Military personnel in Peru
Peru: Military personnel was 81,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
81,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
50th
of 194 countries
All-time high
167,000 people
in 1983
All-time low
3,000 people
in 1896
Years of data
181
1839–2022
Military personnel in Peru, 1839–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Peru recorded 81,000 people for military personnel in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Peru peaked at 167,000 people in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3,000 people, in 1896.
Peru ranks 50th 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 Peru, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1839 | 4,000 people | — |
| 1840 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1841 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1842 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1843 | 8,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1844 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 9,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1846 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1847 | 11,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1848 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 12,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1859 | 10,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1860 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 14,000 people | +40.0% |
| 1862 | 13,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1863 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 18,000 people | +38.5% |
| 1865 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 9,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1868 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1869 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 5,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1879 | 4,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1880 | 7,000 people | +75.0% |
| 1883 | 5,000 people | -28.6% |
| 1884 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 4,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1888 | 7,000 people | +75.0% |
| 1889 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1890 | 4,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1891 | 8,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1892 | 6,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1893 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 3,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1897 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1902 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 7,000 people | +75.0% |
| 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 | 11,000 people | +57.1% |
| 1919 | 12,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1920 | 14,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1921 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 10,000 people | -28.6% |
| 1926 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 11,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1929 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 10,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1934 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 17,000 people | +70.0% |
| 1936 | 17,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 14,000 people | -17.6% |
| 1938 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 15,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1941 | 32,000 people | +113.3% |
| 1942 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 32,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 38,000 people | +18.8% |
| 1947 | 31,000 people | -18.4% |
| 1948 | 29,000 people | -6.5% |
| 1949 | 30,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1950 | 31,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1951 | 35,000 people | +12.9% |
| 1952 | 36,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 36,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 36,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 18,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1956 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 29,000 people | +61.1% |
| 1958 | 41,000 people | +41.4% |
| 1959 | 42,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 42,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 46,000 people | +9.5% |
| 1962 | 48,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 65,000 people | +35.4% |
| 1964 | 70,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1965 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 75,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 80,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 75,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 90,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1975 | 95,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 100,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 125,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1978 | 125,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 125,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 151,000 people | +20.8% |
| 1981 | 157,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 164,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 167,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 135,000 people | -19.2% |
| 1985 | 128,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 127,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 127,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 111,000 people | -12.6% |
| 1989 | 110,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 125,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1991 | 123,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 112,000 people | -8.9% |
| 1993 | 112,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 112,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 115,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 100,000 people | -13.0% |
| 2002 | 110,000 people | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 100,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 90,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 80,000 people | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 114,000 people | +42.5% |
| 2009 | 114,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 114,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 115,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 81,000 people | -29.6% |
| 2017 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 81,000 people | +0.0% |
Peru compared with similar countries
- Peru's 81,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 3.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Peru's 81,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 6.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 4,000 people | 4,000 people | 4,000 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 8,600 people | 5,000 people | 11,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 11,000 people | 10,000 people | 12,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 13,300 people | 9,000 people | 18,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 8,900 people | 4,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 5,500 people | 4,000 people | 7,000 people | 8 |
| 1890s | 4,800 people | 3,000 people | 8,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 3,900 people | 3,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 7,300 people | 4,000 people | 12,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 12,200 people | 10,000 people | 14,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 13,000 people | 10,000 people | 17,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 32,000 people | 29,000 people | 38,000 people | 9 |
| 1950s | 32,200 people | 18,000 people | 42,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 63,100 people | 42,000 people | 75,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 96,500 people | 75,000 people | 125,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 137,700 people | 110,000 people | 167,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 115,900 people | 112,000 people | 125,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 98,300 people | 80,000 people | 115,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 101,300 people | 81,000 people | 115,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 81,000 people | 81,000 people | 81,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Peru
- 47 Afghanistan 100,000 people compare
- 48 Nepal 97,000 people compare
- 49 United Arab Emirates 83,000 people compare
- 51 South Africa 74,000 people compare
- 52 Argentina 72,000 people compare
- 52 Romania 72,000 people compare
More reference data data for Peru
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3808 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 35.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Peru?
- Military personnel in Peru was 81,000 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 Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 167,000 people in 1983.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,000 people in 1896.
- How does Peru rank for military personnel?
- Peru ranks 50th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Peru 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 — 181 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.