k2008: 213.0k2009: 223.1k2010: 223.1k2011: 223.1k2012: 223.1k2013: 223.1k2014: 223.1k2015: 265.2k2016: 305.2k2017: 317.0k2018: 317.0k2019: 317.0k2020: 317.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

Sri Lanka recorded 317,000 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 42.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka peaked at 317,000 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 21,600, in 1985.

Sri Lanka ranks 22nd 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 Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 21,600
1986 21,700 +0.5%
1987 21,800 +0.5%
1988 21,900 +0.5%
1989 22,000 +0.5%
1990 22,000 +0.0%
1991 110,000 +400.0%
1992 110,000 +0.0%
1993 110,000 +0.0%
1994 110,000 +0.0%
1995 235,500 +114.1%
1996 225,200 -4.4%
1997 227,200 +0.9%
1998 225,200 -0.9%
1999 218,300 -3.1%
2000 203,600 -6.7%
2001 209,600 +2.9%
2002 246,500 +17.6%
2003 240,900 -2.3%
2004 239,000 -0.8%
2005 200,000 -16.3%
2006 213,000 +6.5%
2007 213,000 +0.0%
2008 213,000 +0.0%
2009 223,100 +4.7%
2010 223,100 +0.0%
2011 223,100 +0.0%
2012 223,100 +0.0%
2013 223,100 +0.0%
2014 223,100 +0.0%
2015 265,200 +18.9%
2016 305,200 +15.1%
2017 317,000 +3.9%
2018 317,000 +0.0%
2019 317,000 +0.0%
2020 317,000 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 21,800 21,600 22,000 5
1990s 159,340 22,000 235,500 10
2000s 220,170 200,000 246,500 10
2010s 263,690 223,100 317,000 10
2020s 317,000 317,000 317,000 1

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 19 Mexico 341,000 compare
  2. 20 Italy 338,000 compare
  3. 21 Algeria 326,000 compare
  4. 23 France 304,000 compare
  5. 24 Ukraine 298,000 compare
  6. 25 Saudi Arabia 282,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Sri Lanka was 317,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 317,000 in 2017.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 21,600 in 1985.
How does Sri Lanka rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Sri Lanka ranks 22nd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/sri-lanka/

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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.