List of countries by size of armed forces

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Number of active troops per country

Contents

This list of countries by size of armed forces displays national troop levels by active troop strength, number of Naval combatants, fighter aircraft and nuclear weapons. The list’s ranking however is based in the number of troops, not in the numbers of tanks, aircraft, ships or power of the armed forces. This list is indicative only, as strict comparisons cannot accurately be made. For example, "troop strength" in some forces might include administrative or paramilitary functions that in another country might be civilian roles and therefore excluded from the below figures.

Rank (by number of active troops) - Country Active troops
(thousands)
Reserve troops
(thousands)
Defense budget (US$ BN) Tanks Aircraft carriers Cr D F Co NS S Air Nu
-- World 17,442 44,925 2,410.00 87,031 78 71 204 319 335 134 259 27,489 26,291
1. Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China ** 2,250[1] 800[2] 61[3] 7,580[2] 0[4] 14 26[5] 49[6] 14 8[7] 55[8] 1,971[9] 400 [10]
2. Flag of the United States United States of America ** 1,444[14] 1,000 711 [15] 7,821[2] 12[2] 14 23 34 48 74 14 3,704[2] 9,200 [16]
3. Flag of India India ** 1,325[17] 1,160[17] 32.7[18] 5,000[2] 1[19] 23 32 41 50 41 16[20] 1,500[21] 150+ [22]
4. Flag of Russia Russia ** 1,245[2] 1,150 70[23] 28,381[2] 1 7 13[24] 5[25] 85[26] 35[27] 18[28] 3,400[29] 16,800[30]
5. Flag of North Korea North Korea ** 1,190[31] 4,700 5.00 3,500[17] 0 2 26 621 0-10 [32]
6. Flag of Pakistan Pakistan ** 650[33] 518 5.20 2,451[17] 0 7[17] 5 0 8[34] 523 [35] 55-90[36]
7. Flag of South Korea Republic of Korea 560 4,500 [37] 29.53 2,300[17] 0 6 12 24 11 388[38] 0
8. Flag of Iran Iran 545[39] 350[39] 6.20[40] 1,800 0 4 3 13 214 0
9. Flag of Egypt Egypt 542 428 3.30 3,680 0 24 17 567 0
10. Flag of Vietnam Vietnam 484 408 3.2 1,829 0 6 5 2 459 0
11. Flag of Turkey Turkey 514 378 22.56 4,205 0 18 6 14 902 NATO shared
12. Flag of Burma Myanmar 428 - 0.03 800 0 4 128 0
13. Flag of Colombia Colombia 421[41] - 3.30 350 0 4 4 30 0
14. Flag of Brazil Brazil 370[42][43][44] 1,115 24 601[45] 1 0 1[46] 11[47] 5[48] 0 5[49] 171[50] 0
15. Flag of Indonesia Indonesia 316 400 1.30 365 0 7 7 2 61 0
16. Flag of Thailand Thailand 314 200 1.77 790 1 12 5 184 0
17. Flag of Syria Syria 296[51] 132[51] 1.85 4,100 0 5 7 3 472 0
18. Flag of the Republic of China Republic of China (Taiwan) 290 1,657 10.5 926 0 4 21 4 388 0
19. Flag of Germany Germany 250 38 31.1[52] 1,500 0 15 3 11 243 NATO shared
20.]] Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh 246 50 6.81 332 0 5 4 125 0
21. Flag of Italy Italy 240 68 22.0[52] 1,180 2 4 15 12 7 385 NATO shared
22. Flag of Japan Japan 239 47 41.1[52] 980[53] 0 13[54] 39[54] 16[54] 360[55]
23. Flag of France France ** 225 100 37.9[52] 1,021 1 1 11 12 8 10 368 300-350 [56]
24. Flag of Israel Israel # 187 425 9.44 3,650[57] 0 3 3 440[58] 70-400[59]
25. Flag of Poland Poland 155 188 10.79 947 0 5 3 5 102 0
26. Flag of Ukraine Ukraine 149 1,000 2.065 [60] 3784 [61] 0 2 1 351 0
27. Flag of Eritrea Eritrea 202 250 0.22 0 30 0
28. Flag of Morocco Morocco 196 150 3.72 744 0 3[62] 3[63] 134 0
29. Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom ** 195 191 68.911 393 3 9 17 13[64] 12 341 300 [56]
30. Flag of Mexico Mexico 192 300 6.07 435 0 2 4 107 0
31. Flag of Algeria Algeria 230 150 4.99 900 0 6 32 8 350 0
32. Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia 182 0.29 400 0 48 0
33. Flag of Spain Spain 177 329 12.30 552 1 11 4 181 0
34. Flag of Greece Greece 177 58 5.2[52] 867 0 14 8 235 NATO shared
35. Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 157 0.60 0 3 32 0
36. Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 140 80 2.54 556 0 138 0
37. Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 126 575 2[65] 600+ 0 1 198 0
38. Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 124 75 27.20 1055[66] 0 7 291 0
39. Flag of Sudan Sudan 117 0.58 200 0 42 0
40. Flag of the Philippines Philippines 113 403 1.34 126 0 1 13 43 0
41. Flag of Malaysia Malaysia 110 1.69 48 0 2 6 3 93 0
42. Flag of Peru Peru 110 188 0.82 300 0 1 1 8 6 0
43. Flag of Jordan Jordan 100 35 1.39 1,179 0 101 0
44. Flag of Angola Angola 100 2.00 300 0 65 0
45. Flag of Venezuela Venezuela 100 280 4.00 194 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 76 0
46. Flag of Canada Canada 62[67] 25[67] 7.5[52] 166 0 3 12 4 138 NATO shared
47. Flag of Romania Romania 93 2.90 340 0 3 4 1 48 0
48. Flag of Nepal Nepal 90 0.10 0 0 0
49. Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 83 0.103 0 0
50. Flag of Chile Chile 80 50 5.19 320 0 7 7 4 58 0
51. Flag of Belarus Belarus 79 289 0.471[52] 1,608 0 212 0
52. Flag of Nigeria Nigeria 78 0.73 0 1 1 0
53. Flag of Libya Libya 76 45 1.30 800 0 1 3 215 0
54. Flag of Serbia Serbia 75 200 1.4 860 0 40 0
55. Flag of Cambodia Cambodia 124 0.11 0 0
56. Flag of Lebanon Lebanon 72 0.54 310 0 0 0
57. Flag of Argentina Argentina 71 4.30 348 4 9 3 66 0
58. Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan 70 0 0
59. Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 65 1,266 0 181 0
60. Flag of Yemen Yemen 40 1,250 0 2 463 0
61. Flag of Rwanda Rwanda 61
62. Flag of Armenia Armenia 60 32 0.495[68] 110 0 39 0
63. Flag of South Africa South Africa 60 3.70 168 0 4 2 43 0
64. Flag of Singapore Singapore 60 312 100 0 6 6 4 119 0
65. Flag of Uganda Uganda 60 0.10 0 0
66. Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 59 100 0.91 140 0 2 6 2 0
67. Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 57 1.164[52] 179 0 31 0
68. Flag of Australia Australia 54 20 23.18 210 0 13 6 160 0
69. Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 53 32 10.8 110 0 5 4 90 NATO shared
70. Flag of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 53 0 0 0
71.= Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 51 303 0.406[52] 560 0 5 3 1 88 0
71.= Flag of Croatia Croatia 51 1.089[52] 200 0 6 1 24 0
73. Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 50 436 0 80 0
74. Flag of Cuba Cuba 46 12 0.20 1600 0 110 0
75. Flag of Portugal Portugal 45 100 0 5 7 2 40 0
76. Flag of Oman Oman 42 35 0 2 0
77. Flag of Belgium Belgium 41 3.4[52] 0 3 68 NATO shared
78. Flag of Burundi Burundi 40 0 0
79. Flag of Finland Finland 37 485 1.929[52] 124 0 63 0
80. Flag of Tunisia Tunisia 35 0 56 0
81. Flag of Austria Austria 34 1.8[52] 233 0 16 0
82. Flag of Sweden Sweden 34 262 6.70 160 0 9 5 138 0
83. Flag of Hungary Hungary 33 0.745[52] 12 0 23 0
84. Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 32 0 0
85. Flag of Bolivia Bolivia 32 40 0.147 20 0
86. Flag of Guatemala Guatemala 31 35 0.12 0 10 0
87. Flag of Chad Chad 30 0 6 0
88. Flag of Laos Laos 29 0 0
89. Flag of Norway Norway 28 219 6.2[69] 136 0 3 6 57 0
90. Flag of Tanzania Tanzania 27 96 0 0 0
91. Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 26 487 0 0
92. Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 26 0 0
93. Flag of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic 24 0 0
94. Flag of Kenya Kenya 24 76 0 15 0
95. Flag of Uruguay Uruguay 24 0.25 85 0 3 28 0
96. Flag of Cameroon Cameroon 23 0 0
97. Flag of Denmark Denmark 23 65 2.70[52] 57 0 2 4 3 48 0
98. Flag of Zambia Zambia 22 0 0
99. Flag of Albania Albania 20 0 0.102[52] 435 0 0
100. Flag of Paraguay Paraguay 19 15 0.125 0 0 0
101. Flag of Kosovo Kosovo 2.5[70] 0.8  ? 0 0 0
102. Flag of Cyprus Cyprus 0.51[52] 0
103. Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia 0.405[52] 0
104. Flag of Estonia Estonia 0.061[52] 0
105. Flag of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonia 0.072[52] 0
106. Flag of Ireland Ireland 0.737[52] 0
107. Flag of Latvia Latvia 0.04[52] 0


