Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Cuba
Cuba: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Cuba, 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 Cuba stood at 0.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Cuba peaked at 2.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2003.
Cuba ranks 38th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More reference data data for Cuba
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.4515 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6529 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.1375 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5937 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.7811 °C (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Cuba?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Cuba was 0.7% 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2003.
- How does Cuba rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Cuba ranks 38th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cuba 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.