Military Size by Country

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Table

Table of Contents
Interactive MapIntroductionArmy Size by CountryLargest Militaries in the WorldLargest Military in the WorldMilitary Size by CountryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChadChileColombiaCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaliMaltaMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorwayOmanPakistanPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeople's Republic of ChinaPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of MacedoniaRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe BahamasThe GambiaTogoTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweFAQsWho has the biggest military ?Which countries have the largest armies in the world ?What are the 10 largest militaries in the world ?

Introduction

The size of armies around the world varies greatly, with the People’s Republic of China having the largest army, with over 2 million military personnel. India and the United States follow closely behind with 1.46 million and 1.39 million military personnel respectively. North Korea and Russia also have significant military forces, with 1.28 million and 900,000 military personnel respectively.

The armies of many countries are relatively small in comparison, with some countries having less than 100,000 military personnel. For example, South Africa and Argentina have armies of just 74,000 and 72,100 military personnel respectively. Even smaller armies can be found in countries such as Slovakia, which has an army of just 17,950 military personnel.

It’s worth noting that the size of a country’s army is not the only factor that determines its military capability. Factors such as training, technology, and tactics also play a significant role. Additionally, some countries may rely on other branches of their armed forces, such as the navy or air force, to provide military capability. Overall, the size of a country’s army is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to military strength.

Army Size by Country

#CountryNumber of Active Military Personnel (2022)Percentage Change (vs. 2021)
1People's Republic of China2,035,0000%
2India1,460,3500.13%
3United States of America1,395,3500.52%
4North Korea1,280,0000%
5Russia900,0000%
6Pakistan651,8000%
7Iran610,0000%
8South Korea555,000-7.35%
9Vietnam482,0000%
10Egypt438,5000%
11Indonesia395,5000%
12Brazil366,5000%
13Thailand360,8500%
14Myanmar356,000-12.32%
15Turkey355,2000%
16Saudi Arabia257,00013.22%
17Colombia255,950-12.7%
18Sri Lanka255,0000%
19Japan247,1500%
20Mexico216,0000%
21France203,2500%
22Eritrea201,7500%
23Ukraine196,600-5.93%
24Morocco195,8000%
25Iraq193,0000%
26Germany183,400-0.05%
27Israel169,5000%
28Syria169,0000%
29Taiwan169,0003.68%
30Afghanistan165,000-7.72%
31Bangladesh163,0500%
32Italy161,550-2.39%
33United Kingdom153,2003.16%
34Philippines145,3001.54%
35Greece143,3000.42%
36Nigeria143,0000%
37Algeria139,0006.92%
38Ethiopia138,0000%
39Democratic Republic of the Congo134,2500%
40Cambodia124,3000%
41Venezuela123,0000%
42Spain122,8500%
43Poland114,0500%
44Malaysia113,0000%
45Angola107,0000%
46Sudan104,3000%
47Jordan100,5000%
48Nepal96,6000%
49Peru81,0000%
50South Africa74,000-0.67%
51Argentina72,1000%
52Romania71,5004.38%
53Chile68,500-11.27%
54Azerbaijan66,9500%
55Canada66,500-1.34%
56United Arab Emirates63,0000%
57Lebanon60,0000%
58Australia59,6001.71%
59Dominican Republic56,0500%
60Moldova55,150970.87%
61South Sudan53,000-71.35%
62Singapore51,0000%
63Cuba49,0000%
64Uzbekistan48,0000%
65Belarus47,9505.73%
66Uganda45,0000%
67Armenia42,900-4.24%
68Oman42,6000%
69Ecuador41,2500%
70Yemen40,0000%
71Kazakhstan39,0000%
72Bulgaria36,9500%
73Turkmenistan36,5000%
74Tunisia35,8000%
75Hungary34,20023.02%
76Bolivia34,1000%
77Netherlands33,6000%
78Chad33,5000.75%
79Rwanda33,0000%
80Burundi30,0500%
81Laos29,1000%
82Zimbabwe29,0000%
83Serbia28,1500%
84Ivory Coast27,4000%
85Portugal27,2500%
86Tanzania27,0000%
87Czech Republic26,6006.83%
88Cameroon25,4000%
89Norway25,40013.65%
90El Salvador24,5000%
91Kenya24,1000%
92Austria23,3005.67%
93Lithuania23,0004.55%
94Uruguay21,1000.48%
95Mali21,00061.54%
96Georgia20,6500%
97Switzerland19,5500%
98Finland19,250-19.12%
99Guatemala18,0500%
100Slovakia17,95013.25%
101Kuwait17,5000%
102Croatia16,7009.87%
103Qatar16,5000%
104Mauritania15,8500%
105Ghana15,5000%
106Denmark15,4000%
107Zambia15,1000%
108Honduras14,9503.1%
109Sweden14,6000%
110Paraguay13,9500%
111Somalia13,900-29.8%
112Senegal13,6000%
113Madagascar13,5000%
114Cyprus12,000-20%
115Nicaragua12,0000%
116Burkina Faso11,2000%
117Mozambique11,2000%
118Kyrgyzstan10,9000%
119Malawi10,7000%
120Bosnia and Herzegovina10,5000%
121Djibouti10,4500%
122Republic of the Congo10,0000%
123Namibia9,9000%
124New Zealand9,7503.72%
125Guinea9,700%
126Mongolia9,7000%
127Central African Republic9,1500%
128Botswana9,0000%
129Tajikistan8,8000%
130Latvia8,75040%
131Ireland8,550-2.29%
132Togo8,5500%
133Sierra Leone8,5000%
134Bahrain8,2000%
135Republic of Macedonia8,0000%
136Albania7,500-6.25%
137Benin7,2500%
138Brunei7,2000%
139Estonia7,2001.41%
140Slovenia6,9500%
141Jamaica5,9500%
142Belgium5,900-76.4%
143Niger5,3000%
144Gabon4,7000%
145Trinidad and Tobago4,6501.09%
146Guinea-Bissau4,450%
147The Gambia4,1000%
148Fiji4,0400%
149Papua New Guinea4,00011.11%
150Guyana3,4000%
151Montenegro2,3500%
152East Timor2,2800%
153Liberia2,0100%
154Lesotho2,0000%
155Suriname1,8400%
156Malta1,7000%
157Belize1,5000%
158The Bahamas1,5000%
159Equatorial Guinea1,4500%
160Barbados6100%
161Haiti5000%
162Seychelles4200%
163Luxembourg4100%
164Iceland250INF%
165Antigua and Barbuda1800%
166Costa Rica00%
167Mauritius0-100%
168Panama0-100%

