* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Armed forces personnel, percent of the labor force, 2020:

The average for 2020 based on 11 countries was 1.6 percent. The highest value was in Laos: 4.08 percent and the lowest value was in the Philippines: 0.37 percent. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: International Institute for Strategic Studies
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Armed forces, percent of labor force, 2020 Global rank Available data
Laos 4.08 1 1990 - 2020
Brunei 3.57 2 1990 - 2020
Cambodia 2.01 3 1990 - 2020
Burma 1.94 4 1990 - 2020
Singapore 1.72 5 1990 - 2020
Thailand 1.13 6 1990 - 2020
Vietnam 0.95 7 1990 - 2020
Malaysia 0.81 8 1990 - 2020
India 0.58 9 1990 - 2020
Indonesia 0.49 10 1990 - 2020
Philippines 0.37 11 1990 - 2020


New - World map: Armed forces, percent of labor force




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. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.

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