Sub-Saharan Africa Military Size 1985-2024

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa military size for 2020 was 1,732,000.00, a 11.23% decline from 2019.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa military size for 2019 was 1,951,000.00, a 5.83% increase from 2018.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa military size for 2018 was 1,843,470.00, a 2.99% increase from 2017.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa military size for 2017 was 1,790,000.00, a 0.36% decline from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
World 27,406,000.00
East Asia & Pacific 7,909,000.00
OECD members 5,861,000.00
South Asia 4,832,000.00
Latin America & Caribbean 2,740,000.00
European Union 1,913,000.00
Sub-Saharan Africa 1,732,000.00
North America 1,467,000.00
Euro Area 1,456,000.00
Sub-Saharan Africa Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2020 1,732,000.00 -11.23%
2019 1,951,000.00 5.83%
2018 1,843,470.00 2.99%
2017 1,790,000.00 -0.36%
2016 1,796,540.00 -6.25%
2015 1,916,310.00 1.55%
2014 1,887,010.00 2.23%
2013 1,845,910.00 -0.80%
2012 1,860,810.00 0.11%
2011 1,858,822.00 10.83%
2010 1,677,181.00 7.80%
2009 1,555,811.00 1.59%
2008 1,531,450.00 0.33%
2007 1,526,450.00 -0.51%
2005 1,534,250.00 2.25%
2004 1,500,450.00 -2.83%
2003 1,544,100.00 -4.07%
2002 1,609,550.00 -2.02%
2001 1,642,800.00 -4.78%
2000 1,725,200.00 1.20%
1999 1,704,800.00 3.86%
1998 1,641,450.00 1.10%
1997 1,623,660.00 -2.17%
1996 1,659,600.00 -2.28%
1995 1,698,300.00 59.92%
1994 1,062,000.00 -5.26%
1993 1,121,000.00 3.51%
1992 1,083,000.00 -5.66%
1991 1,148,000.00 -8.60%
1990 1,256,000.00 1.45%
1989 1,238,000.00 30.20%
1985 950,830.00 30.20%