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
South Africa
| Period | Value | Status | Provenance & calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99479 · revision 1
Value 85000.0000000000 · 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: 85000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1991 | 80,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99478 · revision 1
Value 80000.0000000000 · 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: 80000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1992 | 75,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99477 · revision 1
Value 75000.0000000000 · 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: 75000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1993 | 75,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99476 · revision 1
Value 75000.0000000000 · 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: 75000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1994 | 75,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99475 · revision 1
Value 75000.0000000000 · 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: 75000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1995 | 276,900 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99474 · revision 1
Value 276900.0000000000 · 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: 276900.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1996 | 277,900 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99473 · revision 1
Value 277900.0000000000 · 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: 277900.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1997 | 217,440 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99472 · revision 1
Value 217440.0000000000 · 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: 217440.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1998 | 211,700 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99471 · revision 1
Value 211700.0000000000 · 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: 211700.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 1999 | 78,150 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99470 · revision 1
Value 78150.0000000000 · 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: 78150.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2000 | 71,600 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99469 · revision 1
Value 71600.0000000000 · 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: 71600.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2001 | 67,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99468 · revision 1
Value 67000.0000000000 · 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: 67000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2002 | 60,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99467 · revision 1
Value 60000.0000000000 · 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: 60000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2003 | 55,700 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99466 · revision 1
Value 55700.0000000000 · 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: 55700.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2004 | 55,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99465 · revision 1
Value 55000.0000000000 · 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: 55000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2005 | 56,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99464 · revision 1
Value 56000.0000000000 · 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: 56000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2006 | 103,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99463 · revision 1
Value 103000.0000000000 · 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: 103000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2007 | 62,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99462 · revision 1
Value 62000.0000000000 · 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: 62000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2008 | 62,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99461 · revision 1
Value 62000.0000000000 · 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: 62000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2009 | 77,153 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99460 · revision 1
Value 77153.0000000000 · 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: 77153.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2010 | 77,153 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99459 · revision 1
Value 77153.0000000000 · 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: 77153.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2011 | 77,582 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99458 · revision 1
Value 77582.0000000000 · 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: 77582.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2012 | 62,100 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99457 · revision 1
Value 62100.0000000000 · 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: 62100.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2013 | 77,150 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99456 · revision 1
Value 77150.0000000000 · 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: 77150.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2014 | 82,250 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99455 · revision 1
Value 82250.0000000000 · 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: 82250.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2015 | 82,150 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99454 · revision 1
Value 82150.0000000000 · 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: 82150.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2016 | 81,400 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99453 · revision 1
Value 81400.0000000000 · 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: 81400.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2017 | 80,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99452 · revision 1
Value 80000.0000000000 · 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: 80000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2018 | 89,650 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99451 · revision 1
Value 89650.0000000000 · 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: 89650.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2019 | 90,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99450 · revision 1
Value 90000.0000000000 · 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: 90000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2020 | 89,000 people | available | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99449 · revision 1
Value 89000.0000000000 · 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: 89000.0000000000 · Initial observation · 2026-10-17 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2021 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99448 · 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 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2022 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99447 · 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 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2023 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99446 · 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 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2024 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99445 · 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 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
| 2025 | Unavailable people | missing | Inspect evidence
World Bank — World Development Indicators · observation #99444 · 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 04:48:16 · source revision unspecified |
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