List of the most powerful countries in the world. Rating of the most powerful armies in the world (According to Globalfirepower)

Date of writing: 29.10.2023

Reading time: 19 minutes

Any state. And it exists in every country. But which armies in the world can rightly be called the best?

Türkiye

In tenth place are They include land, air, and sea. It is worth noting that the total population of the state is approximately 77-78 million people. And the active manpower is estimated at ~ 410,500 soldiers. At the same time, there are approximately 185 thousand military personnel in reserve. And the number of ground combat equipment is about 14,000 units. At the same time there are approximately 200 military vessels. In the air there are 1007 attack aircraft, bombers and fighters. And finally, the budget. Each year, $18,185 billion is spent on defense.

It cannot be said that Türkiye at all times could boast of a powerful army. But constant conflicts (both external and internal) forced the armed forces of this state to rise to a completely new level.

Japan and Germany

Next after Turkey, in ninth place in the ranking, is Japan. The population of this state is 127 million people. The active manpower is 250 thousand military and approximately 58,000 in reserve. There are 4,329 ground-based equipment, while the navy has fewer - only 131 vessels. The air force has about 1,690 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers. $40.3 billion is spent on defense annually.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces were founded in 1954. The military policy of this state is very interesting. The main principles: do not attack, do not use nuclear weapons, control the activities of the armed forces and cooperate with the United States.

Eighth place in the ranking, which lists the strongest armies in the world, is occupied by the Bundeswehr (Germany). On the day it was founded (07/07/1955), the German Ministry of Defense also opened. There are currently 180,000 military personnel per ~80,000,000 population (plus 145 thousand military reserves). Ground equipment is impressive in its quantity - 6481 units. has at its disposal 81 military vessels. And they have 676 units of equipment. Approximately $36.3 billion is spent on defense annually.

South Korea, France and England

7th, 6th and 5th places are occupied by the armed forces of South Korea, France and England. They also joined the strongest armies in the world. The population of South Korea is less than 50 million people. And this number accounts for 625,000 military personnel plus almost 3,000,000 (!) in reserve. The equipment is also striking in its numbers: 12,619 combat vehicles, 166 ships and 1,451 units in the air fleet.

Talking about the size of the world's armies, it is worth noting that in France almost 11,300,000 people are fit for service, or 1/6 of the entire population! That's a lot. Why was France included in the rating called “The Strongest Armies in the World”? Because her troops are truly unique. The French army remains one of those that is entirely equipped with equipment and all kinds of weapons from its own manufacturer. It is also interesting that many women serve in the ranks of the armed forces of this country; their percentage of the total number of military personnel is 15!

England was also included in the list of “The most powerful armies in the world.” And it's no wonder why she ranks fifth. After all, the British army is directly involved in hostilities in many hot spots. But that is not all. In addition, British military forces participate in UN operations to maintain widespread security and peace (not many armies in the world are involved in this).

India

Many are surprised to learn that the armed forces of this particular state are on the 4th line of the ranking called “The most powerful armies of the countries of the world.” But it is so. The population is almost 1.3 billion. And about 2,143,000 people liable for military service! There are 1,325,000 people serving. The total number of equipment is 23,545. It is not surprising that in 2012 this state ranked first on the entire planet in terms of arms imports. By the way, it is interesting that in India everyone serves under a contract - no one is forced.

China

Naturally, when talking about the most powerful armies in the world, we cannot forget about China. In total, there are 2,335,000 military personnel in the armed forces of this state. The same number are in reserve. And an amount of 155.6 billion (!) dollars is spent annually on defense. By the way, in terms of the total number of equipment, China is not much ahead of India. This state has at its disposal 27,320 units of combat vehicles, ships, bombers, etc.

The Chinese army has certain characteristics. Or rather, the requirements for military personnel. Men with tattoos cannot serve in the Chinese army. Even with those whose diameter does not exceed two centimeters. And since 2006, military schools have become closed to those who snore. This was explained by the fact that snoring prevents many from falling asleep, and as a result, sleep-deprived soldiers who cannot fully engage. And it was also stated that all military personnel whose problems include obesity are automatically deprived of the opportunity to grow in their careers.

