Armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only
IBRD only: Armed forces personnel, total was 16.35 million in 2020. ▲ Rising
Armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only is 16.35 million, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only peaked at 17.71 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, 11.34 million, in 1991.
IBRD only ranks 5th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 12.12 million | — |
| 1989 | 13.08 million | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 12.45 million | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 11.34 million | -8.9% |
| 1992 | 13.65 million | +20.3% |
| 1993 | 12.95 million | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 12.76 million | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 17.65 million | +38.3% |
| 1996 | 17.71 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 17.36 million | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 17.44 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 17.02 million | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 17.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 16.60 million | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 16.40 million | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 16.37 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 15.58 million | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 16.70 million | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 16.43 million | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 15.68 million | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 15.89 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 16.15 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 16.13 million | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 16.18 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 16.36 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 15.58 million | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 15.87 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 15.95 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 16.00 million | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 16.11 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 16.37 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 16.24 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 16.35 million | +0.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only 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 | +38.3% | 12.76 million | 17.65 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.60 million | 12.12 million | 13.08 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.03 million | 11.34 million | 17.71 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.29 million | 15.58 million | 17.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.08 million | 15.58 million | 16.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.35 million | 16.35 million | 16.35 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near IBRD only
More public sector data for IBRD only
- Arms imports 11.74 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 2.36 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -10.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 11.74 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 171.58 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.021 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 12.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 854.40 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 184.84 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only?
- Armed forces personnel, total in IBRD only was 16.35 million in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in IBRD only?
- The highest recorded value was 17.71 million in 1996.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in IBRD only?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.34 million in 1991.
- How does IBRD only rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- IBRD only ranks 5th out of 46 groups with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in IBRD only?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this IBRD only 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.