Military personnel in Chile
Chile: Military personnel was 69,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
69,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
54th
of 194 countries
All-time high
127,000 people
in 1986
All-time low
2,000 people
in 1842
Years of data
178
1839–2022
Military personnel in Chile, 1839–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel in Chile is 69,000 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Chile peaked at 127,000 people in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2,000 people, in 1842.
Chile ranks 54th 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 in Chile, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1839 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1840 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1843 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1848 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1849 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1850 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1855 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1857 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1858 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1859 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1860 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1870 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1871 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 5,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1873 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 4,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1877 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1878 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 14,000 people | +180.0% |
| 1882 | 16,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1883 | 16,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 14,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1885 | 10,000 people | -28.6% |
| 1886 | 8,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1887 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1891 | 9,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1892 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 8,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1894 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 12,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1896 | 12,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 13,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1898 | 22,000 people | +69.2% |
| 1899 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 21,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1901 | 23,000 people | +9.5% |
| 1902 | 19,000 people | -17.4% |
| 1903 | 20,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1904 | 13,000 people | -35.0% |
| 1905 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 12,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1907 | 21,000 people | +75.0% |
| 1908 | 22,000 people | +4.8% |
| 1909 | 24,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1910 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 26,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1912 | 34,000 people | +30.8% |
| 1913 | 33,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1914 | 27,000 people | -18.2% |
| 1915 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 27,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 29,000 people | +7.4% |
| 1920 | 30,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1921 | 31,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1922 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 28,000 people | -9.7% |
| 1924 | 25,000 people | -10.7% |
| 1925 | 23,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1926 | 27,000 people | +17.4% |
| 1927 | 30,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1928 | 27,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1929 | 25,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1930 | 23,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1931 | 21,000 people | -8.7% |
| 1932 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1933 | 22,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1934 | 20,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1935 | 24,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1936 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 26,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1938 | 23,000 people | -11.5% |
| 1939 | 24,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1946 | 34,000 people | +41.7% |
| 1947 | 35,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1948 | 36,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1949 | 38,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1950 | 39,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 39,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 40,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 50,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1954 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1955 | 42,000 people | -23.6% |
| 1956 | 42,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 41,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 40,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 41,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 41,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 63,000 people | +53.7% |
| 1962 | 63,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 75,000 people | +19.0% |
| 1964 | 70,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1965 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 65,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1967 | 70,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 75,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1973 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 90,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1975 | 110,000 people | +22.2% |
| 1976 | 111,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 111,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 111,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 111,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 116,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 116,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 116,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 126,000 people | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 123,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 124,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 127,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 127,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 96,000 people | -24.4% |
| 1989 | 95,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 95,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 90,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1992 | 92,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 92,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 102,000 people | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 102,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 102,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 102,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 88,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2000 | 87,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 88,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 80,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 77,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 78,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 76,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 65,000 people | -14.5% |
| 2009 | 61,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 61,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 59,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 59,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 59,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 61,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 61,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 65,000 people | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 65,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 77,000 people | +18.5% |
| 2019 | 77,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 77,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 69,000 people | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 69,000 people | +0.0% |
Chile compared with similar countries
- Chile's 69,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 3.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Chile's 69,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 5.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Chile 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 | +180.0% | 5,000 people | 14,000 people |
| 1907 | +75.0% | 12,000 people | 21,000 people |
| 1898 | +69.2% | 13,000 people | 22,000 people |
| 1961 | +53.7% | 41,000 people | 63,000 people |
| 1847 | +50.0% | 2,000 people | 3,000 people |
| 1849 | +50.0% | 2,000 people | 3,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 2,400 people | 2,000 people | 3,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 3,400 people | 3,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 4,100 people | 4,000 people | 5,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 5,100 people | 4,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 10,700 people | 5,000 people | 16,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 12,500 people | 8,000 people | 22,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 18,800 people | 12,000 people | 24,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 28,100 people | 24,000 people | 34,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 27,700 people | 23,000 people | 31,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 22,700 people | 20,000 people | 26,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 35,750 people | 34,000 people | 38,000 people | 4 |
| 1950s | 42,900 people | 39,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 65,700 people | 41,000 people | 75,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 93,400 people | 70,000 people | 111,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 116,600 people | 95,000 people | 127,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 96,500 people | 88,000 people | 102,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 76,800 people | 61,000 people | 88,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 64,400 people | 59,000 people | 77,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 71,667 people | 69,000 people | 77,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Chile
More reference data data for Chile
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9268 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2204 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 5.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.2 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Chile?
- Military personnel in Chile was 69,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Chile?
- The highest recorded value was 127,000 people in 1986.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Chile?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1842.
- How does Chile rank for military personnel?
- Chile ranks 54th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Chile?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Chile data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 178 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.