Military personnel by country
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.
Countries reporting
190
Highest
2.04 million people
China
Lowest
0 people
Samoa
Median
21,000 people
Years covered
207
1816–2022
Data points
15,765
What the numbers show
Military personnel is currently reported for 190 countries. The highest value is 2.04 million people in China; the lowest is 0 people in Samoa.
The median across all reporting countries is 21,000 people, and the mean is 109,458 people.
Over the past decade 64 countries rose and 55 fell. The largest increase was in Somalia (up 600.0%), and the largest decrease in Libya (down 90.8%).
Military personnel: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 2.04 million people | 2022 | down 10.9% | volatile |
| 2 | India | 1.46 million people | 2022 | up 10.2% | rising |
| 3 | United States | 1.36 million people | 2022 | down 13.3% | volatile |
| 4 | North Korea | 1.28 million people | 2022 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 5 | Russia | 1.19 million people | 2022 | up 24.5% | volatile |
| 6 | Ukraine | 688,000 people | 2022 | up 429.2% | volatile |
| 7 | Pakistan | 652,000 people | 2022 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 8 | Iran | 610,000 people | 2022 | up 16.6% | volatile |
| 9 | South Korea | 555,000 people | 2022 | down 15.3% | rising |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 503,000 people | 2022 | up 264.5% | volatile |
| 11 | Vietnam | 482,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Egypt | 439,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 13 | Indonesia | 396,000 people | 2022 | up 31.1% | rising |
| 14 | Brazil | 367,000 people | 2022 | up 15.4% | volatile |
| 15 | Thailand | 361,000 people | 2022 | up 18.0% | volatile |
| 16 | Myanmar | 356,000 people | 2022 | down 12.3% | volatile |
| 17 | Turkey | 355,000 people | 2022 | down 30.5% | volatile |
| 18 | Eritrea | 302,000 people | 2022 | up 49.5% | rising |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia | 257,000 people | 2022 | up 9.8% | volatile |
| 20 | Colombia | 256,000 people | 2022 | down 9.5% | volatile |
| 21 | Sri Lanka | 255,000 people | 2022 | up 58.4% | volatile |
| 22 | Japan | 247,000 people | 2022 | down 0.4% | volatile |
| 23 | Mexico | 216,000 people | 2022 | down 22.9% | volatile |
| 24 | France | 203,000 people | 2022 | down 15.1% | volatile |
| 25 | Morocco | 196,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 26 | Iraq | 193,000 people | 2022 | down 28.8% | volatile |
| 27 | Germany | 183,000 people | 2022 | down 27.1% | volatile |
| 28 | Israel | 170,000 people | 2022 | down 4.0% | rising |
| 29 | Syria | 169,000 people | 2022 | down 42.7% | volatile |
| 29 | Taiwan | 169,000 people | 2022 | down 41.7% | falling |
| 31 | Bangladesh | 163,000 people | 2022 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 32 | Italy | 161,000 people | 2022 | down 13.0% | volatile |
| 33 | United Kingdom | 150,000 people | 2022 | down 13.8% | volatile |
| 34 | Philippines | 145,000 people | 2022 | up 16.0% | rising |
| 35 | Nigeria | 143,000 people | 2022 | up 78.8% | volatile |
| 36 | Algeria | 139,000 people | 2022 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 37 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 134,000 people | 2022 | down 15.7% | volatile |
| 38 | Greece | 132,000 people | 2022 | down 9.6% | volatile |
| 39 | Spain | 124,000 people | 2022 | down 13.3% | volatile |
| 39 | Cambodia | 124,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 41 | Venezuela | 123,000 people | 2022 | up 7.0% | volatile |
| 42 | Poland | 114,000 people | 2022 | up 14.0% | falling |
| 43 | Malaysia | 113,000 people | 2022 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 44 | Angola | 107,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 45 | Sudan | 104,000 people | 2022 | down 4.6% | volatile |
| 46 | Jordan | 101,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 47 | Afghanistan | 100,000 people | 2022 | down 41.5% | volatile |
| 48 | Nepal | 97,000 people | 2022 | up 1.0% | volatile |
| 49 | United Arab Emirates | 83,000 people | 2022 | up 62.7% | rising |
| 50 | Peru | 81,000 people | 2022 | down 29.6% | volatile |
| 51 | South Africa | 74,000 people | 2022 | up 19.4% | volatile |
| 52 | Argentina | 72,000 people | 2022 | down 1.4% | volatile |
| 52 | Romania | 72,000 people | 2022 | down 2.7% | volatile |
| 54 | Chile | 69,000 people | 2022 | up 16.9% | volatile |
| 55 | Canada | 67,000 people | 2022 | up 1.5% | volatile |
| 56 | Azerbaijan | 64,000 people | 2022 | down 4.5% | rising |
