Military personnel in Mexico
Mexico: Military personnel was 216,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
216,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
23rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
280,000 people
in 2011
All-time low
10,000 people
in 1863
Years of data
187
1831–2022
Military personnel in Mexico, 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
Mexico recorded 216,000 people for military personnel in 2022.
That represents a change of down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Mexico peaked at 280,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 10,000 people, in 1863.
Mexico ranks 23rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Mexico, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 25,000 people | — |
| 1832 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 20,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1841 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 21,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1849 | 22,000 people | +4.8% |
| 1850 | 23,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1851 | 24,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1852 | 25,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1853 | 26,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1854 | 27,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1855 | 26,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1856 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 26,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 27,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1863 | 10,000 people | -63.0% |
| 1864 | 15,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1865 | 21,000 people | +40.0% |
| 1866 | 40,000 people | +90.5% |
| 1867 | 33,000 people | -17.5% |
| 1868 | 26,000 people | -21.2% |
| 1869 | 18,000 people | -30.8% |
| 1870 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 20,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1874 | 22,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1875 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 25,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1881 | 22,000 people | -12.0% |
| 1882 | 22,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 21,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1884 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 32,000 people | +52.4% |
| 1889 | 37,000 people | +15.6% |
| 1890 | 37,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 38,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1892 | 49,000 people | +28.9% |
| 1893 | 38,000 people | -22.4% |
| 1894 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 38,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 35,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1897 | 33,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1898 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 30,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1903 | 29,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1904 | 29,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 29,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 28,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1907 | 28,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 29,000 people | +3.6% |
| 1909 | 30,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1910 | 31,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1911 | 32,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 57,000 people | +78.1% |
| 1913 | 31,000 people | -45.6% |
| 1914 | 30,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1915 | 180,000 people | +500.0% |
| 1916 | 200,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1918 | 55,000 people | -72.5% |
| 1919 | 137,000 people | +149.1% |
| 1920 | 120,000 people | -12.4% |
| 1921 | 103,000 people | -14.2% |
| 1922 | 85,000 people | -17.5% |
| 1923 | 66,000 people | -22.4% |
| 1924 | 52,000 people | -21.2% |
| 1925 | 64,000 people | +23.1% |
| 1926 | 64,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 69,000 people | +7.8% |
| 1928 | 74,000 people | +7.2% |
| 1929 | 70,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1930 | 65,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1931 | 61,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1932 | 54,000 people | -11.5% |
| 1933 | 54,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 59,000 people | +9.3% |
| 1935 | 54,000 people | -8.5% |
| 1936 | 48,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1937 | 54,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1938 | 49,000 people | -9.3% |
| 1939 | 49,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 52,000 people | +6.1% |
| 1943 | 80,000 people | +53.8% |
| 1946 | 61,000 people | -23.8% |
| 1947 | 61,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 61,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 64,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1950 | 55,000 people | -14.1% |
| 1951 | 60,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1952 | 56,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1953 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 48,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1956 | 48,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 48,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 49,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 50,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 60,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1962 | 64,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 65,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 65,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 65,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 75,000 people | +15.4% |
| 1967 | 80,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1968 | 75,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1969 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 80,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 85,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 95,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1976 | 100,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 120,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1979 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 120,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 125,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 130,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 130,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 129,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 140,000 people | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 141,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 141,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 154,000 people | +9.2% |
| 1989 | 154,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 175,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1991 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 250,000 people | +42.9% |
| 1998 | 255,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 255,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 193,000 people | -24.3% |
| 2001 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 193,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 238,000 people | +23.3% |
| 2008 | 249,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 255,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 268,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 280,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 280,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 270,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 270,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 267,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 277,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 277,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 277,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 277,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 236,000 people | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 216,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 216,000 people | +0.0% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 216,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 9.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 216,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 18.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Mexico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | +500.0% | 30,000 people | 180,000 people |
| 1919 | +149.1% | 55,000 people | 137,000 people |
| 1866 | +90.5% | 21,000 people | 40,000 people |
| 1912 | +78.1% | 32,000 people | 57,000 people |
| 1918 | -72.5% | 200,000 people | 55,000 people |
| 1863 | -63.0% | 27,000 people | 10,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 25,000 people | 25,000 people | 25,000 people | 9 |
| 1840s | 20,300 people | 20,000 people | 22,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 25,500 people | 23,000 people | 27,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 24,200 people | 10,000 people | 40,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 20,600 people | 18,000 people | 22,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 24,300 people | 21,000 people | 37,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 37,200 people | 33,000 people | 49,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 29,800 people | 28,000 people | 33,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 83,667 people | 30,000 people | 200,000 people | 9 |
| 1920s | 76,700 people | 52,000 people | 120,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 54,700 people | 48,000 people | 65,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 63,167 people | 52,000 people | 80,000 people | 6 |
| 1950s | 52,600 people | 48,000 people | 60,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 67,400 people | 50,000 people | 80,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 94,000 people | 80,000 people | 120,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 136,400 people | 120,000 people | 154,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 198,500 people | 175,000 people | 255,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 209,300 people | 193,000 people | 255,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 274,300 people | 267,000 people | 280,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 222,667 people | 216,000 people | 236,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More reference data data for Mexico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 84.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 157.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Mexico?
- Military personnel in Mexico was 216,000 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 280,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,000 people in 1863.
- How does Mexico rank for military personnel?
- Mexico ranks 23rd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico 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 — 187 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.