Military personnel in Nigeria
Nigeria: Military personnel was 143,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
143,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
35th
of 194 countries
All-time high
320,000 people
in 1971
All-time low
5,000 people
in 1960
Years of data
63
1960–2022
Military personnel in Nigeria, 1960–2022
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 Nigeria stood at 143,000 people.
That represents a change of up 78.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Nigeria peaked at 320,000 people in 1971 and was at its lowest, 5,000 people, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 35th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,000 people | — |
| 1961 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1962 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1963 | 25,000 people | +257.1% |
| 1964 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 30,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1967 | 35,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1968 | 85,000 people | +142.9% |
| 1969 | 110,000 people | +29.4% |
| 1970 | 200,000 people | +81.8% |
| 1971 | 320,000 people | +60.0% |
| 1972 | 305,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1973 | 305,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 300,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 270,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1976 | 270,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 300,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1978 | 204,000 people | -32.0% |
| 1979 | 164,000 people | -19.6% |
| 1980 | 150,000 people | -8.5% |
| 1981 | 144,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 144,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 144,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 144,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 134,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1986 | 138,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 138,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 107,000 people | -22.5% |
| 1989 | 107,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 94,000 people | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 94,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 76,000 people | -19.1% |
| 1993 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 80,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 76,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 77,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 76,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 78,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 78,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 79,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 79,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 85,000 people | +7.6% |
| 2008 | 80,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 118,000 people | +47.5% |
| 2018 | 118,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 135,000 people | +14.4% |
| 2020 | 143,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 143,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 143,000 people | +0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 143,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,500 people, 9.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 143,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 10.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +257.1% | 7,000 people | 25,000 people |
| 1968 | +142.9% | 35,000 people | 85,000 people |
| 1970 | +81.8% | 110,000 people | 200,000 people |
| 1971 | +60.0% | 200,000 people | 320,000 people |
| 2017 | +47.5% | 80,000 people | 118,000 people |
| 1978 | -32.0% | 300,000 people | 204,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35,300 people | 5,000 people | 110,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 263,800 people | 164,000 people | 320,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 135,000 people | 107,000 people | 150,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 80,900 people | 76,000 people | 94,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 79,100 people | 76,000 people | 85,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 93,100 people | 80,000 people | 135,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 143,000 people | 143,000 people | 143,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 32 Italy 161,000 people compare
- 33 United Kingdom 150,000 people compare
- 34 Philippines 145,000 people compare
- 36 Algeria 139,000 people compare
- 37 Democratic Republic of Congo 134,000 people compare
- 38 Greece 132,000 people compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Nigeria?
- Military personnel in Nigeria was 143,000 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 320,000 people in 1971.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 people in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for military personnel?
- Nigeria ranks 35th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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 — 63 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.