Armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique
Mozambique: Armed forces personnel, total was 11,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique stood at 11,000.
That represents a change of down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique peaked at 65,000 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 6,100, in 1997.
That places Mozambique 128th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 15,800 | — |
| 1989 | 65,000 | +311.4% |
| 1990 | 65,000 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 65,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 50,000 | -23.1% |
| 1993 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 11,000 | -78.0% |
| 1995 | 12,000 | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 11,000 | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 6,100 | -44.5% |
| 1998 | 6,100 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 6,100 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 6,100 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 11,000 | +80.3% |
| 2002 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8,200 | -25.5% |
| 2004 | 11,000 | +34.1% |
| 2005 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 11,200 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 11,200 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 11,000 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 11,200 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 11,000 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 11,000 is below the median for low income countries, which is 35,000, 31% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 11,000 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16,000, 69% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40,400 | 15,800 | 65,000 | 2 |
| 1990s | 28,230 | 6,100 | 65,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,250 | 6,100 | 11,200 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,160 | 11,000 | 11,200 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
- 128 Bosnia and Herzegovina 11,000 compare
- 128 Burkina Faso 11,000 compare
- 131 Central African Republic 10,000 compare
- 131 Costa Rica 10,000 compare
- 131 New Zealand 10,000 compare
- 131 Niger 10,000 compare
- 131 Togo 10,000 compare
More public sector data for Mozambique
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique?
- Armed forces personnel, total in Mozambique was 11,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 65,000 in 1989.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,100 in 1997.
- How does Mozambique rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- Mozambique ranks 128th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.