Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey

Turkey: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 512,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
512,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
13th
of 173 countries
All-time high
841,200
in 1999
All-time low
512,000
in 2015
Years of data
36
1985–2020

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

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1985200220201985: 630.0k1986: 667.5k1987: 705.0k1988: 742.5k1989: 780.0k1990: 769.0k1991: 804.0k1992: 704.0k1993: 686.0k1994: 811.0k1995: 690.0k1996: 707.2k1997: 821.2k1998: 821.2k1999: 841.2k2000: 827.7k2001: 665.1k2002: 664.8k2003: 664.8k2004: 616.0k2005: 617.0k2006: 612.0k2007: 612.0k2008: 613.0k2009: 612.8k2010: 612.8k2011: 612.8k2012: 612.8k2013: 612.8k2014: 612.8k2015: 512.0k2016: 512.0k2017: 512.0k2018: 512.2k2019: 512.0k2020: 512.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey is 512,000, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

The figure is down 16.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey peaked at 841,200 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 512,000, in 2015.

Turkey ranks 13th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

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

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 630,000 —
1986 667,500 +6.0%
1987 705,000 +5.6%
1988 742,500 +5.3%
1989 780,000 +5.1%
1990 769,000 -1.4%
1991 804,000 +4.6%
1992 704,000 -12.4%
1993 686,000 -2.6%
1994 811,000 +18.2%
1995 690,000 -14.9%
1996 707,200 +2.5%
1997 821,200 +16.1%
1998 821,200 +0.0%
1999 841,200 +2.4%
2000 827,700 -1.6%
2001 665,100 -19.6%
2002 664,800 -0.0%
2003 664,800 +0.0%
2004 616,000 -7.3%
2005 617,000 +0.2%
2006 612,000 -0.8%
2007 612,000 +0.0%
2008 613,000 +0.2%
2009 612,800 -0.0%
2010 612,800 +0.0%
2011 612,800 +0.0%
2012 612,800 +0.0%
2013 612,800 +0.0%
2014 612,800 +0.0%
2015 512,000 -16.4%
2016 512,000 +0.0%
2017 512,000 +0.0%
2018 512,200 +0.0%
2019 512,000 -0.0%
2020 512,000 +0.0%

Turkey compared with similar countries

  • Turkey's 512,000 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 64,000, 8.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
  • Turkey's 512,000 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26,500, 19.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 705,000 630,000 780,000 5
1990s 765,480 686,000 841,200 10
2000s 650,520 612,000 827,700 10
2010s 562,420 512,000 612,800 10
2020s 512,000 512,000 512,000 1

Countries ranked near Turkey

  1. 10 Iran 650,000 compare
  2. 11 South Korea 569,000 compare
  3. 12 Vietnam 522,000 compare
  4. 14 Myanmar 463,000 compare
  5. 15 Iraq 459,000 compare
  6. 16 Thailand 455,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Turkey

All data for Turkey →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Turkey was 512,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Turkey?
The highest recorded value was 841,200 in 1999.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Turkey?
The lowest recorded value was 512,000 in 2015.
How does Turkey rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Turkey ranks 13th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Turkey?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Turkey 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 Turkey. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/turkiye/

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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.