Largest Militaries in the World

The ten largest militaries in the world are dominated by five countries: China, India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia. These countries have significantly larger militaries compared to the other five countries on the list.

China has the largest military in the world with over 2 million military personnel. This is followed by India with 1.4 million personnel and the United States with over 1.3 million military personnel. These three countries alone account for almost half of the total number of military personnel on the list. North Korea, despite its relatively small population, has the fourth largest military in the world with over 1.2 million personnel. Russia follows with 900,000 personnel, which is significantly smaller than its Soviet-era military but still one of the largest in the world.

Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, Vietnam, and Egypt complete the list of the top ten largest militaries in the world. These countries have significantly smaller militaries compared to the top five. Pakistan has the sixth largest military in the world, with a total of 651,800 army personnel, while Iran has the seventh largest military in the world, with 610,000 military personnel. The eighth and ninth largest militaries in the world are South Korea, with 555,000 personnel, and Vietnam, with 482,000 army personnel. Finally, the tenth country with the largest military is Egypt, with a total of 438,500 military personnel.

The ten countries with the largest armies in the world, in terms of their active military personnel capacity, are :

1. People’s Republic of China – 2,035,000
2. India – 1,460,350
3. United States of America – 1,395,350
4. North Korea – 1,280,000
5. Russia – 900,000
6. Pakistan – 651,800
7. Iran – 610,000
8. South Korea – 555,000
9. Vietnam – 482,000
10. Egypt – 438,500

Largest Military in the World

China has the largest military force in the world, with a total army personnel of 2,035,000 people. The Chinese military is composed of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the army, navy, air force, and strategic missile force. China’s military budget is the second-largest in the world after the United States, allowing the country to continuously improve its defense capabilities. The size of the Chinese military is not only for defense purposes but also serves as a show of strength and a symbol of China’s global influence. However, the size of the army does not necessarily equate to military superiority, as other factors such as technology and strategy play a crucial role in modern warfare.

