Armed forces personnel, total
Active-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability.
ARMED_FORCES_PERSONNEL_TOTAL · raw · annual · people
Military personnel scale
Armed forces personnel, total
Military personnel scale
Active-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability.
Data and evidence
Armed forces personnel, total
China
| Period | Value | Status | Provenance & calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,500,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93503 · revision 1
Value 3500000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3500000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1991 | 3,200,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93502 · revision 1
Value 3200000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3200000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1992 | 3,160,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93501 · revision 1
Value 3160000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3160000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1993 | 3,030,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93500 · revision 1
Value 3030000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3030000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1994 | 2,930,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93499 · revision 1
Value 2930000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2930000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1995 | 4,130,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93498 · revision 1
Value 4130000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 4130000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1996 | 4,135,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93497 · revision 1
Value 4135000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 4135000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1997 | 3,640,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93496 · revision 1
Value 3640000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3640000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1998 | 3,820,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93495 · revision 1
Value 3820000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3820000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 1999 | 3,820,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93494 · revision 1
Value 3820000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3820000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2000 | 3,910,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93493 · revision 1
Value 3910000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3910000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2001 | 3,810,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93492 · revision 1
Value 3810000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3810000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2002 | 3,770,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93491 · revision 1
Value 3770000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3770000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2003 | 3,750,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93490 · revision 1
Value 3750000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3750000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2004 | 3,755,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93489 · revision 1
Value 3755000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3755000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2005 | 3,755,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93488 · revision 1
Value 3755000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3755000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2006 | 3,605,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93487 · revision 1
Value 3605000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 3605000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2007 | 2,885,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93486 · revision 1
Value 2885000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2885000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2008 | 2,885,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93485 · revision 1
Value 2885000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2885000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2009 | 2,945,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93484 · revision 1
Value 2945000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2945000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2010 | 2,945,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93483 · revision 1
Value 2945000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2945000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2011 | 2,945,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93482 · revision 1
Value 2945000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2945000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2012 | 2,993,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93481 · revision 1
Value 2993000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2993000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2013 | 2,993,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93480 · revision 1
Value 2993000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2993000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2014 | 2,993,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93479 · revision 1
Value 2993000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2993000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2015 | 2,843,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93478 · revision 1
Value 2843000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2843000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2016 | 2,695,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93477 · revision 1
Value 2695000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2695000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2017 | 2,695,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93476 · revision 1
Value 2695000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2695000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2018 | 2,695,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93475 · revision 1
Value 2695000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2695000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2019 | 2,535,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93474 · revision 1
Value 2535000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2535000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2020 | 2,535,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93473 · revision 1
Value 2535000.0000000000 · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: 2535000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2021 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93472 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2022 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93471 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2023 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93470 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2024 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93469 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
| 2025 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #93468 · revision 1
Value Missing · reported · Published Unknown · Retrieved 2026-10-17 Source referenceActive-duty military personnel reported through World Bank from The Military Balance. Personnel totals measure force scale, not readiness or capability. Provider world_bank · indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 · dataset 2 · reported Dataset updated 2026-10-08 (not observation publication date) Revision historyRevision 1: Missing · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:47:50 · source revision unspecified |
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