Armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Armed forces personnel, total was 3.72 million in 2020. ▲ Rising
Armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) is 3.72 million, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 3.72 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.40 million, in 1985.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 21st out of 44 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.41 million | 1.40 million | 1.42 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.11 million | 1.42 million | 2.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.11 million | 2.81 million | 3.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.47 million | 3.23 million | 3.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.72 million | 3.72 million | 3.72 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
More public sector data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Arms imports 1.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.7506 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 -19.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 1.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 54.8 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0211 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 4.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 91.92 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 467.61 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Armed forces personnel, total in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 3.72 million in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.72 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.40 million in 1985.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for armed forces personnel, total?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 21st out of 44 groups with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.