Military personnel in Rwanda
Rwanda: Military personnel was 33,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
33,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
76th
of 194 countries
All-time high
70,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
1,000 people
in 1962
Years of data
61
1962–2022
Military personnel in Rwanda, 1962–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel in Rwanda is 33,000 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Rwanda peaked at 70,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,000 people, in 1962.
Rwanda ranks 76th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1,000 people | — |
| 1963 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1965 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1967 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1969 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1981 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 6,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1990 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 30,000 people | +400.0% |
| 1992 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 55,000 people | +83.3% |
| 1997 | 40,000 people | -27.3% |
| 1998 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 70,000 people | +75.0% |
| 2001 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 51,000 people | -27.1% |
| 2004 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 33,000 people | -35.3% |
| 2008 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 33,000 people | +0.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 33,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 33,000 people, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 33,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,500 people | 1,000 people | 4,000 people | 8 |
| 1970s | 4,000 people | 4,000 people | 4,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,100 people | 5,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 33,100 people | 6,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 51,300 people | 33,000 people | 70,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 33,000 people | 33,000 people | 33,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 33,000 people | 33,000 people | 33,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Rwanda?
- Military personnel in Rwanda was 33,000 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 70,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 people in 1962.
- How does Rwanda rank for military personnel?
- Rwanda ranks 76th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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 — 61 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.