South 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.
  • South Africa military size for 2020 was 89,000.00, a 1.11% decline from 2019.
  • South Africa military size for 2019 was 90,000.00, a 0.39% increase from 2018.
  • South Africa military size for 2018 was 89,650.00, a 12.06% increase from 2017.
  • South Africa military size for 2017 was 80,000.00, a 1.72% decline from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
China 2,535,000.00
Russia 1,454,000.00
Brazil 762,000.00
Iran 650,000.00
Turkey 512,000.00
Iraq 459,000.00
Thailand 455,000.00
Colombia 428,000.00
Venezuela 343,000.00
Mexico 341,000.00
Algeria 326,000.00
Belarus 158,000.00
Peru 158,000.00
Malaysia 136,000.00
Romania 128,000.00
Jordan 116,000.00
South Africa 89,000.00
Azerbaijan 82,000.00
Lebanon 80,000.00
Cuba 76,000.00
Dominican Republic 71,000.00
Kazakhstan 71,000.00
Turkmenistan 57,000.00
Armenia 47,000.00
Guatemala 43,000.00
Ecuador 42,000.00
Bulgaria 37,000.00
Serbia 32,000.00
Paraguay 29,000.00
North Macedonia 16,000.00
Namibia 16,000.00
Montenegro 12,000.00
Bosnia 11,000.00
Costa Rica 10,000.00
Botswana 9,000.00
Albania 8,000.00
Gabon 7,000.00
Jamaica 6,000.00
Fiji 4,000.00
Guyana 3,000.00
Mauritius 3,000.00
Suriname 2,000.00
Belize 2,000.00
Equatorial Guinea 1,000.00
Libya 0.00
South Africa Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2020 89,000.00 -1.11%
2019 90,000.00 0.39%
2018 89,650.00 12.06%
2017 80,000.00 -1.72%
2016 81,400.00 -0.91%
2015 82,150.00 -0.12%
2014 82,250.00 6.61%
2013 77,150.00 24.24%
2012 62,100.00 -19.96%
2011 77,582.00 0.56%
2010 77,153.00 0.00%
2009 77,153.00 24.44%
2008 62,000.00 0.00%
2007 62,000.00 -39.81%
2006 103,000.00 83.93%
2005 56,000.00 1.82%
2004 55,000.00 -1.26%
2003 55,700.00 -7.17%
2002 60,000.00 -10.45%
2001 67,000.00 -6.42%
2000 71,600.00 -8.38%
1999 78,150.00 -63.08%
1998 211,700.00 -2.64%
1997 217,440.00 -21.76%
1996 277,900.00 0.36%
1995 276,900.00 269.20%
1994 75,000.00 0.00%
1993 75,000.00 0.00%
1992 75,000.00 -6.25%
1991 80,000.00 -5.88%
1990 85,000.00 -15.00%
1989 100,000.00 -6.02%
1985 106,400.00 -6.02%