1st and 2nd places

The Russian Federation and the United States are the armies in the world that are rightly considered the best. Our country is home to ~143,000,000 people. And the total number of military personnel (both reserve and active manpower) exceeds 3 million. Russia has a powerful navy and aerospace forces, and the total number of equipment is almost 65,000 units.

But the USA still ranks first in the ratings. The total population is ~321,400,000, supported by 2.5 million military personnel (both reserve and live force). The amount of equipment is approximately the same, but there are fewer military personnel. It turns out that no other army in the world can compare with Russia. But why then is the USA in first place? It's simple. Our Russian army has a budget of ~47 billion dollars. Only. And the USA spends 581 (!) billion on this.

The most powerful armies in the world. Russia took second place in it, behind the United States. The first ten countries with the most powerful personnel fit for military service are in the RBC review.

Population size: 323.9 million people

145.2 million people, of which 1.3 million are active military personnel

Air Force: 13.7 thousand units of equipment

Ground troops: 5.8 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 415 units of equipment

Military budget:$587.8 billion

Population size: 142.3 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 70 million people, of which 798.5 thousand are active military personnel

Air Force: 3.8 thousand units of equipment

Ground troops: 20.2 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 352 units of equipment

Military budget:$44.6 billion

Population size: 1.3 billion people

Personnel fit for military service: 750 million people, of which 2.2 million are active military personnel

Air Force: 2.9 thousand units of military equipment

Ground troops: 6.4 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 714 units of military equipment

Military budget:$161.7 billion

Photo: Zahid Hussain Bhat / ZUMA / Global Look Press

Population size: 1.2 billion people

Personnel fit for military service: 616 million people, of which 1.3 million are active military personnel

Air Force: 2.1 thousand units of military equipment

Ground troops: 4.4 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 295 units of equipment

Military budget:$51 billion

Photo: Florian David / ZUMA / Global Look Press

Population size: 66.8 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 30 million people, including active military personnel — 204 thousand people

Air Force: 1.3 thousand units of military equipment

Ground troops: 406 battle tanks

Navy: 118 units of equipment

Military budget:$35 billion

Great Britain

Population size: 64.4 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 30 million people, of which 151.1 thousand are active military personnel

Air Force: 856 units of equipment

Ground troops: 249 battle tanks

Navy: 76 units of equipment

Military budget:$45.7 billion

Photo: Nicolas Datiche / AFLO / Global Look Press

Population size: 126.7 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 54 million people, including active military personnel — 248.5 thousand people

Air Force: 1.5 thousand units of equipment

Ground troops: 700 battle tanks

Navy: 131 units of military equipment

Military budget:$43.8 billion

Photo: Osman Bekleyen / ZUMA / Global Look Press

Population size: 80.2 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 41.6 million people, of which 382.8 thousand are active military personnel

Air Force: 1 thousand units of military equipment

Ground troops: 2.4 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 194 units of equipment

Military budget:$8.2 billion

Germany

Population size: 80.7 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 37 million people, of which 180 thousand are active military personnel

Air Force: 698 units of military equipment

Ground troops: 543 battle tanks

Navy: 81 units of equipment

Military budget:$39.2 billion

Population size: 94.6 million people

Personnel fit for military service: 42 million people, of which 454.2 thousand are active military personnel

Air Force: 1.1 thousand units of military equipment

Ground troops: 4.1 thousand battle tanks

Navy: 319 units of equipment

Military budget:$4.4 billion

Military and economic experts regularly determine the global index of military power - the Global Firepower Index. Of course, comparing the armies of the world based on statistical indicators is not an ideal solution, but there is no more objective rating (for example, to test everyone in a real war) yet. The GFP takes into account 66 different indicators: from the geographical location of the country to the degree of industrial development.

A new report for 2018 was released in November. This year, experts analyzed the armed forces of 136 states.

