The CIA World Factbook Edition 1996 Communications
Military and security forces In 36 editions of 36.
Military and security forces was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 1996 edition carries it in 202 entries, in its Communications section, under the heading “Branches”. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 1996 edition
- 202
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Military branches” (1997 to 2018), “Military and security forces” (2019 to 2025) and “Branches” (1990 to 1996).
the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Military and security forces, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.
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Entries with Military and security forces in each edition
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World
1 entryAfrica
54 entriesCape Verde now Cabo Verde
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and Navy), Security Service
Central African Republic
- Central African Army (includes Republican Guard),
- Air Force,
- National Gendarmerie,
- Police Force
Zaire now Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Gendarmerie,
- paramilitary Civil Guard,
- Special Presidential Division
Djibouti
- Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force),
- National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite),
- National Police Force
Ethiopia
- Ground Forces,
- Air Force,
- Police
note: following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopia's naval facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization plans do not include a navy
Guinea
- Army,
- Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard),
- Air Force,
- Republican Guard,
- Presidential Guard,
- paramilitary National Gendarmerie,
- National Police Force (Surete National)
Guinea-Bissau
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Liberia
NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war
Libya
Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (includes Army, Navy, and Air and Air Defense Command), Police
Madagascar
- Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force),
- Gendarmerie,
- Presidential Security Regiment
Malawi
Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Mali
- Army,
- Air Force,
- Gendarmerie,
- Republican Guard,
- National Guard,
- National Police (Surete Nationale)
Mauritania
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Gendarmerie,
- National Guard,
- National Police,
- Presidential Guard
Mauritius
National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)
Morocco
- Royal Moroccan Army,
- Royal Moroccan Navy,
- Royal Moroccan Air Force,
- Royal Gendarmerie,
- Auxiliary Forces
Somalia
- NA;
- note - no functioning central government military forces;
- clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes
South Africa
South African National Defense Force (SANDF; includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service (SAPS)
Tanzania
- Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force),
- paramilitary Police Field Force Unit,
- Militia
Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe National Army,
- Air Force of Zimbabwe,
- Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)
Arctic Region
1 entryIceland
- no regular armed forces;
- Police, Coast Guard;
- note - Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Asia
22 entriesAfghanistan
- NA;
- note - the military still does not exist on a national scale;
- some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various mujahedin and former regime leaders
Armenia
- Argentine Army,
- Navy of the Argentine Republic,
- Argentine Air Force,
- National Gendarmerie,
- Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only),
- National Aeronautical Police Force
Bangladesh
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
China
- People's Liberation Army (PLA),
- which includes the Ground Forces,
- Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation),
- Air Force,
- Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force),
- People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime)
Georgia
- Ground Forces,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Forces,
- Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
India
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Japan
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army),
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy),
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force)
Kazakstan now Kazakhstan
- Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops);
- Kazakstan may also be establishing a maritime force - navy or coast guard - on the Caspian Sea
Korea, North now North Korea
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Korea, South now South Korea
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- Marine Corps,
- National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Tajikistan
- Army (being formed),
- Presidential National Guard,
- Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Turkmenistan
- Army,
- Air and Air Defense,
- Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops),
- National Guard
Central America and the Caribbean
25 entriesAntigua and Barbuda
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
Barbados
Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Belize
Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Costa Rica
- Civil Guard,
- Coast Guard,
- Air Section,
- Rural Assistance Guard;
- note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces
Cuba
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); Interior Ministry Border Guards (TGF)
Jamaica
Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Netherlands Antilles
- Royal Netherlands Navy,
- Marine Corps,
- Royal Netherlands Air Force,
- National Guard,
- Police Force
Panama
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Europe
39 entriesEstonia
