Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan
Japan: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.2% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan, 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
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan is 0.2%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan peaked at 0.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1994.
That places Japan 121st out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.2% | — |
| 1989 | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +0.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%, 45% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.5%, 43% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 118 Jamaica 0.2% compare
- 119 Congo 0.2% compare
- 120 Belgium 0.2% compare
- 122 Uzbekistan 0.2% compare
- 123 Central African Republic 0.2% compare
- 124 Guinea-Bissau 0.2% compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Japan was 0.2% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1994.
- How does Japan rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Japan ranks 121st out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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.