Military personnel in Venezuela
Venezuela: Military personnel was 123,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
123,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
41st
of 194 countries
All-time high
123,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
2,000 people
in 1881
Years of data
166
1857–2022
Military personnel in Venezuela, 1857–2022
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 Venezuela stood at 123,000 people. That is the highest value across all 166 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Venezuela peaked at 123,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2,000 people, in 1881.
Venezuela ranks 41st 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 Venezuela, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | 10,000 people | — |
| 1858 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 5,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1869 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 10,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1875 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 5,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1877 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 12,000 people | +140.0% |
| 1879 | 14,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1880 | 12,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1881 | 2,000 people | -83.3% |
| 1882 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1884 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1888 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1890 | 2,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1891 | 6,000 people | +200.0% |
| 1892 | 5,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1893 | 7,000 people | +40.0% |
| 1894 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1896 | 4,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1897 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 9,000 people | +125.0% |
| 1902 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 8,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1905 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1907 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 8,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1920 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1921 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 8,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1924 | 7,000 people | -12.5% |
| 1925 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1928 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 7,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1934 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 6,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1936 | 6,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 2,000 people | -66.7% |
| 1938 | 6,000 people | +200.0% |
| 1939 | 2,000 people | -66.7% |
| 1940 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 4,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1951 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1953 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 17,000 people | +750.0% |
| 1958 | 18,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1959 | 23,000 people | +27.8% |
| 1960 | 23,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 21,000 people | -8.7% |
| 1962 | 23,000 people | +9.5% |
| 1963 | 35,000 people | +52.2% |
| 1964 | 35,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 50,000 people | +42.9% |
| 1966 | 40,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1967 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 45,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1971 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1974 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 56,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 56,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 64,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1985 | 71,000 people | +10.9% |
| 1986 | 71,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 69,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 73,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 75,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 73,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 75,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 75,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 56,000 people | -25.3% |
| 2001 | 82,000 people | +46.4% |
| 2002 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 82,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 115,000 people | +40.2% |
| 2009 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 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 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 115,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 123,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 123,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 123,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 123,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 123,000 people | +0.0% |
Venezuela compared with similar countries
- Venezuela's 123,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,500 people, 7.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Venezuela's 123,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,000 people, 10.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 10,000 people | 10,000 people | 10,000 people | 3 |
| 1860s | 9,000 people | 5,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 7,600 people | 5,000 people | 14,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,500 people | 2,000 people | 12,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 4,900 people | 2,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 8,700 people | 4,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 9,800 people | 8,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,700 people | 6,000 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 5,400 people | 2,000 people | 7,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 7,600 people | 2,000 people | 23,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 34,700 people | 21,000 people | 50,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 51,000 people | 45,000 people | 55,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 64,500 people | 55,000 people | 75,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,800 people | 73,000 people | 75,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 86,000 people | 56,000 people | 115,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 116,600 people | 115,000 people | 123,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,000 people | 123,000 people | 123,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Venezuela
More reference data data for Venezuela
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2667 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 51.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 506.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 1,190 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 14,168 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.16 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Venezuela?
- Military personnel in Venezuela was 123,000 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 Venezuela?
- The highest recorded value was 123,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Venezuela?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1881.
- How does Venezuela rank for military personnel?
- Venezuela ranks 41st out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Venezuela?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Venezuela 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 — 166 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.