Total armed forces personnel rose 25.6% to 343 '000 in Venezuela in 2017, according to the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database.
Historically, total armed forces personnel in Venezuela reached an all time high of 343 '000 in 2017 and an all time low of 49.0 '000 in 1985. When compared to Venezuela's main peers, total armed forces personnel in Brazil amounted to 730 '000, 481 '000 in Colombia, 3.00 '000 in Guyana and 4.00 '000 in Trinidad and Tobago in 2017.
Venezuela has been ranked 18th within the group of 162 countries we follow in terms of total armed forces personnel, 33 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Armed Forces Personnel (Total) | Unit | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Bolivia | '000 | 83.2 | 71.2 | 71.2 | 71.2 | 71.0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Brazil | '000 | 713 | 730 | 730 | 730 | 730 | ||||||||||||||||
| Colombia | '000 | 456 | 456 | 481 | 481 | 481 | ||||||||||||||||
| Guyana | '000 | 1.10 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 3.00 | ||||||||||||||||
| Peru | '000 | 192 | 158 | 158 | 158 | 158 | ||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | '000 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Suriname | '000 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 2.00 | ||||||||||||||||
| Trinidad and Tobago | '000 | 4.05 | 4.05 | 4.05 | 4.05 | 4.00 | ||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | '000 | ... | 115 | 265 | 265 | 273 | 343 |
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