Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan stood at 0.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.5% on the previous year and down 61.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan peaked at 2.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2005.
That places Afghanistan 73rd 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 0.3% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 2.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.68 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 168.54 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Afghanistan was 0.4% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2005.
- How does Afghanistan rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Afghanistan ranks 73rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. 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 their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.