Military personnel in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Military personnel was 503,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
503,000 people
Change on year
up 264.5%
World rank
10th
of 194 countries
All-time high
503,000 people
in 2022
All-time low
10,000 people
in 1946
Years of data
116
1898–2022
Military personnel in Ethiopia, 1898–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 503,000 people for military personnel in 2022. That is the highest value across all 116 years on record.
The figure is up 264.5% on the previous year and up 264.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Ethiopia peaked at 503,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 10,000 people, in 1946.
Ethiopia ranks 10th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1898 | 150,000 people | — |
| 1899 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 150,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 250,000 people | +66.7% |
| 1915 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 100,000 people | -60.0% |
| 1920 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 500,000 people | +400.0% |
| 1946 | 10,000 people | -98.0% |
| 1947 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 20,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1951 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 24,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1956 | 28,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1957 | 32,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1958 | 36,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1959 | 29,000 people | -19.4% |
| 1960 | 29,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 27,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1962 | 30,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1963 | 55,000 people | +83.3% |
| 1964 | 60,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1965 | 60,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 40,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1967 | 45,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1973 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 45,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1975 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1976 | 65,000 people | +30.0% |
| 1977 | 225,000 people | +246.2% |
| 1978 | 233,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 250,000 people | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 240,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 240,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 240,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 190,000 people | -20.8% |
| 1985 | 240,000 people | +26.3% |
| 1986 | 300,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1987 | 300,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 250,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1989 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 250,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 120,000 people | -52.0% |
| 1992 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 100,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1997 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 200,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1999 | 300,000 people | +50.0% |
| 2000 | 352,000 people | +17.3% |
| 2001 | 252,000 people | -28.4% |
| 2002 | 252,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 164,000 people | -34.9% |
| 2004 | 173,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 183,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 183,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 153,000 people | -16.4% |
| 2008 | 138,000 people | -9.8% |
| 2009 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 503,000 people | +264.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 503,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 33,000 people, 15.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 503,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 35.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 150,000 people | 150,000 people | 150,000 people | 2 |
| 1900s | 150,000 people | 150,000 people | 150,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 195,000 people | 100,000 people | 250,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 100,000 people | 100,000 people | 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 157,143 people | 100,000 people | 500,000 people | 7 |
| 1940s | 10,000 people | 10,000 people | 10,000 people | 4 |
| 1950s | 24,900 people | 20,000 people | 36,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 43,600 people | 27,000 people | 60,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 105,800 people | 45,000 people | 250,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 250,000 people | 190,000 people | 300,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 155,000 people | 100,000 people | 300,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 198,800 people | 138,000 people | 352,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 138,000 people | 138,000 people | 138,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 259,667 people | 138,000 people | 503,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Ethiopia?
- Military personnel in Ethiopia was 503,000 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 503,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,000 people in 1946.
- How does Ethiopia rank for military personnel?
- Ethiopia ranks 10th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 264.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 116 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.