Military Size by Country

Afghanistan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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165,000

↓ 7.72%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#30

Afghanistan has the thirtieth largest military in the world, encompassing 165,000 active personnel. Afghanistan spends approximately $278,250,788 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks one hundred and eighth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Albania

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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7,500

↓ 6.25%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#136

289 million

Ranked in the World

#107

Algeria

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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139,000

↑ 6.92%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#37

9 billion

Ranked in the World

#26

Angola

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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107,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#45

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#63

Antigua and Barbuda

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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180

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#165

Argentina

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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72,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#51

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#56

Armenia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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42,900

↓ 4.24%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#67

795 million

Ranked in the World

#80

Australia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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59,600

↑ 1.71%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#58

32 billion

Ranked in the World

#13

Australia has the fifty-eighth largest military in the world, encompassing 59,600 active personnel. Australia spends approximately $31,753,716,216 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks twelfth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Austria

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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23,300

↑ 5.67%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#92

4 billion

Ranked in the World

#49

Azerbaijan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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66,950

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#54

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#53

Bahrain

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,200

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#134

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#65

Bangladesh

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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163,050

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#31

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#43

Barbados

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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610

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#160

Belarus

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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47,950

↑ 5.73%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#65

821 million

Ranked in the World

#78

Belarus has the seventy-seventh largest military in the world, encompassing 47,950 active personnel. The country of Belarus spends approximately $762,776,224 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks seventy-seventh in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Belgium

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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5,900

↓ 76.4%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#142

7 billion

Ranked in the World

#33

Belize

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#157

24 million

Ranked in the World

#144

Benin

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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7,250

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#137

97 million

Ranked in the World

#130

Bolivia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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34,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#76

640 million

Ranked in the World

#83

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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10,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#120

184 million

Ranked in the World

#117

Botswana

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#128

489 million

Ranked in the World

#90

Brazil

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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366,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#12

20 billion

Ranked in the World

#17

Brunei

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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7,200

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#138

436 million

Ranked in the World

#93

Bulgaria

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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36,950

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#72

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#67

Burkina Faso

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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11,200

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#116

563 million

Ranked in the World

#87

Burundi

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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30,050

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#80

101 million

Ranked in the World

#126

Cambodia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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124,300

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#40

611 million

Ranked in the World

#84

Cameroon

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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25,400

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#88

417 million

Ranked in the World

#98

Canada

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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66,500

↓ 1.34%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#55

27 billion

Ranked in the World

#14

Canada has the fifty-fifth largest military in the world, encompassing 66,500 active personnel. Canada spends approximately $26,449,162,679 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks thirteenth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Central African Republic

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,150

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#127

42 million

Ranked in the World

#139

Chad

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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33,500

↑ 0.75%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#78

357 million

Ranked in the World

#104

Chile

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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68,500

↓ 11.27%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#53

6 billion

Ranked in the World

#38

Colombia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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255,950

↓ 12.7%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#17

10 billion

Ranked in the World

#25

Costa Rica

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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0

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#166

Ranked in the World

#149

Costa Rica has the one-hundred-sixty-sixth largest military in the world, encompassing no active personnel. Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world that does not have an army. This has been true since 1949 when President José Figueres Ferrer abolished the Costa Rican army in an effort to reallocate resources towards education and other public services. As a result, military expenditures were redirected to economic development, health care, and poverty reduction. The decision to forgo an army also allowed the nation to reduce its arms imports and instead focus on furthering its social welfare programs and expanding access to education for all citizens.

Croatia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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16,700

↑ 9.87%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#102

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#68

Cuba

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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49,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#63

Cyprus

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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12,000

↓ 20%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#114

494 million

Ranked in the World

#89

Czech Republic

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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26,600

↑ 6.83%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#87

4 billion

Ranked in the World

#46

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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134,250

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#39

371 million

Ranked in the World

#100

Denmark

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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15,400

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#106

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#39

Djibouti

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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10,450

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#121

Dominican Republic

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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56,050

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#59

761 million

Ranked in the World

#81

East Timor

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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2,280

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#152

44 million

Ranked in the World

#138

Ecuador

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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41,250

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#69

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#58

Egypt

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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438,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#10

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#45

Egypt has the tenth largest military in the world, encompassing 438,500 active personnel. Egypt spends approximately $5,165,445,627 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks forty-third in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

