Can This Country Carry the Weight of Europe’s Military Defense?

The United States has been pushing Europe to take on more of its defensive responsibilities and handle its own security. In response, NATO’s leader, Mark Rutte, urged European countries last week to work together as they build up their militaries and defense industries after years of underfunding. Although NATO countries are committed to spending 2% […] The post Can This Country Carry the Weight of Europe’s Military Defense? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Apr 2, 2025 - 13:12

Can This Country Carry the Weight of Europe’s Military Defense?

The United States has been pushing Europe to take on more of its defensive responsibilities and handle its own security. In response, NATO’s leader, Mark Rutte, urged European countries last week to work together as they build up their militaries and defense industries after years of underfunding. Although NATO countries are committed to spending 2% of their economy on defense, many nations are still dragging behind this goal, including Spain and Italy. In contrast, countries near Russia are already exceeding this goal, making it challenging for Europe to lessen its reliance on the U.S. military. (These are the NATO countries with the strongest militaries.)

Here at 24/7 Wall Street, we are examining which European countries currently have the strongest military might. To determine this, we reviewed the 2025 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value, the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. In addition, we included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power as well. We also included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power. It is important to note that we have excluded Russia from this list. (These countries were once part of the Soviet Union.)

This is an updated version of a previously published story, expanded to reflect up-to-date military stats as of 2025 in light of the current push for Europe to handle more of its own defense and the urge from NATO for countries to work together as they build up their national defenses.

Why This Matters Today

High detailed political map of western Europe

Given the current push for Europe to handle more of its own defense, understanding the current military capabilities of individual European nations is crucial. This is especially important regarding NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s recent comments urging collaboration to bolster European militaries and defense industries. Europe’s history is fraught with geopolitical complexities, including many wars and shifting alliances, and its influence remains strong in today’s modern world. Because many European countries haven’t devoted enough funding to their militaries for years, looking at which ones are the most powerful helps us understand how well they can protect themselves and what needs to happen to make sure the continent stays stable.

These are the strongest militaries in Europe:

30. Estonia

Active military personnel: 7,700
Reserve military personnel: 78,800
Total military aircraft: 5
Total helicopters: 3
Total military vehicles: 1,685
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2917 – #107 out of 145

Estonia has a total population of 1.19 million. Of this population, 456,028 are fit to serve in the military.

29. Ireland

Dublin map. Close up of Dublin map with red pin. Map with red pin point of Dublin in Ireland.

Active military personnel: 7,765
Reserve military personnel: 1,700
Total military aircraft: 22
Total helicopters: 8
Total military vehicles: 1,712
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1103 – #97 out of 145

Ireland has a total population of 5.2 million. Of this population, 1.99 million are fit to serve in the military.

28. Slovenia

Active military personnel: 7,300
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total helicopters: 16
Total military vehicles: 1,428
Total tanks: 54
Total navy ships and submarines: 2
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145

Slovenia has a total population of 2 million. Of this population, 826,570 are fit to serve in the military.

27. Lithuania

Active military personnel: 23,000
Reserve military personnel: 104,000
Total military aircraft: 9
Total helicopters: 4
Total military vehicles: 1,263
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 14
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9075 – #88 out of 145

Lithuania has a total population of 2.6 million. Of this population, 1.3 million are fit to serve in the military.

26. Albania

Active military personnel: 6,600
Reserve military personnel: 2,000
Total military aircraft: 19
Total helicopters: 19
Total military vehicles: 1,796
Total tanks: 46
Total navy ships and submarines: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145

Albania has a total population of 3.1 million. Of this population, 1.29 million are fit to serve in the military.

25. Croatia

Active military personnel: 14,325
Reserve military personnel: 20,100
Total military aircraft: 67
Total helicopters: 37
Total military vehicles: 2,848
Total tanks: 45
Total navy ships and submarines: 30
Military strength score and world rank: 1.5074 – #74 out of 145

Croatia has a total population of 4.15 million. Of this population, 1.56 million are fit to serve in the military.

24. Slovakia

Active military personnel: 19,500
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 41
Total helicopters: 22
Total military vehicles: 3,074
Total tanks: 45
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3978 – #71 out of 145

Slovakia has a total population of 5.5 million. Of this population, 2.3 million are fit to serve in the military.

23. Belarus

Belarus+MLRS | Polonez MLRS (05)

Active military personnel: 63,000
Reserve military personnel: 145,000
Total military aircraft: 185
Total helicopters: 68
Total military vehicles: 6,916
Total tanks: 507
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3954 – #70 out of 145

Belarus has a total population of 9.5 million. Of this population, 3.7 million are fit to serve in the military.