| 57 | Australia | 60,000 people | 2022 | up 5.3% | volatile |
| 57 | Lebanon | 60,000 people | 2022 | up 1.7% | volatile |
| 59 | Dominican Republic | 56,000 people | 2022 | up 124.0% | volatile |
| 60 | South Sudan | 53,000 people | 2022 | down 62.1% | falling |
| 61 | Singapore | 51,000 people | 2022 | down 30.1% | rising |
| 62 | Cuba | 49,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 63 | Belarus | 48,000 people | 2022 | down 34.2% | falling |
| 63 | Uzbekistan | 48,000 people | 2022 | down 28.4% | rising |
| 65 | Uganda | 45,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 66 | Armenia | 43,000 people | 2022 | down 12.2% | flat |
| 66 | Oman | 43,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Ecuador | 41,000 people | 2022 | down 29.3% | volatile |
| 69 | Yemen | 40,000 people | 2022 | down 40.3% | falling |
| 70 | Kazakhstan | 39,000 people | 2022 | down 20.4% | rising |
| 71 | Bulgaria | 37,000 people | 2022 | up 19.4% | volatile |
| 71 | Turkmenistan | 37,000 people | 2022 | up 68.2% | rising |
| 73 | Tunisia | 36,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 74 | Bolivia | 34,000 people | 2022 | down 26.1% | volatile |
| 74 | Netherlands | 34,000 people | 2022 | down 8.1% | volatile |
| 76 | Niger | 33,000 people | 2022 | up 560.0% | volatile |
| 76 | Rwanda | 33,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 76 | Chad | 33,000 people | 2022 | up 32.0% | volatile |
| 79 | Hungary | 32,000 people | 2022 | up 39.1% | volatile |
| 80 | Burundi | 30,000 people | 2022 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 81 | Laos | 29,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Zimbabwe | 29,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 83 | Serbia | 28,000 people | 2022 | down 3.4% | volatile |
| 84 | Cote d'Ivoire | 27,000 people | 2022 | up 42.1% | volatile |
| 84 | Czechia | 27,000 people | 2022 | up 8.0% | volatile |
| 84 | Portugal | 27,000 people | 2022 | down 37.2% | volatile |
| 84 | Tanzania | 27,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 88 | Cameroon | 25,000 people | 2022 | up 78.6% | rising |
| 88 | Norway | 25,000 people | 2022 | up 4.2% | volatile |
| 88 | El Salvador | 25,000 people | 2022 | up 56.2% | volatile |
| 91 | Kenya | 24,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 92 | Austria | 23,000 people | 2022 | down 11.5% | rising |
| 92 | Belgium | 23,000 people | 2022 | down 32.4% | volatile |
| 92 | Lithuania | 23,000 people | 2022 | up 109.1% | volatile |
| 95 | Georgia | 21,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 95 | Mali | 21,000 people | 2022 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 95 | Uruguay | 21,000 people | 2022 | down 16.0% | volatile |
| 98 | Switzerland | 20,000 people | 2022 | down 20.0% | volatile |
| 99 | Finland | 19,000 people | 2022 | down 13.6% | volatile |
| 100 | Guatemala | 18,000 people | 2022 | up 20.0% | volatile |
| 100 | Kuwait | 18,000 people | 2022 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 100 | Slovakia | 18,000 people | 2022 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 103 | Croatia | 17,000 people | 2022 | down 10.5% | volatile |
| 103 | Qatar | 17,000 people | 2022 | up 41.7% | rising |
| 105 | Ghana | 16,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 105 | Mauritania | 16,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 107 | Denmark | 15,000 people | 2022 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 107 | Honduras | 15,000 people | 2022 | up 25.0% | volatile |
| 107 | Sweden | 15,000 people | 2022 | down 25.0% | volatile |
| 107 | Zambia | 15,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 111 | Madagascar | 14,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 111 | Paraguay | 14,000 people | 2022 | up 27.3% | volatile |
| 111 | Senegal | 14,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 111 | Somalia | 14,000 people | 2022 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 115 | Togo | 13,000 people | 2022 | up 44.4% | volatile |
| 116 | Benin | 12,000 people | 2022 | up 140.0% | rising |
| 116 | Cyprus | 12,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 116 | Nicaragua | 12,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 119 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 119 | Kyrgyzstan | 11,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 119 | Mozambique | 11,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 119 | Malawi | 11,000 people | 2022 | up 120.0% | rising |
| 123 | Congo | 10,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 123 | Guinea | 10,000 people | 2022 | down 16.7% | flat |
