South Africa 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.
- 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.
- South Africa military size for 2016 was 81,400.00, a 0.91% decline from 2015.
| 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 |
| Colombia |
481,000.00 |
| Thailand |
455,000.00 |
| Venezuela |
343,000.00 |
| Iraq |
341,000.00 |
| Mexico |
328,000.00 |
| Algeria |
317,000.00 |
| Peru |
158,000.00 |
| Belarus |
155,000.00 |
| Malaysia |
136,000.00 |
| Romania |
126,000.00 |
| Jordan |
116,000.00 |
| South Africa |
90,000.00 |
| Azerbaijan |
82,000.00 |
| Lebanon |
80,000.00 |
| Cuba |
76,000.00 |
| Dominican Republic |
71,000.00 |
| Kazakhstan |
71,000.00 |
| Armenia |
49,000.00 |
| Guatemala |
43,000.00 |
| Turkmenistan |
42,000.00 |
| Ecuador |
42,000.00 |
| Bulgaria |
37,000.00 |
| Serbia |
32,000.00 |
| Paraguay |
29,000.00 |
| Namibia |
16,000.00 |
| North Macedonia |
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 |
| Mauritius |
3,000.00 |
| Guyana |
3,000.00 |
| Belize |
2,000.00 |
| Suriname |
2,000.00 |
| Equatorial Guinea |
1,000.00 |
| South Africa Military Size - Historical Data |
| Year |
Number of People |
Annual % Change |
| 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% |