[52]

[edit] Breakdown of aircraft

Flag Country Fighters Bombers Attack
Flag of the United States United States of America 3,022 235 388
Flag of Russia Russian Federation 2,295 368 767
Flag of India India 1,500 500 320
Flag of the People's Republic of China People’s Republic of China 1,445 120 380
Flag of Israel Israel 510 0 49
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan 450 0 101
Flag of North Korea North Korea 150 80 0
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam 204 0 0

All information is gathered from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, otherwise where noted.

[edit] Notes

  • * - Estimated combined number
  • ** - Declared nuclear weapon state.
  • # - Neither confirms nor denies possession of nuclear weapons.
  • AC/LPH - Aircraft Carriers/Landing Platform Helicopter
  • Cr - Cruisers
  • D - Destroyers
  • F - Frigates
  • Co - Corvettes
  • NS - Nuclear submarines
  • S - Conventional submarines
  • Nu - Nuclear Weapons

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ China: National Security
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The Asian Conventional Military Balance in 2006 Retrieved on 03-27-08
  3. ^ The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request - Global Military Spending http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/fy09_dod_request_global/ Center for Arms Control and Non/Proliferation study
  4. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/world/asia/18china.html
  5. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/default.asp
  6. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/default.asp
  7. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/sub/default.asp
  8. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/sub/default.asp
  9. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/default.asp
  10. ^ Nuclear Stockpiles: P.R. China, warheads and megatonnage, various estimates
  11. ^ http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/rg0708.pdf
  12. ^ The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request - Global Military Spending http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/fy09_dod_request_global/ Center for Arms Control and Non/Proliferation study
  13. ^ Nuclear Stockpiles: United States, warheads and megatonnage, various estimates
  14. ^ http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/ms0.pdf
  15. ^ The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request - Global Military Spending http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/fy09_dod_request_global/ Center for Arms Control and Non/Proliferation study
  16. ^ Nuclear Stockpiles: United States, warheads and megatonnage, various estimates
  17. ^ a b c d e f The Asian Conventional Military Balance in 2006 II Retrieved on 03-27-08
  18. ^ India's defence budget rises, but problems remain | Business | Reuters
  19. ^ R 22 Viraat
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ "Indian Air Force Combat Jets in USAF Exercise", Armed Forces International Retrieved 21st Dec 2008
  22. ^ "Current World Nucleur Arsenal"
  23. ^ The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request - Global Military Spending http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/fy09_dod_request_global/ Center for Arms Control and Non/Proliferation study
  24. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=destroyers
  25. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=frigates
  26. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=corvettes
  27. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=ssn
  28. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1720&catid=243&type=ssk
  29. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?linkid=2180&catid=241&type=fighters