- Ground Forces,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned),
- Maritime Border Guard,
- Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit),
- Security Forces (internal and border troops),
- Coast Guard
Faroe Islands
no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Latvia
- Ground Forces,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Forces,
- Security Forces,
- Border Guard,
- Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Lithuania
- Ground Forces,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Force,
- Security Forces (internal and border troops),
- National Guard (Skat)
Luxembourg
- Ground Forces,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Force,
- Security Forces (internal and border troops),
- National Guard (Skat)
Malta
- Army,
- Air Force,
- Gendarmerie,
- Republican Guard,
- National Guard,
- National Police (Surete Nationale)
Moldova
- Ground Forces,
- Air and Air Defense Forces,
- Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Monaco
- Ground Forces,
- Air and Air Defense Forces,
- Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Army,
- Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps),
- Royal Netherlands Air Force,
- Royal Constabulary
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of now North Macedonia
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air and Air Defense Forces,
- Police Force
Norway
- Norwegian Army,
- Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coast Artillery and Coast Guard),
- Royal Norwegian Air Force,
- Home Guard
Portugal
- Army,
- Navy (includes Marines),
- Air Force,
- National Republican Guard,
- Fiscal Guard,
- Public Security Police
Serbia and Montenegro
People's Army (includes Ground Forces with internal and border troops, Naval Forces, and Air and Air Defense Forces), Civil Defense
Middle East
16 entriesIran
- Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces),
- Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces),
- Law Enforcement Forces
Iraq
- Army,
- Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- Air Defense Force,
- Border Guard Force,
- Internal Security Forces
Israel
- Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women);
- note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
Jordan
- Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force);
- Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)
Saudi Arabia
- Land Force (Army),
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- Air Defense Force,
- National Guard,
- Coast Guard,
- Frontier Forces,
- Public Security Force
Syria
- Syrian Arab Army,
- Syrian Arab Navy,
- Syrian Arab Air Force,
- Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces,
- Police and Security Force
Turkey now Turkiye
- Land Forces,
- Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry),
- Air Force,
- Coast Guard,
- Gendarmerie
North America
4 entriesCanada
Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
United States
- Department of the Army,
- Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps),
- Department of the Air Force
note: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Oceania
15 entriesKiribati
no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Unit)
Solomon Islands
- no regular military forces;
- Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force;
- Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Vanuatu
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
South America
13 entriesArgentina
- Argentine Army,
- Navy of the Argentine Republic,
- Argentine Air Force,
- National Gendarmerie,
- Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only),
- National Aeronautical Police Force
Bolivia
- Army (Ejercito Boliviano),
- Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines),
- Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana),
- National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
Chile
- Army of the Nation,
- National Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines),
- Air Force of the Nation,
- Carabineros of Chile (National Police),
- Investigations Police
Colombia
- Army (Ejercito Nacional),
- Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard),
- Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana),
- National Police (Policia Nacional)
Ecuador
- Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano),
- Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines),
- Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana),
- National Police
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Guyana
- Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps),
- Guyana People's Militia (GPM),
- Guyana National Service (GNS)
Peru
- Army (Ejercito Peruano),
- Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard),
- Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru),
- National Police
Uruguay
- Army,
- Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines),
- Air Force,
- Grenadier Guards,
- Coracero Guard,
- Police
Venezuela
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Southeast Asia
12 entriesHong Kong
- Headquarters of British Forces,
- Army,
- Royal Navy,
- Royal Air Force,
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force,
- Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Laos
- Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements),
- Air Force,
- National Police Department
Malaysia
- Malaysian Army,
- Royal Malaysian Navy,
- Royal Malaysian Air Force,
- Royal Malaysian Police Force,
- Marine Police,
- Sarawak Border Scouts
Taiwan
- Army,
- Navy (includes Marines),
- Air Force,
- Coastal Patrol and Defense Command,
- Armed Forces Reserve Command,
- Combined Service Forces
Thailand
- Royal Thai Army,
- Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps),
- Royal Thai Air Force,
- Paramilitary Forces
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 1996, “Military and security forces”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/military-and-security-forces/1996.