When compiling the Global Firepower Index, not only is a scrupulous count of tanks, aircraft and warships carried out, but also the number of personnel in the army and its reserves, the level of military funding, the country's transport infrastructure, oil production, the size of public debt and even the length of the coastline are taken into account - in a word , all factors that can affect the combat effectiveness of the national army.

The presence of a nuclear arsenal is not taken into account, but states with nuclear weapons receive a “bonus”. The top three - the USA, Russia and China - have remained unchanged for four years.

America has long been ahead of everyone else in military spending. In second place in terms of military budget, also for many years, is China. Russia is in third. The Chinese army is the largest in the world. Russia is the first in the world in the number of tanks.

This is what the top 10 most militarily powerful countries in the world look like in 2018.

10. Germany

Defense budget - $45.2 billion

432 tanks

Aircraft carriers - 0

714 aircraft

The size of the army is 208,640 people.

9. Türkiye

Defense budget - $10.2 billion

2446 tanks

Aircraft carriers - 0

1056 aircraft

Army strength: 710,500

8. Japan

Defense budget - $44 billion

679 tanks

4 helicopter carriers

1508 aircraft

Army strength - 310457

7. South Korea

Defense budget - $40 billion

2654 tanks

1 aircraft carrier

1560 aircraft

Army size - 625,000

6. UK

Prince Harry during his military service. Royal Navy Marine Instagram photo.

Defense budget - $50 billion

227 tanks

2 aircraft carriers

832 aircraft

Army strength: 279,230

5. France

Photo: page French Armed Forces on Facebook.

Defense budget - $40 billion

406 tanks

1305 aircraft

Navy - 118 (1 aircraft carrier and 3 helicopter carriers)

Army strength: 388,635

4. India

Defense budget - $51 billion

4426 tanks

1 aircraft carrier (project 1143 aircraft-carrying cruiser, former Admiral Gorshkov)

2185 aircraft

Army size - 1362500

3. China

Defense budget - $151 billion

7716 tanks

1 aircraft carrier (“Liaoning” - completed “Varyag”)

3035 aircraft

Army size - 2663000

2. Russia

Photo: website of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Defense budget - $47 billion

20300 tanks

3914 aircraft

Navy - 352 (the only aircraft carrier out of service)

The size of the army is 1013628.

1. USA

Photo website army.mil.

Defense budget - $647 billion

5,884 tanks

20 aircraft carriers

13362 aircraft

The total number of naval vessels is 415

Army size - 1281900

It is worth noting that the most important criterion for evaluating an army is combat operations. And the Global Firepower Index does not take this parameter into account. Russia and the United States also have a clear advantage here, for example, over China. Russia fought with Georgia and, how can I put it, probably with Ukraine. Plus he is conducting a military operation in Syria. And the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is also participating in operations in Syria.

The GFP ranking only considers the amount of government spending on defense, without taking into account what percentage of the country's GDP they make up. The top three ranking figures (data from the Stockholm Peace Research Institute - SIPRI) for 2017 are as follows: China spends 1.9% of GDP on defense, Russia - 4.3%, USA - 3.1%. Only Saudi Arabia spends more than Russia (as a share of GDP) on defense in the world - 10%.

A powerful and combat-ready army is the key to a country’s significant weight in the international arena. Moreover, in connection with the well-known events in Syria and Ukraine, the closest attention is increasingly being paid to the military power of different countries. Many people ask the question: “Who will win the world war?”

Today we present an annually updated, official ranking of the world's armies; the full list includes the most powerful armies in the world in 2018.

Read updated according to Globalfirepower.

The top 10 was compiled according to data from a specialized resource.

number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
weapons (airplanes, helicopters, tanks, navy, artillery, other equipment)
military budget,
resource availability, geographical location,
logistics.

Nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, but those recognized receive an advantage in ranking.

In 2018, the rating included136 countries. New to the list are Ireland (116th), Montenegro (121st) and Liberia(135 position).

By the way, San Marino has the weakest army in the world in 2018 - only 84 people.

10. German Army

Germany's military budget increased from 45 to 46 billion dollars. At the same time, the number of military personnel decreased - from186 up to 178 thousand people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.

