India: Armed forces

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 India

Armed forces personnel

 Latest value 3,068,000
 Year 2020
 Measure people
 Data availability 1985 - 2020
 Average 2,333,587
 Min - Max 1,260,000 - 3,068,000
 Source International Institute for Strategic Studies
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2020 is 3068000 people, an increase from 3045000 people in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 162240 people, based on data from 167 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1985 to 2020 is 2333587 people. The minimum value, 1260000 people, was reached in 1985 while the maximum of 3068000 people was recorded in 2020. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
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 Recent values India: Armed forces
 2020 3,068,000
 2019 3,045,000
 2018 3,026,500
 2017 3,031,000
 2016 2,981,050
 2015 2,798,800
 2014 2,749,700
 2013 2,749,700




Definition: 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.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Military spending 86.13 2024 billion U.S. dollars
 Military spending, percent of GDP 2.30 2025 percent
 Military spending, percent of government spending 7.63 2024 percent
 Armed forces 3,068,000 2020 people
 Armed forces, percent of labor force 0.58 2020 percent
 Arms exports 25.00 2024 SIPRI TIVs
 Arms imports 1,168,000,000.00 2024 SIPRI TIVs
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