Afghanistan 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.
- Afghanistan military size for 2020 was 165,000.00, a 40.65% decline from 2019.
- 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.
| Similar Country Ranking |
| Country Name |
Number of People |
| North Korea |
1,469,000.00 |
| Syrian Arab Republic |
269,000.00 |
| Eritrea |
202,000.00 |
| Afghanistan |
165,000.00 |
| Ethiopia |
138,000.00 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo |
134,000.00 |
| Nepal |
112,000.00 |
| South Sudan |
53,000.00 |
| Zimbabwe |
51,000.00 |
| Uganda |
46,000.00 |
| Chad |
45,000.00 |
| Mali |
41,000.00 |
| Yemen |
40,000.00 |
| Rwanda |
35,000.00 |
| Burundi |
31,000.00 |
| Tanzania |
28,000.00 |
| Madagascar |
22,000.00 |
| Senegal |
19,000.00 |
| Tajikistan |
17,000.00 |
| Malawi |
15,000.00 |
| Somalia |
14,000.00 |
| Guinea |
13,000.00 |
| Benin |
12,000.00 |
| Mozambique |
11,000.00 |
| Burkina Faso |
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 |
| 2020 |
165,000.00 |
-40.65% |
| 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% |
