Canada's armed forces personnel, total was 72,000 in 2020, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 9.59% from 65,700 in 2010 (0.92% a year on average, compounded).
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 72,000 | 2020 |
| Five years earlier | 67,500 | 2015 |
| Ten years earlier | 65,700 | 2010 |
| Highest | 88,000 | 1989 |
| Lowest | 61,600 | 2002 |
| Average since 2011 | 69,100 | 2011–2020 |
| First recorded | 83,000 | 1985 |
What the numbers say
In 2020, Canada's armed forces personnel, total did not change 0% on 2019 (from 72,000 to 72,000).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1990 to 2019), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 4.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 15.3% in 2004 and the biggest yearly fall was 9.9% in 2006. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2011 to 2020 the straight-line trend is upward, about 833.94 a year. A straight line explains 76% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2020, Canada had the 58th highest value of the 170 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 72,000 | 2020 |
| World | 27.41 million | 2020 |
| North America | 1.47 million | 2020 |
| High income | 7 million | 2020 |
Closest to Canada in the 2020 ranking
- Azerbaijan — 55th of 170: 82,000
- Lebanon — 56th of 170: 80,000
- Cuba — 57th of 170: 76,000
- Bolivia — 59th of 170: 71,000
- Dominican Republic — 60th of 170: 71,000
- Kazakhstan — 61st of 170: 71,000
What this measures
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.
Limitations: Data excludes personnel not on active duty, therefore it underestimates the share of the labor force working for the defense establishment. The cooperation of governments of all countries listed in “The Military Balance” has been sought by IISS and, in many cases, received. However, some data in “The Military Balance” is estimated.
Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.
All 33 values
| Year | Armed forces personnel, total |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 72,000 |
| 2019 | 72,000 |
| 2018 | 72,400 |
| 2017 | 72,000 |
| 2016 | 67,500 |
| 2015 | 67,500 |
| 2014 | 70,200 |
| 2013 | 65,700 |
| 2012 | 66,000 |
| 2011 | 65,700 |
| 2010 |
Armed forces personnel, total in nearby economies
- United States — 1.4 million (2020)
More public sector data for Canada
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 83 million (2025)
- Military expenditure (current USD) — 37.49 billion (2025)
- Military expenditure (current LCU) — 52.4 billion (2025)
- Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 1.63% (2025)
- Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 312 million (2025)
- Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) — 3.69% (2025)
- Net acquisition of financial assets (current LCU) — 121.6 billion (2024)
- Net acquisition of financial assets (% of GDP) — 3.91% (2024)
- Central government debt, total (current LCU) — 1.99 trillion (2024)
- Central government debt, total (% of GDP)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Canada's armed forces personnel, total?
- 72,000 in 2020, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1985?
- It is down 13.25% from 83,000 in 1985 (0.41% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 88,000 in 1989 and the lowest 61,600 in 2002.
- How does Canada rank?
- 58th highest of 170 economies with data for 2020.
- Is the latest change in armed forces personnel, total unusual for Canada?
- In 2020, Canada's armed forces personnel, total did not change 0% on 2019 (from 72,000 to 72,000). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1990 to 2019), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 4.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.TOTL.P1, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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