9. Turkish Armed Forces

In the past, the country of luxurious beaches and beautiful tomatoes ranked eighth in the top armies of the world. The number of its armed forces is 350 thousand people, and its military budget is 10.2 billion dollars.

8. Japan Self-Defense Forces

The Land of the Rising Sun worsened its military performance and dropped one place in the list of the best armies in the world. The military budget decreased from 49 to 44 billion dollars, but the number of military personnel did not change - over 247 thousand people.

7. South Korean Army

Compared to the previous ranking, South Korea “jumped” from 10th to 7th place. There are 625 thousand military personnel serving in the Korean army. The eternal rival, North Korea, has 945 thousand soldiers. And South Korea's defense budget is $40 billion.

6. British Army

Although the country's position on the list has not changed, it has improved its performance in terms of army size (197 thousand people versus 188 thousand people). However, it still remains the smallest army in the ranking.

England's military budget decreased compared to 2017 from 55 to 50 billion dollars.

5. French Army

The French army, which opened the top 5 most powerful armies in the world, is small in number. Currently, 205 thousand people serve in it. At the same time, the country's defense budget is $40 billion.

4. Indian Armed Forces

The country's military budget is $47 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,362,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.

3. Chinese Army

The Celestial Empire has the largest human military force in the ranking of armies in the world. It employs 2,183,000 people. According to Wikipedia, there are 1.71 military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. And China’s military budget is huge, comparable to the army - $151 billion (increased from $126 billion compared to 2017).

2. Russian Army

The Russian armed forces are superior to almost all armies of the world in terms of weapons power in all branches of the military - air, ground and sea. The size of the Russian army for 2018 is 1,013,000 people. The military budget is $47 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high rate of the number of military personnel per 1000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

1. US Army

The most powerful army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, American. By the way, it is not the largest in terms of numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons, including nuclear potential, which is not taken into account by experts. The size of the US Army is 1,281,900 people, and the defense budget is 647 billion.dollars.

Comparison table of armies of the world (Infographics)

No matter how armed the army is, the morale of the soldiers will play an important role in winning a world war. In this regard, it is a big mistake to consider the current distribution of seats to be absolutely correct.

Political significance on the world stage is impossible without a strong, combat-ready army, on which a large amount of budget funds is spent. In past centuries, securing the support of warriors actually meant the greatest degree of success for a politician. Nothing has changed since then.

The armed forces are a guarantee of the independence, success of the country and the safety of citizens. We present to our readers a rating of the strongest armies in the world, an assessment of weapons and manpower.

Modern era and military forces

Modern countries need to protect their borders no less than territories hundreds of years ago. However, today there are countries that do not have armed forces. To protect the population, police units or units equivalent to them are used there. The list includes 21 states, including:

Andorra;
Vatican;
Haiti;
Iceland;
Costa Rica;
Monaco;
Solomon islands.

Location of countries in the world that do not have their own regular troops

It is noteworthy that some publications also include Japan in this list, whose armed forces are called self-defense forces. Legislatively, the actions of this structure are greatly limited and can only be associated with defense activities. However, it is wrong to say that Japan does not have an army.

The strength of modern troops lies not so much in numbers, but in the uniqueness of weapons, the number of tanks, submarines, and other equipment. Technological progress has given humanity not only cars and missiles, but also nuclear weapons.

Modern armies are divided into types of troops, intelligence departments and other special services.

Below is the top 10 most powerful armies in the world, let's talk about the evaluation criteria.

Criteria for assessing the power of modern armed forces

To assess the strength of armies, several criteria are used:

the number of manpower and reservists;
military budget (calculated both as a fixed amount and as a percentage of GDP);
number of airplanes and helicopters;
number of tanks;
the number of nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles;
number of submarines and missile carriers;
degree of fuel availability;
geographical data.

Rating of the strongest armies in the world

The list of the most powerful armies in the world is based on the annual Global Firepower report. The organization studies the armed forces of various countries and assigns a strength index to each. Looking at the numbers, it is easy to understand whose army is the strongest and whose army is lagging behind in most respects. This is the most detailed rating in the world.

