Armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Armed forces personnel, total was 7.91 million in 2020. ▬ Flat
Armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific stood at 7.91 million.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 9.46 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 7.53 million, in 1994.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 8.24 million | — |
| 1989 | 8.82 million | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 8.40 million | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 8.24 million | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 8.00 million | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 7.83 million | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 7.53 million | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 9.46 million | +25.7% |
| 1996 | 9.45 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 9.07 million | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 9.29 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 9.27 million | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 9.36 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 9.14 million | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 9.20 million | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 9.18 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 8.65 million | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 9.18 million | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 9.02 million | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 8.30 million | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 8.30 million | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.43 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 8.46 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.60 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 8.63 million | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 8.63 million | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 8.53 million | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.38 million | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 8.32 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 8.19 million | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 8.14 million | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 7.99 million | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 7.91 million | -1.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +25.7% | 7.53 million | 9.46 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.53 million | 8.24 million | 8.82 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.65 million | 7.53 million | 9.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.88 million | 8.30 million | 9.36 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.39 million | 7.99 million | 8.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.91 million | 7.91 million | 7.91 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More public sector data for East Asia & Pacific
- Arms imports 4.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 1.96 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 12.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 4.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 217.12 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0161 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 6.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 518.54 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 170.8 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific?
- Armed forces personnel, total in East Asia & Pacific was 7.91 million in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 9.46 million in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.53 million in 1994.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th out of 46 groups with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.