Afghanistan Military Size 1985-2023

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.
  • Afghanistan military size for 2019 was 278,000.00, a 1.87% increase from 2018.
  • Afghanistan military size for 2018 was 272,900.00, a 15.51% decline from 2017.
  • Afghanistan military size for 2017 was 323,000.00, a 0% increase from 2016.
  • Afghanistan military size for 2016 was 323,000.00, a 1.13% increase from 2015.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
North Korea 1,469,000.00
Afghanistan 278,000.00
Syrian Arab Republic 269,000.00
Eritrea 202,000.00
South Sudan 185,000.00
Ethiopia 138,000.00
Democratic Republic of Congo 134,000.00
Nepal 112,000.00
Burundi 51,000.00
Zimbabwe 51,000.00
Uganda 46,000.00
Chad 45,000.00
Yemen 40,000.00
Rwanda 35,000.00
Tanzania 28,000.00
Madagascar 22,000.00
Mali 21,000.00
Somalia 20,000.00
Senegal 19,000.00
Tajikistan 17,000.00
Malawi 15,000.00
Guinea 13,000.00
Benin 12,000.00
Burkina Faso 11,000.00
Mozambique 11,000.00
Central African Republic 10,000.00
Togo 10,000.00
Niger 10,000.00
Sierra Leone 9,000.00
Guinea-Bissau 4,000.00
Gambia 4,000.00
Liberia 2,000.00
Haiti 1,000.00
Afghanistan Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2019 278,000.00 1.87%
2018 272,900.00 -15.51%
2017 323,000.00 0.00%
2016 323,000.00 1.13%
2015 319,400.00 3.43%
2014 308,800.00 -6.61%
2013 330,650.00 -2.22%
2012 338,150.00 -0.65%
2011 340,350.00 10.94%
2010 306,800.00 19.96%
2009 255,745.00 172.07%
2008 94,000.00 84.31%
2007 51,000.00 0.00%
2006 51,000.00 88.89%
2005 27,000.00 0.00%
2004 27,000.00 -79.23%
2003 130,000.00 8.33%
2002 120,000.00 -70.00%
2000 400,000.00 0.00%
1999 400,000.00 0.00%
1998 400,000.00 -6.76%
1997 429,000.00 0.00%
1996 429,000.00 12.01%
1995 383,000.00 751.11%
1994 45,000.00 0.00%
1993 45,000.00 0.00%
1992 45,000.00 0.00%
1991 45,000.00 -22.41%
1990 58,000.00 5.45%
1989 55,000.00 17.02%
1985 47,000.00 17.02%