Military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Military personnel, gaps filled was 74,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa, 1923–2022
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 74,000 people for military personnel, gaps filled in 2022.
That represents a change of up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 140,000 people in 1943 and was at its lowest, 1,000 people, in 1930.
South Africa ranks 51st of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 2,000 people | — |
| 1924 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1931 | 2,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1932 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1935 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1936 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1940 | 62,500 people | +1150.0% |
| 1941 | 120,000 people | +92.0% |
| 1942 | 130,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1943 | 140,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1944 | 140,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 90,000 people | -35.7% |
| 1946 | 40,000 people | -55.6% |
| 1947 | 30,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1948 | 10,000 people | -66.7% |
| 1949 | 9,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1950 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1951 | 11,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1952 | 13,000 people | +18.2% |
| 1953 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1954 | 15,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 16,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1956 | 17,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1957 | 19,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1958 | 20,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1959 | 21,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 22,000 people | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 24,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 45,000 people | +87.5% |
| 1964 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1965 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1966 | 50,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1967 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 40,000 people | -27.3% |
| 1971 | 60,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1972 | 75,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1973 | 40,000 people | -46.7% |
| 1974 | 45,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1976 | 59,000 people | +18.0% |
| 1977 | 67,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1978 | 78,000 people | +16.4% |
| 1979 | 70,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1980 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 78,000 people | +11.4% |
| 1982 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 77,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 97,000 people | +26.0% |
| 1985 | 95,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 90,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 102,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1988 | 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 85,000 people | -15.0% |
| 1991 | 80,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 75,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 68,000 people | -9.3% |
| 2000 | 63,000 people | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 62,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 60,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 56,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 62,000 people | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 62,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 67,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 67,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 66,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 65,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 75,000 people | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 74,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 74,000 people | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 74,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 3.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 74,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 5.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | +1150.0% | 5,000 people | 62,500 people |
| 1931 | +100.0% | 1,000 people | 2,000 people |
| 1941 | +92.0% | 62,500 people | 120,000 people |
| 1963 | +87.5% | 24,000 people | 45,000 people |
| 1948 | -66.7% | 30,000 people | 10,000 people |
| 1946 | -55.6% | 90,000 people | 40,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 7 |
| 1930s | 3,100 people | 1,000 people | 5,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 77,150 people | 9,000 people | 140,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 15,600 people | 10,000 people | 21,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 43,000 people | 22,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 58,400 people | 40,000 people | 78,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 88,700 people | 70,000 people | 102,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 75,800 people | 68,000 people | 85,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 59,500 people | 56,000 people | 63,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,700 people | 62,000 people | 67,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 74,333 people | 74,000 people | 75,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Military personnel, gaps filled in South Africa was 74,000 people in 2022, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military personnel, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 140,000 people in 1943.
- What is the lowest military personnel, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 people in 1930.
- How does South Africa rank for military personnel, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military personnel, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 100 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military personnel with 103 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Military personnel Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military personnel with 103 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.