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.
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
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.06 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3971 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.484 °C (2026)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 7 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.6624 °C (2025)
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.