Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia
Somalia: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.1% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia, 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 Somalia is 0.1%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 32.6% on the previous year and up 415.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia peaked at 3.1% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2010.
That places Somalia 155th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.9% | — |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -29.5% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +365.4% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -78.7% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -97.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | +58.9% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +519.4% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -46.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +49.1% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +12.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -32.6% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 0.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.2%, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 0.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.1%, 65% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +519.4% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1995 | +365.4% | 0.7% | 3.1% |
| 2009 | -97.0% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 0.6% | 3.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 234.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 96.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 28,272 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 71.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 1,010 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Somalia 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2010.
- How does Somalia rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Somalia ranks 155th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 415.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.