| 123 | Mongolia | 10,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 123 | Namibia | 10,000 people | 2022 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 127 | Botswana | 9,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 127 | Central African Republic | 9,000 people | 2022 | up 350.0% | volatile |
| 127 | New Zealand | 9,000 people | 2022 | down 10.0% | volatile |
| 127 | Sierra Leone | 9,000 people | 2022 | down 18.2% | volatile |
| 127 | Tajikistan | 9,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Albania | 8,000 people | 2022 | down 42.9% | volatile |
| 132 | Bahrain | 8,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Djibouti | 8,000 people | 2022 | down 20.0% | rising |
| 132 | North Macedonia | 8,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 137 | Burkina Faso | 7,000 people | 2022 | down 36.4% | rising |
| 137 | Brunei | 7,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 137 | Estonia | 7,000 people | 2022 | up 16.7% | volatile |
| 137 | Libya | 7,000 people | 2015 | down 90.8% | volatile |
| 137 | Latvia | 7,000 people | 2022 | up 40.0% | volatile |
| 142 | Bhutan | 6,000 people | 2000 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 142 | Jamaica | 6,000 people | 2022 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 142 | Slovenia | 6,000 people | 2022 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 145 | Gabon | 5,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 145 | Moldova | 5,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 145 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5,000 people | 2022 | up 25.0% | volatile |
| 148 | Fiji | 4,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 148 | Gambia | 4,000 people | 2022 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 148 | Guinea-Bissau | 4,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 148 | Papua New Guinea | 4,000 people | 2022 | up 33.3% | falling |
| 152 | Guyana | 3,000 people | 2022 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 152 | Eswatini | 3,000 people | 1999 | down 25.0% | volatile |
| 154 | Bahamas | 2,000 people | 2022 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 154 | Belize | 2,000 people | 2022 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 154 | Liberia | 2,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 154 | Lesotho | 2,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 154 | Montenegro | 2,000 people | 2022 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 154 | Suriname | 2,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 154 | East Timor | 2,000 people | 2022 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 162 | Barbados | 1,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 162 | Comoros | 1,000 people | 1992 | unchanged | rising |
| 162 | Cape Verde | 1,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 162 | Equatorial Guinea | 1,000 people | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 162 | Haiti | 1,000 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 162 | Sao Tome and Principe | 1,000 people | 1999 | unchanged | volatile |
| 162 | Tonga | 1,000 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Andorra | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Costa Rica | 0 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Dominica | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Micronesia (country) | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Grenada | 0 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Iceland | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Kiribati | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Saint Lucia | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Monaco | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Maldives | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Marshall Islands | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Mauritius | 0 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Nauru | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Panama | 0 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Palau | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Solomon Islands | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | San Marino | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Seychelles | 0 people | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 169 | Tuvalu | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Vanuatu | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
| 169 | Samoa | 0 people | 2022 | — | flat |
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.