Military personnel in Colombia
Colombia: Military personnel was 256,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
256,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
20th
of 194 countries
All-time high
297,000 people
in 2015
All-time low
1,000 people
in 1857
Years of data
189
1831–2022
Military personnel in Colombia, 1831–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 256,000 people 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 people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,000 people, 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 | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1832 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 6,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1840 | 20,000 people | +233.3% |
| 1841 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1842 | 6,000 people | -76.0% |
| 1843 | 5,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1844 | 4,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1845 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 2,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1853 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 1,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1858 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 4,000 people | +300.0% |
| 1864 | 2,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1865 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 1,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1876 | 3,000 people | +200.0% |
| 1877 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1878 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1879 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1881 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1882 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 7,000 people | +133.3% |
| 1888 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1891 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 1,000 people | -83.3% |
| 1898 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 15,000 people | +1400.0% |
| 1904 | 10,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1905 | 5,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1906 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1907 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1908 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1912 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1927 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1928 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1929 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 7,000 people | -22.2% |
| 1931 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1932 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 13,000 people | +62.5% |
| 1935 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 12,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1937 | 15,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1938 | 18,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1939 | 15,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1943 | 11,000 people | -26.7% |
| 1944 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 17,000 people | +54.5% |
| 1947 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 18,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1954 | 19,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 12,000 people | -36.8% |
| 1956 | 17,000 people | +41.7% |
| 1957 | 15,000 people | -11.8% |
| 1958 | 19,000 people | +26.7% |
| 1959 | 17,000 people | -10.5% |
| 1960 | 18,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 55,000 people | +205.6% |
| 1962 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 50,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1964 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 50,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1966 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 45,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1971 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1972 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 60,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1977 | 60,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 60,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 60,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 60,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 65,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 70,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 66,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 76,000 people | +15.2% |
| 1987 | 86,000 people | +13.2% |
| 1988 | 76,000 people | -11.6% |
| 1989 | 91,000 people | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 110,000 people | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 110,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 139,000 people | +26.4% |
| 1993 | 139,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 146,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 146,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 146,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 149,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 154,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 155,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 152,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 158,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 158,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 200,000 people | +26.6% |
| 2004 | 204,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 207,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 207,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 209,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 254,000 people | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 267,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 285,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 283,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 283,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 281,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 281,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 297,000 people | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 297,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 293,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 293,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 293,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 293,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 256,000 people | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 256,000 people | +0.0% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 256,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 11.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 256,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 21.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 3,333 people | 3,000 people | 6,000 people | 9 |
| 1840s | 8,000 people | 4,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 2,100 people | 1,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,900 people | 1,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 2,200 people | 1,000 people | 3,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 4,100 people | 2,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 4,500 people | 1,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 6,000 people | 1,000 people | 15,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 6,100 people | 6,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 6,900 people | 6,000 people | 9,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 11,700 people | 7,000 people | 18,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 14,429 people | 11,000 people | 17,000 people | 7 |
| 1950s | 16,800 people | 12,000 people | 19,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 48,300 people | 18,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 53,500 people | 45,000 people | 60,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 73,000 people | 60,000 people | 91,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 139,400 people | 110,000 people | 155,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 201,600 people | 152,000 people | 267,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 288,600 people | 281,000 people | 297,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 268,333 people | 256,000 people | 293,000 people | 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 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 297,000 people in 2015.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 people 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 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 — 189 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.