Armed forces personnel in Guyana
Guyana: Armed forces personnel was 3,000 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel in Guyana, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Guyana recorded 3,000 for armed forces personnel in 2020.
The figure is up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Guyana peaked at 6,600 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1,100, in 2011.
That places Guyana 153rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel in Guyana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6,600 | — |
| 1989 | 4,000 | -39.4% |
| 1990 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2,000 | -50.0% |
| 1993 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3,100 | +55.0% |
| 1996 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2,000 | -35.5% |
| 2005 | 3,000 | +50.0% |
| 2006 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2,600 | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 2,600 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1,100 | -57.7% |
| 2012 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3,400 | +209.1% |
| 2015 | 3,400 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3,400 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3,000 | -11.8% |
| 2018 | 3,400 | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 3,000 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
Guyana compared with similar countries
- Guyana's 3,000 is below the median for high income countries, which is 25,000, 12% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Guyana's 3,000 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 28,500, 11% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,300 | 4,000 | 6,600 | 2 |
| 1990s | 2,950 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,900 | 2,000 | 3,100 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,550 | 1,100 | 3,400 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guyana
More reference data data for Guyana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0396 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0791 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0297 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1326 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0457 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1619 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Guyana?
- Armed forces personnel in Guyana was 3,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Guyana?
- The highest recorded value was 6,600 in 1985.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Guyana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,100 in 2011.
- How does Guyana rank for armed forces personnel?
- Guyana ranks 153rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Guyana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guyana data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel. 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.