Australia Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army (includes Special Operations Command), Royal Australian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force), Royal Australian Air Force (2021)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.9% of GDP (2019)

1.9% of GDP (2018)

2% of GDP (2017)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Australian Defense Force has approximately 59,000 total active troops (29,600 Army; 15,000 Navy; 14,400 Air Force) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Australian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported Western (mostly US-origin, particularly aircraft) weapons systems; since 2015, the US is the largest supplier of arms; the Australian defense industry produces a variety of land and sea weapons platforms; the defense industry also participates in joint development and production ventures with other Western countries, including the US and Canada (2020)

Military deployments

approximately 700 Middle East (2021)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (abolished 1973); women allowed to serve in all roles (2021)

NOTE: The information regarding Australia on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Australia 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Australia 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.