  30. ^ Nuclear Stockpiles: USSR/Russia, warheads, various estimates
  31. ^ http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/23/Report_North_Korea_building_up_military/UPI-15061235398209/
  32. ^ NationMaster - Korean Military statistics
  33. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/may/31/books.pakistan
  34. ^ Pakistan Current Capabilities
  35. ^ [2]
  36. ^ K. Alan Kronstadt, “Pakistan-U.S. Relations”, Congressional Research Report 67139, May 9, 2006
  37. ^ South Korea: NATIONAL SECURITY
  38. ^ ROK Air Force Equipment
  39. ^ a b "Iranian Armed Forces, CSIS (Page 7)". 2006-07-25. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/060728_gulf_iran.pdf. 
  40. ^ Iran's defense spending 'a fraction of Persian Gulf neighbors'
  41. ^ [http://[3] "Colombian Armed Forces"]. 2007-2008. http://[4]. 
  42. ^ Decreto Nº 5.670 de 10 de Janeiro de 2006. Brazilian Army. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  43. ^ Comandante da Marinha confirma nova esquadra no Nordeste Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  44. ^ FAB em números Brazilian Air Force. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  45. ^ Tanks Brazilian Army. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  46. ^ Ships of the Brazilian Navy Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  47. ^ Ships of the Brazilian Navy Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  48. ^ Ships of the Brazilian Navy Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  49. ^ Ships of the Brazilian Navy Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  50. ^ Uma Nova Agenda Militar Revista Época. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
  51. ^ a b Cordesman (Middle East) p12 (2005 figures)
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Cordesman (Western) p7 (1999 figures)
  53. ^ Ground Self-Defense Forces
  54. ^ a b c Japanese Warships
  55. ^ Aircraft of the Japan Air Self Defence Force
  56. ^ a b Nuclear Stockpiles: United Kingdom and France, warheads and megatonnage, various estimates
  57. ^ Army Equipment - Israel
  58. ^ [ http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/sourcebook/content.jsp?channelName=pro&story=xml/sourcebook_xml/2008/01/28/AW_01_28_2008_p0271-27282-78.xml IAF Equipment - Israel]
  59. ^ Federation of American Scientists - Estimates of Israeli nuclear warheads
  60. ^ Ukrainian Armed Forces White Book
  61. ^ IISS Military Balance 2007, Routledge for the IISS, London, p.176-77
  62. ^ Haze Gray & Underway: World Navies Today
  63. ^ Le Maroc opte pour des corvettes néerlandaises
  64. ^ Submarine Service : Operations and Support : Royal Navy
  65. ^ Azerbaijan announces rise in army spending
  66. ^ Saudi Arabia: NATIONAL SECURITY
  67. ^ a b Department of National Defence (August 2007). "About DND/CF". http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/about/index_e.asp. Retrieved on 2008-08-19. 
  68. ^ http://www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=35442_9/29/2008_1
  69. ^ According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the 2008 budget was NOK 31.5 billion, as of July 2008 equal to USD 6.2 billion. [5]
  70. ^ "Kosovo: Security or militarisation?" b92.net 21 January 2009 Link retrieved 21-01-09
  • AH Cordesman, AA Burke, The Balance of Western Conventional Forces: A Comparative Summary of Military Expenditures; Manpower; Land, Air, Naval Forces; and National Force Trends, CSIS, January 2001 retrieved 14 Nov 2008.
  • AH Cordesman, The Middle East Military Balance: Definition, Regional Developments and Trends, CSIS, March 2005 retrieved 31 Dec 2008

[edit] External links

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