Armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand
New Zealand: Armed forces personnel, total was 10,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand is 10,000, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand peaked at 12,400 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 8,000, in 2004.
New Zealand ranks 131st of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 12,400 | — |
| 1989 | 12,000 | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 11,000 | -8.3% |
| 1991 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 10,000 | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 10,100 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 9,870 | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 9,550 | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 9,550 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 9,530 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 9,200 | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 9,200 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8,700 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 8,600 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 8,000 | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 9,000 | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9,673 | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 9,673 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8,550 | -11.6% |
| 2012 | 8,550 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8,500 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 8,500 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8,950 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 9,000 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9,400 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 9,000 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 10,000 | +11.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 10,000 is below the median for high income countries, which is 25,000, 40% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 10,000 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 146,500, 7% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12,200 | 12,000 | 12,400 | 2 |
| 1990s | 10,260 | 9,530 | 11,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,937 | 8,000 | 9,673 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,912 | 8,500 | 9,673 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 128 Bosnia and Herzegovina 11,000 compare
- 128 Burkina Faso 11,000 compare
- 128 Mozambique 11,000 compare
- 131 Central African Republic 10,000 compare
- 131 Costa Rica 10,000 compare
- 131 Niger 10,000 compare
- 131 Togo 10,000 compare
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Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand?
- Armed forces personnel, total in New Zealand was 10,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 12,400 in 1985.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,000 in 2004.
- How does New Zealand rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- New Zealand ranks 131st out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.