Military personnel in Colombia
Colombia: Military personnel was 256,000 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
256,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
20th
of 194 countries
All-time high
297,000
in 2015
All-time low
1,000
in 1857
Years of data
189
1831–2022
Military personnel in Colombia, 1831–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 256,000 for military personnel in 2022.
That represents a change of down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Colombia peaked at 297,000 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,000, in 1857.
That places Colombia 20th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 3,000 | — |
| 1832 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 6,000 | +100.0% |
| 1840 | 20,000 | +233.3% |
| 1841 | 25,000 | +25.0% |
| 1842 | 6,000 | -76.0% |
| 1843 | 5,000 | -16.7% |
| 1844 | 4,000 | -20.0% |
| 1845 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 2,000 | -50.0% |
| 1853 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 1,000 | -50.0% |
| 1858 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 4,000 | +300.0% |
| 1864 | 2,000 | -50.0% |
| 1865 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 1,000 | -50.0% |
| 1876 | 3,000 | +200.0% |
| 1877 | 2,000 | -33.3% |
| 1878 | 3,000 | +50.0% |
| 1879 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 2,000 | -33.3% |
| 1881 | 3,000 | +50.0% |
| 1882 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 7,000 | +133.3% |
| 1888 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 6,000 | -14.3% |
| 1891 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 1,000 | -83.3% |
| 1898 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 15,000 | +1400.0% |
| 1904 | 10,000 | -33.3% |
| 1905 | 5,000 | -50.0% |
| 1906 | 6,000 | +20.0% |
| 1907 | 7,000 | +16.7% |
| 1908 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 6,000 | -14.3% |
| 1912 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 7,000 | +16.7% |
| 1927 | 8,000 | +14.3% |
| 1928 | 9,000 | +12.5% |
| 1929 | 9,000 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 7,000 | -22.2% |
| 1931 | 8,000 | +14.3% |
| 1932 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 13,000 | +62.5% |
| 1935 | 13,000 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 12,000 | -7.7% |
| 1937 | 15,000 | +25.0% |
| 1938 | 18,000 | +20.0% |
| 1939 | 15,000 | -16.7% |
| 1943 | 11,000 | -26.7% |
| 1944 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 11,000 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 17,000 | +54.5% |
| 1947 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 18,000 | +5.9% |
| 1954 | 19,000 | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 12,000 | -36.8% |
| 1956 | 17,000 | +41.7% |
| 1957 | 15,000 | -11.8% |
| 1958 | 19,000 | +26.7% |
| 1959 | 17,000 | -10.5% |
| 1960 | 18,000 | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 55,000 | +205.6% |
| 1962 | 55,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 50,000 | -9.1% |
| 1964 | 55,000 | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 50,000 | -9.1% |
| 1966 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 45,000 | -10.0% |
| 1971 | 50,000 | +11.1% |
| 1972 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 60,000 | +20.0% |
| 1977 | 60,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 60,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 60,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 60,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 65,000 | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 70,000 | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 70,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 70,000 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 66,000 | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 76,000 | +15.2% |
| 1987 | 86,000 | +13.2% |
| 1988 | 76,000 | -11.6% |
| 1989 | 91,000 | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 110,000 | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 110,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 139,000 | +26.4% |
| 1993 | 139,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 146,000 | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 146,000 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 146,000 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 149,000 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 154,000 | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 155,000 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 152,000 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 158,000 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 158,000 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 200,000 | +26.6% |
| 2004 | 204,000 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 207,000 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 207,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 209,000 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 254,000 | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 267,000 | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 285,000 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 283,000 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 283,000 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 281,000 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 281,000 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 297,000 | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 297,000 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 293,000 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 293,000 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 293,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 293,000 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 256,000 | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 256,000 | +0.0% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 256,000 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000, 11.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 256,000 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000, 21.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 3,333 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9 |
| 1840s | 8,000 | 4,000 | 25,000 | 10 |
| 1850s | 2,100 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,900 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 10 |
| 1870s | 2,200 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 10 |
| 1880s | 4,100 | 2,000 | 7,000 | 10 |
| 1890s | 4,500 | 1,000 | 6,000 | 10 |
| 1900s | 6,000 | 1,000 | 15,000 | 10 |
| 1910s | 6,100 | 6,000 | 7,000 | 10 |
| 1920s | 6,900 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 10 |
| 1930s | 11,700 | 7,000 | 18,000 | 10 |
| 1940s | 14,429 | 11,000 | 17,000 | 7 |
| 1950s | 16,800 | 12,000 | 19,000 | 10 |
| 1960s | 48,300 | 18,000 | 55,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 53,500 | 45,000 | 60,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 73,000 | 60,000 | 91,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 139,400 | 110,000 | 155,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 201,600 | 152,000 | 267,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 288,600 | 281,000 | 297,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 268,333 | 256,000 | 293,000 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More reference data data for Colombia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4113 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 61.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 94.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Colombia?
- Military personnel in Colombia was 256,000 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 297,000 in 2015.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 in 1857.
- How does Colombia rank for military personnel?
- Colombia ranks 20th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 189 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).