10th place – Bundeswehr (Germany)

In 2019, the German Armed Forces lost several positions in the ranking, but remained in the top ten. Since 2011, it has been among the professional formations in which there is no place for conscripts.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen inspecting equipment

Number: 178,641;
airplanes/helicopters: 714/384;
tanks: 432;
submarines: 6;
budget: $45.2 billion;
force index: 0.2461.

The supply of the army in Germany is very good. The country is a member of NATO, but, contrary to its obligations, does not spend 2% of GDP on defense. Actively participates in conflicts abroad. The latest operation is the fight against ISIS in Afghanistan.

9th place – Türkiye

The troops consist of five units that guard the borders at sea, in the air and on the ground, and also maintain order within the country. It is not professional; recruits are annually recruited from among the country's age-appropriate citizens.

View of the Turkish Incerlik airbase, also used by NATO troops

There is a system of official redemption from the service. To do this, a young man needs to undergo initial military training for up to 5 weeks and pay 500 million liras (equivalent to 6 billion rubles). Thus, very rich citizens replenish the country's budget.

Number: 350,000;
airplanes/helicopters: 1056/475;
tanks: 2446;
submarines: 12;
budget: $10.2 billion;
force index: 0.2216.

Türkiye has its own military training centers. Citizens in the reserve are required to undergo annual retraining.

8th place - Japan

The Japan Self-Defense Forces, or Jieitai, are a special type of military force. According to the Constitution, the country does not have the right to participate in military conflicts of other countries, and the purpose of creating an army is the defense of the state. All this is a thing of the past. Today the country is consistently among the ten most powerful armies in the world with a huge defense budget. Since 2015, participation in military conflicts abroad has been officially permitted (decision of parliament).

Japan spares no expense in equipping its self-defense forces

Number: 247,157;
airplanes/helicopters: 1508/622;
tanks: 679;
submarines: 17;
budget: $44 billion;
force index: 0.2107.

The conscription age in Japan has been increased to 32 years. In recent years, the militarization of Japan has been carried out at an active pace.

7th place – South Korea

South Korean Armed Forces

Number: 625,000;
airplanes/helicopters: 1560/748;
tanks: 2654;
submarines: 16;
budget: $40 billion;
force index: 0.2001.

The Republic of Korea officially participated in the Iraq War, losing only one soldier killed.

6th place - Great Britain

By 2019, Britain's troops had become even stronger, according to Global Firepower. The state is a member of NATO and is consistently ranked among the best armies in the world.

British Army soldiers

Number: 197,730;
airplanes/helicopters: 832/333;
tanks: 227;
submarines: 10;
budget: $50 billion;
force index: 0.1917.

The advantage of the Kingdom's army is its huge budget. Regularly participates in military conflicts and NATO peacekeeping missions. The last operation was Operation Serval, in which French forces suppressed the uprising in the Republic of Mali. The British Army enjoys a peaceful and calm environment. Accidents and suicides are rare.

5th place – France

France ranks fifth among the strongest, and it maintains last year's position. The armed forces of the Republic are considered the strongest in Europe.

French regular troops often participate in international armed conflicts

Number: 205,000;
airplanes/helicopters: 1262/570;
tanks: 406;
submarines: 10;
budget: $40 billion;
force index: 0.1869.

France has also stationed combat aircraft in Tajikistan. 7% of the NATO contingent is represented by the military force of the Republic. The guarantor of the country's security is not only a strong army, but also nuclear weapons. Its quantity was reduced as much as possible with the end of the Cold War.

The Fifth Republic is a country with developed industry. It produces airplanes and helicopters and sells them abroad. The French army has a large number of women (14%) who even serve in the navy. These are the most feminized aircraft in the world.

4th place – India

The top five has remained unchanged for several years. This suggests that strong armies are seriously outperforming their competitors. One of the leaders is India. The size of this country's army is unprecedented and exceeds 1 million soldiers. Regular units include:

army;
naval forces;
air Force.

