Nigeria 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.
  • Nigeria military size for 2020 was 223,000.00, a 0% increase from 2019.
  • Nigeria military size for 2019 was 223,000.00, a 0% increase from 2018.
  • Nigeria military size for 2018 was 223,000.00, a 3.72% increase from 2017.
  • Nigeria military size for 2017 was 215,000.00, a 7.5% increase from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
India 3,068,000.00
Pakistan 943,000.00
Egypt 836,000.00
Indonesia 676,000.00
Vietnam 522,000.00
Myanmar 463,000.00
Sri Lanka 317,000.00
Ukraine 298,000.00
Morocco 246,000.00
Bangladesh 227,000.00
Nigeria 223,000.00
Cambodia 191,000.00
Philippines 157,000.00
Sudan 144,000.00
Lao PDR 129,000.00
Angola 117,000.00
Bolivia 71,000.00
Uzbekistan 68,000.00
Tunisia 48,000.00
El Salvador 42,000.00
Cameroon 34,000.00
Georgia 26,000.00
Kenya 24,000.00
Honduras 23,000.00
Mauritania 21,000.00
Kyrgyz Republic 21,000.00
Mongolia 18,000.00
Zambia 16,000.00
Ghana 16,000.00
Djibouti 13,000.00
Republic of Congo 12,000.00
Nicaragua 12,000.00
Moldova 6,000.00
Papua New Guinea 4,000.00
Lesotho 2,000.00
Timor-Leste 2,000.00
Cabo Verde 1,000.00
West Bank and Gaza 0.00
Nigeria Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2020 223,000.00 0.00%
2019 223,000.00 0.00%
2018 223,000.00 3.72%
2017 215,000.00 7.50%
2016 200,000.00 0.00%
2015 200,000.00 23.46%
2014 162,000.00 0.00%
2013 162,000.00 0.00%
2012 162,000.00 0.00%
2011 162,000.00 0.00%
2010 162,000.00 0.00%
2009 162,000.00 0.00%
2008 162,000.00 0.00%
2007 162,000.00 0.00%
2006 162,000.00 0.62%
2005 161,000.00 0.63%
2004 160,000.00 -0.31%
2003 160,500.00 0.00%
2002 160,500.00 0.00%
2001 160,500.00 50.70%
2000 106,500.00 -14.11%
1999 124,000.00 15.89%
1998 107,000.00 0.00%
1997 107,000.00 20.09%
1996 89,100.00 0.00%
1995 89,100.00 11.38%
1994 80,000.00 5.26%
1993 76,000.00 0.00%
1992 76,000.00 -19.15%
1991 94,000.00 0.00%
1990 94,000.00 -12.15%
1989 107,000.00 13.83%
1985 94,000.00 13.83%