El Salvador

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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24,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#90

422 million

Ranked in the World

#97

Equatorial Guinea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,450

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#159

157 million

Ranked in the World

#120

Eritrea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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201,750

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#22

Estonia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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7,200

↑ 1.41%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#139

811 million

Ranked in the World

#79

Ethiopia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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138,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#38

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#74

Fiji

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,040

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#148

67 million

Ranked in the World

#136

Finland

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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19,250

↓ 19.12%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#98

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#42

Finland has the ninety-eighth largest military in the world, encompassing 19,250 active personnel. Finland spends approximately $5,903,500,473 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks thirty-seventh in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

France

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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203,250

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#21

54 billion

Ranked in the World

#8

France has the twenty-first largest military in the world, encompassing 203,250 active personnel. France spends approximately $56,646,996,216 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks sixth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Gabon

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,700

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#144

278 million

Ranked in the World

#109

Georgia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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20,650

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#96

360 million

Ranked in the World

#103

Germany

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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183,400

↓ 0.05%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#26

56 billion

Ranked in the World

#7

Germany has the twenty-sixth largest military in the world, encompassing 183,400 active personnel. Germany spends approximately $56,017,029,328 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks seventh in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Ghana

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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15,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#105

229 million

Ranked in the World

#112

Greece

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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143,300

↑ 0.42%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#35

8 billion

Ranked in the World

#31

Greece has the thirty-fifth largest military in the world, encompassing 143,300 active personnel. Greece spends approximately $8,079,943,236 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks thirty-first in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Guatemala

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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18,050

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#99

431 million

Ranked in the World

#95

Guinea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,700

-

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#125

441 million

Ranked in the World

#92

Guinea-Bissau

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,450

-

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#146

25 million

Ranked in the World

#142

Guyana

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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3,400

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#150

84 million

Ranked in the World

#132

Haiti

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#161

13 million

Ranked in the World

#148

Haiti has the one-hundred-sixty-first largest military in the world, encompassing 500 active personnel. Haiti spends approximately $20,912,067 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks one-hundred forty-seventh in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Honduras

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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14,950

↑ 3.1%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#108

478 million

Ranked in the World

#91

Hungary

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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34,200

↑ 23.02%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#75

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#57

Iceland

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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250

↑ INF%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#164

Ranked in the World

#150

Iceland has the one-hundred-sixty-fourth largest military in the world, encompassing 250 active personnel. Iceland's military size is quite small in comparison to other countries and mainly consists of 250 personnel within the Icelandic Coast Guard. Despite this very minor size, Iceland uniquely does not invest in its military forces; rather, the government utilizes NATO troops as a form of collective defense. This allows the country to allocate its resources toward other areas such as financial and social development. In addition, Iceland does not possess any nuclear weapons or weapon systems, preferring instead to focus on maintaining peace and security through nonviolent approaches.

India

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,460,350

↑ 0.13%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#2

81 billion

Ranked in the World

#4

India has the second largest military in the world, encompassing 1,460,350 active personnel. This force can be divided into three main branches: the Indian Army, which accounts for 80% of its personnel; the Indian Navy, which commands a fleet of nearly 200 ships and submarines; and the Indian Air Force, which boasts 1,700 aircraft. The total defense spending of India stands at around $76 billion per year and has increased steadily over recent years in order to bolster its defensive capabilities. Not only does India have an extremely large military size but they also boast one of the most experienced militaries in the world that have served in various global peacekeeping missions.

Indonesia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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395,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#11

9 billion

Ranked in the World

#27

Iran

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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610,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#7

7 billion

Ranked in the World

#34

Iran has the seventh largest military in the world, encompassing 610,000 active personnel. Iran spends approximately $24,589,091,554 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks fourteenth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Iraq

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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193,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#25

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#44

Ireland

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,550

↓ 2.29%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#131

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#69

Israel

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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169,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#27

23 billion

Ranked in the World

#15

Italy

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

161,550

↓ 2.39%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#32

33 billion

Ranked in the World

#12

Ivory Coast

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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27,400

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#84

607 million

Ranked in the World

#85

Jamaica

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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5,950

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#141

215 million

Ranked in the World

#115

Jamaica has the one-hundred-forty-first largest military in the world, encompassing 5,950 active personnel. While Jamaica's military size is relatively modest compared to many other nations, the nation does maintain a large reserve component consisting of 2,580 additional personnel. Jamaica also maintains its own coast guard and air wing, providing a certain level of maritime and aerial defense capabilities. In addition to this, Jamaica regularly participates in joint military operations with other Caribbean nations as part of its regional security initiatives. This collaboration is aimed at fostering greater stability and support within the region while also helping to deter any potential threats or hostile actors that could potentially disrupt peace in the region.

