Military personnel in Guatemala
Guatemala: Military personnel was 18,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
18,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
100th
of 194 countries
All-time high
44,000 people
in 1992
All-time low
2,000 people
in 1881
Years of data
150
1868–2022
Military personnel in Guatemala, 1868–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel in Guatemala stood at 18,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Guatemala peaked at 44,000 people in 1992 and was at its lowest, 2,000 people, in 1881.
Guatemala ranks 100th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1868 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1869 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1882 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1886 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 13,000 people | +333.3% |
| 1890 | 3,000 people | -76.9% |
| 1891 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1898 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1899 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1900 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1901 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1920 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 7,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1928 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1934 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1935 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1936 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 21,000 people | +250.0% |
| 1946 | 20,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1947 | 22,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1948 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 7,000 people | -68.2% |
| 1953 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1957 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 7,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1962 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1963 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1966 | 9,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1967 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1968 | 11,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 10,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1970 | 13,000 people | +30.0% |
| 1971 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 13,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 21,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1980 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 27,000 people | +28.6% |
| 1982 | 30,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1983 | 40,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1984 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 43,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 43,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 44,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 44,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 34,000 people | -22.7% |
| 1995 | 36,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 36,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 30,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1998 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 31,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 30,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 29,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 29,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 16,000 people | -44.8% |
| 2008 | 16,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 16,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 15,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 17,000 people | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 18,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 18,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 78% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 18,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 1.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 2 |
| 1870s | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 3,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,600 people | 2,000 people | 13,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 3,600 people | 3,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 7,000 people | 7,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 7,100 people | 7,000 people | 8,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,700 people | 7,000 people | 8,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 6,400 people | 6,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 21,400 people | 20,000 people | 22,000 people | 5 |
| 1950s | 10,400 people | 7,000 people | 22,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9,100 people | 7,000 people | 11,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 14,200 people | 13,000 people | 21,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 37,300 people | 21,000 people | 43,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 37,000 people | 30,000 people | 44,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 26,000 people | 16,000 people | 31,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16,800 people | 15,000 people | 18,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,000 people | 18,000 people | 18,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More reference data data for Guatemala
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9286 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1246 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 18.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6786 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Guatemala?
- Military personnel in Guatemala was 18,000 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 44,000 people in 1992.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1881.
- How does Guatemala rank for military personnel?
- Guatemala ranks 100th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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 — 150 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.