Armed forces personnel, total in Somalia
Somalia: Armed forces personnel, total was 14,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel, total in Somalia, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel, total in Somalia stood at 14,000.
The figure is down 30.0% on the previous year and up 600.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in Somalia peaked at 225,000 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2,000, in 2009.
Somalia ranks 120th of 173 countries on this measure, 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 62,700 | — |
| 1989 | 47,000 | -25.0% |
| 1990 | 47,000 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 225,000 | +378.7% |
| 1996 | 225,000 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 225,000 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 225,000 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 50,000 | -77.8% |
| 2000 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2,000 | -96.0% |
| 2010 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3,200 | +60.0% |
| 2012 | 20,000 | +525.0% |
| 2013 | 11,000 | -45.0% |
| 2014 | 17,000 | +54.5% |
| 2015 | 19,800 | +16.5% |
| 2016 | 19,800 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 20,000 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 19,800 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 20,000 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 14,000 | -30.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 14,000 is below the median for low income countries, which is 35,000, 40% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 14,000 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16,000, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel, total in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +525.0% | 3,200 | 20,000 |
| 1995 | +378.7% | 47,000 | 225,000 |
| 2009 | -96.0% | 50,000 | 2,000 |
| 1999 | -77.8% | 225,000 | 50,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 54,850 | 47,000 | 62,700 | 2 |
| 1990s | 166,167 | 47,000 | 225,000 | 6 |
| 2000s | 26,000 | 2,000 | 50,000 | 2 |
| 2010s | 15,260 | 2,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More public sector data for Somalia
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1991)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2012)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2012)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1991)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1991)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1991)
- Democracy 0 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in Somalia?
- Armed forces personnel, total in Somalia was 14,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 225,000 in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 in 2009.
- How does Somalia rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- Somalia ranks 120th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 600.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.