Japan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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247,150

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#19

46 billion

Ranked in the World

#10

Japan's military, known as the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), has approximately 247,000 active personnel and 57,000 reservists, making it one of the largest military forces in Asia. However, in comparison to the United States, Japan's military is significantly smaller. The United States has the third largest military in the world, with over 1.3 million active personnel and over 800,000 reservists. Despite its smaller size, the JSDF is considered to be a modern and well-equipped military force, with advanced technology and training. Japan's military is primarily focused on self-defense and maintaining regional security, due in part to constitutional restrictions on its ability to engage in offensive military operations. Additionally, Japan maintains a close military alliance with the United States and frequently conducts joint military exercises and operations with US forces.

Jordan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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100,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#47

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#59

Kazakhstan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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39,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#71

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#72

Kenya

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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24,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#91

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#71

Kuwait

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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17,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#101

8 billion

Ranked in the World

#30

Kyrgyzstan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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10,900

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#118

150 million

Ranked in the World

#121

Laos

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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29,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#81

Latvia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,750

↑ 40%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#130

849 million

Ranked in the World

#76

Lebanon

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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60,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#57

Lesotho

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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2,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#154

35 million

Ranked in the World

#140

Liberia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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2,010

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#153

19 million

Ranked in the World

#146

Lithuania

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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23,000

↑ 4.55%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#93

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#62

Luxembourg

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

410

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#163

565 million

Ranked in the World

#86

Madagascar

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

13,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#113

98 million

Ranked in the World

#128

Malawi

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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10,700

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#119

76 million

Ranked in the World

#134

Malaysia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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113,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#44

4 billion

Ranked in the World

#48

Mali

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

21,000

↑ 61.54%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#95

515 million

Ranked in the World

#88

Malta

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,700

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#156

87 million

Ranked in the World

#131

Mauritania

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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15,850

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#104

225 million

Ranked in the World

#113

Mauritius

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

0

↓ 100%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#167

20 million

Ranked in the World

#145

Mexico

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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216,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#20

9 billion

Ranked in the World

#28

Moldova

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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55,150

↑ 970.87%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#60

48 million

Ranked in the World

#137

Moldova has the one-hundred-thirty-ninth largest military in the world, encompassing 55,150 active personnel. Moldova spends approximately $52,293,263 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks one-hundred thirty-ninth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Mongolia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,700

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#126

118 million

Ranked in the World

#122

Montenegro

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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2,350

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#151

98 million

Ranked in the World

#127

Morocco

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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195,800

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#24

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#41

Mozambique

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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11,200

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#117

282 million

Ranked in the World

#108

Myanmar

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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356,000

↓ 12.32%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#14

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#61

Namibia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,900

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#123

369 million

Ranked in the World

#101

Nepal

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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96,600

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#48

428 million

Ranked in the World

#96

Netherlands

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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33,600

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#77

16 billion

Ranked in the World

#19

New Zealand

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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9,750

↑ 3.72%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#124

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#55

Nicaragua

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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12,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#115

84 million

Ranked in the World

#133

Niger

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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5,300

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#143

243 million

Ranked in the World

#111

Nigeria

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

143,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#36

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#51

North Korea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,280,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#4

North Korea has the fourth largest military in the world, encompassing 1,280,000 active personnel. The amount of money North Korea spends annually on its military is currently unknown. The country employs mandatory military conscription for both males and females.