Military personnel at the Delhi Republic Day parade, 2017.

It is believed that in the event of war, the mobilization of the army will exceed 700 million people.

Number: 1,362,500;
airplanes/helicopters: 2185/720;
tanks: 4426;
submarines: 16;
budget: $47 billion;
force index: 0.1417.

The Indian army significantly surpasses the French forces in the number of tanks, aircraft and other parameters. The state is a strong nuclear power recognized by world leaders. It is noteworthy that the post of Indian Defense Minister is held by a woman, Nirmala Sitharaman.

Indian industry partially supplies the armed forces with equipment.

3rd place - China

The active army of the People's Republic of China numbers more than 2 million soldiers. In case of war, this figure will increase to 750 million.

The largest army

Number: 2,183,000;
airplanes/helicopters: 3035/985;
tanks: 7716;
submarines: 73;
budget: $151 billion;
force index: 0.0852.

China maintains military bases in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, providing security and an uninterrupted fuel supply. The PRC is in second place in terms of the budget of its armed forces, second only to the United States in this matter.

Since the army is large, a strategic agency was created in 2016 to deal with logistics issues.

Interesting fact: The Chinese army does not accept young people with tattoos. Military school soldiers must not snore, otherwise they will be discharged.

2nd place – Russia

Number: 1,013,628;
airplanes/helicopters: 3914/1451;
tanks: 20300;
submarines: 62;
budget: $47 billion;
force index: 0.0841.

Russia is the leader in the number of tanks - more than 20 thousand and nuclear warheads (8484 pieces). The delivery system for weapons of mass destruction is very well developed. The troops consist of conscripts and contract soldiers. The share of the latter is higher, and this trend has emerged since 2015. The mobilization resource is more than 30 million people.

Russian soldiers in Syria

Military units are supplied by a strong and developed military-industrial complex, which includes dozens of enterprises. They produce weapons known all over the world:

Kalashnikov assault rifles;
Sea- and ground-based air defense;
MI and Ka helicopters;
reconnaissance ships;
Project 636 submarines;
Su, Tu aircraft.

Russia is in third place in the number of submarines, behind China and the United States. In recent years, the rearmament of the army has accelerated. The Russian Federation has several bases outside the country:

in Abkhazia;
Transnistria;
Kyrgyzstan;
Kazakhstan;
Belarus;
Tajikistan and other countries.

It is planned to strengthen its position in Asia and northern Africa.

The RF Armed Forces are characterized by two types of problems:

desertion;
corruption.

Several criminal cases have been initiated against officials related to multimillion-dollar thefts. The problem of desertion often arises from extra-statutory relations. They are trying to eradicate hazing in Russian troops, since it is also a cause of suicide.

It's no secret which army is the strongest in the world.

1st place - USA

The United States is the most powerful country in the world in terms of military equipment. Its budget is higher than the spending of all the top ten countries and is estimated at several hundred billion dollars.

US Army soldiers in Afghanistan

Number: 1,281,900;
airplanes/helicopters: 13362/5758;
tanks: 5884;
submarines: 66;
budget: $647 billion;
force index: 0.0818.

The budget is distributed according to the orders of the Ministry of Defense. Thus, about 20% is spent annually on updating weapons and other purchases.

The USA has a developed military-industrial complex. It supplies its own army and the forces of other states in accordance with military contracts.

There are approximately 900 military bases outside the United States around the world:

in Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Norway, Kosovo and so on);
in Africa (Niger, Djibouti and others);
Latin America (Cuba, Brazil, Honduras);
Oceania (Australia, Guam);
Asia (Bahrain, Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Afghanistan);
Middle East (Israel, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia).

The United States Army has a problem with suicide among military personnel. Over the years, their number either increases or decreases slightly, although management is trying to combat this. Official figures exceed Russian ones.

This is what the powerful ranking of the strongest armies looks like today. The pace of development of the armed forces is both amazing and alarming. The naked eye can see a new arms race, mutual accusations of strong sides, and the emergence of new types of weapons. Over the past decade, the world has become more militant and divided into several warring camps.