Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 0.1% for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 0.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1994.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 141st of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 138 South Africa 0.1% compare
- 139 Sweden 0.1% compare
- 140 Philippines 0.1% compare
- 142 Bangladesh 0.1% compare
- 143 Cameroon 0.1% compare
- 144 Togo 0.1% compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.17 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.6722 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 133.85 2010 = 100 (2016)
- 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Democratic Republic of Congo was 0.1% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1994.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 141st out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.