Norway

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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25,400

↑ 13.65%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#89

8 billion

Ranked in the World

#29

Oman

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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42,600

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#68

6 billion

Ranked in the World

#36

Pakistan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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651,800

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#6

10 billion

Ranked in the World

#24

Pakistan has the sixth largest military in the world, encompassing 651,800 active personnel. Pakistan spends approximately $11,304,829,853 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks twenty-third in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Panama

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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0

↓ 100%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#168

Ranked in the World

#151

Papua New Guinea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,000

↑ 11.11%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#149

97 million

Ranked in the World

#129

Paraguay

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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13,950

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#110

366 million

Ranked in the World

#102

People's Republic of China

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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2,035,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#1

292 billion

Ranked in the World

#2

China has the largest active-duty military force in the world, with an estimated 2 million personnel. In addition to its active-duty troops, China has an additional 510,000 reserve personnel. China has been rapidly modernizing its military in recent years, with significant investments in new technologies such as advanced missiles, drones, and cyber capabilities. The country also has the world's largest standing army and a nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 350 nuclear warheads. Finally, China's military spending has been increasing over the years, with a budget of over $200 billion in 2021, making it the second-highest military spender after the United States.

Peru

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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81,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#49

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#54

Philippines

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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145,300

↑ 1.54%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#34

4 billion

Ranked in the World

#47

Poland

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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114,050

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#43

17 billion

Ranked in the World

#18

Poland has the forty-sixth largest military in the world, encompassing 114,050 active personnel. Poland spends approximately $13,710,679,108 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks twentieth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Portugal

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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27,250

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#85

4 billion

Ranked in the World

#50

Qatar

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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16,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#103

15 billion

Ranked in the World

#20

Republic of Macedonia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#135

225 million

Ranked in the World

#114

Republic of the Congo

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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10,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#122

266 million

Ranked in the World

#110

Romania

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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71,500

↑ 4.38%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#52

5 billion

Ranked in the World

#40

Russia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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900,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#5

86 billion

Ranked in the World

#3

Russia has a standing army of 900,000 personnel, making it the fifth-largest military force in the world. This figure includes both active-duty soldiers and reserve forces. The country's military budget has increased in recent years, with a focus on modernizing and upgrading its equipment and capabilities. Russia's military has been involved in various conflicts, including its ongoing intervention in Syria and its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Overall, Russia's military remains a significant global player, both in terms of size and strategic importance.

Rwanda

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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33,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#79

177 million

Ranked in the World

#119

Saudi Arabia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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257,000

↑ 13.22%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#16

75 billion

Ranked in the World

#5

Saudi Arabia has the sixteenth largest military in the world, encompassing 257,000 active personnel. Saudi Arabia's military is well-equipped with a strong air force, naval fleet, and ground forces, with the majority of the personnel comprising their Army. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) operates an array of advanced combat aircraft such as F-15s, Eurofighter Typhoons, and Apache helicopters. The Royal Saudi Navy maintains one of the largest fleets in the Middle East region, consisting of over 80 major surface vessels and a number of submarines. It has also recently acquired four new corvettes from Spain. In addition to this, the Royal Saudi Land Forces are armed with T-90 tanks and other modern weapon systems making them an effective land force in the region.

Senegal

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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13,600

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#112

433 million

Ranked in the World

#94

Serbia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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28,150

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#83

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#64

Seychelles

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

420

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#162

26 million

Ranked in the World

#141

Sierra Leone

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Number of Active Military Personnel

help

8,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#133

25 million

Ranked in the World

#143

Singapore

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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51,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#62

12 billion

Ranked in the World

#22

Slovakia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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17,950

↑ 13.25%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#100

2 billion

Ranked in the World

#60

Slovenia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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6,950

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#140

735 million

Ranked in the World

#82

Somalia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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13,900

↓ 29.8%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#111

115 million

Ranked in the World

#123

South Africa

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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74,000

↓ 0.67%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#50

3 billion

Ranked in the World

#52

South Korea

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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555,000

↓ 7.35%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#8

46 billion

Ranked in the World

#9

South Korea has the eighth largest military in the world, encompassing 555,000 active personnel. South Korea spends approximately $50,226,948,867 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks tenth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

South Sudan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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53,000

↓ 71.35%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#61

379 million

Ranked in the World

#99

Spain

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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122,850

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#42

20 billion

Ranked in the World

#16

Sri Lanka

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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255,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#18

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#73

Sudan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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104,300

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#46

Suriname

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,840

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#155

Sweden

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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14,600

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#109

8 billion

Ranked in the World

#32

Switzerland

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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19,550

