Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa

South Africa: Armed forces personnel of total labor force was 0.3982 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
0.3982
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
134th
of 171 countries
All-time high
1.71
in 1995
All-time low
0.2917
in 2004
Years of data
31
1990–2020

Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa, 1990–2020

0.511.51990200520201990: 0.5771991: 0.5291992: 0.4881993: 0.4761994: 0.4681995: 1.71996: 1.71997: 1.31998: 1.21999: 0.4532000: 0.4072001: 0.3752002: 0.3292003: 0.32004: 0.2922005: 0.2922006: 0.532007: 0.3152008: 0.312009: 0.3932010: 0.3992011: 0.3962012: 0.3092013: 0.3732014: 0.3882015: 0.372016: 0.3632017: 0.352018: 0.3842019: 0.3772020: 0.398

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa is 0.3982, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa peaked at 1.71 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.2917, in 2004.

South Africa ranks 134th of 171 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa, 1990 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1990 0.5767 —
1991 0.5293 -8.2%
1992 0.4876 -7.9%
1993 0.4764 -2.3%
1994 0.4684 -1.7%
1995 1.71 +265.9%
1996 1.7 -0.9%
1997 1.31 -22.9%
1998 1.25 -4.6%
1999 0.4525 -63.8%
2000 0.4073 -10.0%
2001 0.3746 -8.0%
2002 0.3294 -12.1%
2003 0.3004 -8.8%
2004 0.2917 -2.9%
2005 0.2925 +0.3%
2006 0.5302 +81.3%
2007 0.3147 -40.6%
2008 0.3102 -1.4%
2009 0.3931 +26.7%
2010 0.3995 +1.6%
2011 0.3959 -0.9%
2012 0.3093 -21.9%
2013 0.3728 +20.5%
2014 0.3881 +4.1%
2015 0.37 -4.7%
2016 0.3625 -2.0%
2017 0.3495 -3.6%
2018 0.3844 +10.0%
2019 0.3766 -2.0%
2020 0.3982 +5.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.3982 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9714, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 0.3982 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4031, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1995 +265.9% 0.4684 1.71
2006 +81.3% 0.2925 0.5302
1999 -63.8% 1.25 0.4525

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.8963 0.4525 1.71 10
2000s 0.3544 0.2917 0.5302 10
2010s 0.3709 0.3093 0.3995 10
2020s 0.3982 0.3982 0.3982 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 131 Nicaragua 0.4082 compare
  2. 132 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.4079 compare
  3. 133 Switzerland 0.4009 compare
  4. 135 Japan 0.3802 compare
  5. 136 Togo 0.3769 compare
  6. 137 Senegal 0.374 compare

See the full ranking of 171 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa?
Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa was 0.3982 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest armed forces personnel of total labor force recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.71 in 1995.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel of total labor force recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2917 in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for armed forces personnel of total labor force?
South Africa ranks 134th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel of total labor force rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel of total labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel of total labor force in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-of-total-labor-force/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel of total labor force
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
171 places, 5,022 data points, 1990–2020
Last refreshed