Historical Overview of Military Personnel in Ethiopia (1990-2016)

Ethiopia experienced significant fluctuations in its military personnel numbers between 1990 and 2016, shaped by political and regional developments. In 1990, military personnel peaked at 250,000, reflecting the ongoing Ethiopian Civil War. The conclusion of the war in 1991 led to a sharp reduction, stabilizing at 120,000 until 1996. This downsizing coincided with a shift toward rebuilding the nation's political structure after the fall of the Derg regime.

A notable increase occurred in 1998, reaching 200,000, during the outbreak of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War. The conflict escalated personnel levels to 352,000 by 2000. After the war ended in 2000, troop numbers decreased gradually, stabilizing around 138,000 from 2008 onward. These reductions reflect Ethiopia's post-war focus on internal development and security reforms.