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#97

6 billion

Ranked in the World

#35

Switzerland has the ninety-seventh largest military size in the world, encompassing 19,550 active personnel. Switzerland spends approximately $5,738,402,626 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks thirty-ninth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Syria

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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169,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#28

Taiwan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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169,000

↑ 3.68%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#29

13 billion

Ranked in the World

#21

Taiwan has the twenty-ninth largest military in the world, encompassing 169,000 active personnel. Taiwan spends approximately $12,958,452,722 every year in military expenditures. The country ranks twenty-first in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Tajikistan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,800

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#129

103 million

Ranked in the World

#125

Tanzania

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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27,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#86

832 million

Ranked in the World

#77

Thailand

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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360,850

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#13

6 billion

Ranked in the World

#37

The Bahamas

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#158

The Gambia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#147

15 million

Ranked in the World

#147

Togo

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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8,550

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#132

337 million

Ranked in the World

#105

Trinidad and Tobago

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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4,650

↑ 1.09%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#145

201 million

Ranked in the World

#116

Tunisia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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35,800

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#74

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#70

Turkey

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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355,200

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#15

11 billion

Ranked in the World

#23

Turkey has the fifthteenth largest military in the world, encompassing 355,200 active personnel. Turkey spends approximately $15,478,850,939 every year in military expenditures. The country ranks eighteenth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

Turkmenistan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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36,500

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#73

Uganda

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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45,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#66

923 million

Ranked in the World

#75

Ukraine

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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196,600

↓ 5.93%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#23

44 billion

Ranked in the World

#11

Ukraine has the twenty-third largest military size in the world, encompassing 196,600 active personnel. Ukraine's armed forces are made up of the Ground Forces, the Air Force, the Naval Forces, and several other military units. In addition to that, Ukraine has four military academies and more than 700 training institutions for both regular and reserve officers. The country also maintains a fleet of over 400 warships and combat vessels for use in defense missions. The Ukrainian government continues to invest in its military infrastructure by purchasing new equipment and developing new defense strategies.

United Arab Emirates

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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63,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#56

United Kingdom

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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153,200

↑ 3.16%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#33

68 billion

Ranked in the World

#6

The United Kingdom has the thirty-third largest military in the world, encompassing 153,200 active personnel. The United Kingdom spends approximately $68,366,440,552 every year on military expenditures. The country ranks fourth in terms of the annual amount spent on its military.

United States of America

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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1,395,350

↑ 0.52%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#3

877 billion

Ranked in the World

#1

The United States military is one of the largest in the world with an estimated active duty force of around 1.3 million personnel. It also has over 800,000 reserve forces, making it a significant force in times of conflict. The U.S. military is equipped with a wide range of advanced weaponry, including nuclear weapons, and has a significant presence around the world. In addition to its large ground forces, the U.S. also has a strong naval and air force presence, with numerous aircraft carriers and fighter jets at its disposal. The U.S. military budget is also one of the largest in the world, with an estimated expenditure of over $700 billion in 2021.

Uruguay

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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21,100

↑ 0.48%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#94

1 billion

Ranked in the World

#66

Uzbekistan

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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48,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#64

Venezuela

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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123,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#41

Vietnam

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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482,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#9

Vietnam has the ninth largest military in the world, encompassing 482,000 active personnel. Vietnam has no mandatory military conscription system in place.

Yemen

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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40,000

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#70

Zambia

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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15,100

- 0%

Vs 2021

Ranked in the World

#107

326 million

Ranked in the World

#106

Zimbabwe

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Number of Active Military Personnel

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29,000

- 0%

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Ranked in the World

#82

182 million

Ranked in the World

#118

FAQs

Who has the biggest military ?

The country with the biggest military in the world is China, with a total military personnel of 2,035,000 people.

Which countries have the largest armies in the world ?

The fifteen countries with the largest armies, in terms of the number of military personnel by country, are China, India, the US, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand, Myanmar, and Turkey.

What are the 10 largest militaries in the world ?

The 10 largest militaries in the world are :

1. People’s Republic of China – 2,035,000
2. India – 1,460,350
3. United States of America – 1,395,350
4. North Korea – 1,280,000
5. Russia – 900,000
6. Pakistan – 651,800
7. Iran – 610,000
8. South Korea – 555,000
9. Vietnam – 482,000
10. Egypt – 438,500

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