|
Source: US Arms Control & Disarmament Agency, 1996.
|
|
Indonesia
|
Australia
|
Thailand
|
|
Population (million)
|
203
|
18
|
58
|
|
Military expenditure (US$million)
|
3,398
|
8,401
|
4,014
|
|
Armed forces (1000s)
|
280
|
58
|
288
|
|
Arms exports (US$million)
|
10
|
50
|
0
|
|
Arms imports/ Total imports (%)
|
0.4
|
1.5
|
1.6
|
|
Mil. expend./ Gross National Product (%)
|
1.8
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
|
Mil. expend./ Central govt. expend. (%)
|
8.9
|
8.8
|
15.2
|
|
Mil. expend./ population (US$)
|
17
|
465
|
69
|
|
Armed forces/ 1000 population
|
1.4
|
3.2
|
4.9
|
Source: Military Balance, 1997/98
|
|
Indonesia
|
Australia
|
Thailand
|
|
Army main battle tanks
|
0 (355 light tanks)
|
71
|
253
|
|
Navy subs
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
|
destroyers
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
|
frigates
|
17
|
8
|
12
|
|
Air Force fighters
|
65
|
105
|
89
|
The Indonesian armed forces play a prominent role in domestic politics. But in comparison with its neighbours they are by no means funded extravagantly. For example, though its population is less than a third of Indonesia's, the Thai armed forces have nearly the same number of personnel as Indonesia's, and often more and better equipment. Australia and Indonesia spend the same proportion of the government budget on the military, but the Australian economy is bigger so it actually spends more than twice as much as Indonesia. Yet Australia's population is less than one tenth that of Indonesia's.
Inside Indonesia 53: Jan-Mar 1998
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