22. Austria

Active military personnel: 16,000
Reserve military personnel: 125,600
Total military aircraft: 85
Total helicopters: 41
Total military vehicles: 7,322
Total tanks: 56
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3704 – #68 out of 145

Austria has a total population of 8.96 million. Of this population, 3.6 million are fit to serve in the military.

21. Serbia

Active military personnel: 25,000
Reserve military personnel: 2,000
Total military aircraft: 110
Total helicopters: 46
Total military vehicles: 3,683
Total tanks: 262
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2576 – #63 out of 145

Serbia has a total population of 6.65 million. Of this population, 2.57 million are fit to serve in the military.

20. Bulgaria

Active military personnel: 37,000
Reserve military personnel: 3,000
Total military aircraft: 65
Total helicopters: 27
Total military vehicles: 4,914
Total tanks: 90
Total navy ships and submarines: 36
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2563 – #62 out of 145

Bulgaria has a total population of 6.78 million. Of this population, 2.6 million are fit to serve in the military.

19. Belgium

Active military personnel: 25,000
Reserve military personnel: 6,400
Total military aircraft: 108
Total helicopters: 20
Total military vehicles: 4,606
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 9
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2564 – #61 out of 145

Belgium has a total population of 11.97 million. Of this population, 3.88 million are fit to serve in the military.

18. Hungary

Active military personnel: 41,600
Reserve military personnel: 20,000
Total military aircraft: 69
Total helicopters: 44
Total military vehicles: 7,797
Total tanks: 209
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145

Hungary has a total population of 9.85 million. Of this population, 3.79 million are fit to serve in the military.

17. Czechia

Active military personnel: 28,000
Reserve military personnel: 4,200
Total military aircraft: 99
Total helicopters: 42
Total military vehicles: 6,340
Total tanks: 43
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9994 – #53 out of 145

Czechia has a total population of 10.8 million. Of this population, 4.1 million are fit to serve in the military.

16. Romania

Romania+tanks | Romanian tanks attack during Combined Resolve II

Active military personnel: 81,300
Reserve military personnel: 55,000
Total military aircraft: 140
Total helicopters: 65
Total military vehicles: 10,774
Total tanks: 328
Total navy ships and submarines: 20
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145

Romania has a total population of 18.1 million. Of this population, 7.7 million are fit to serve in the military.

15. Finland

Finland artillery | Missile system on the background of the Finnish flag

Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 870,000
Total military aircraft: 163
Total helicopters: 27
Total military vehicles: 11,704
Total tanks: 200
Total navy ships and submarines: 264
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145

Finland has a total population of 5.6 million. Of this population, 1.9 million are fit to serve in the military.

14. Denmark

Active military personnel: 20,000
Reserve military personnel: 12,000
Total military aircraft: 117
Total helicopters: 34
Total military vehicles: 3,856
Total tanks: 44
Total navy ships and submarines: 50
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8109 – #45 out of 145

Denmark has a total population of 5.97 million. Of this population, 2.1 million are fit to serve in the military.

13. Switzerland

Active military personnel: 101,584
Reserve military personnel: 49,715
Total military aircraft: 146
Total helicopters: 40
Total military vehicles: 6,996
Total tanks: 205
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7869 – #44 out of 145

Switzerland has a total population of 8.86 million. Of this population, 3.16 million are fit to serve in the military.

12. Portugal

Portugal+F-16 | Lockheed Martin F-16 AM of the Portuguese Air Force

Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 211,700
Total military aircraft: 115
Total helicopters: 31
Total military vehicles: 10,828
Total tanks: 34
Total navy ships and submarines: 194
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6856 – #39 out of 145

Portugal has a total population of 10.6 million. Of this population, 4.09 million are fit to serve in the military.

11. Norway

Active military personnel: 23,250
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 97
Total helicopters: 33
Total military vehicles: 6,552
Total tanks: 44
Total navy ships and submarines: 43
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6811 – #38 out of 145

Norway has a total population of 5.5 million. Of this population, 1.8 million are fit to serve in the military.

10. Netherlands

Active military personnel: 41,380
Reserve military personnel: 6,765
Total military aircraft: 120
Total helicopters: 63
Total military vehicles: 2,755
Total tanks: 18
Total navy ships and submarines: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6412 – #36 out of 145

The Netherlands has a total population of 17.77 million. Of this population, 6.48 million are fit to serve in the military.

9. Greece

Greece+F-16 | N/A

Active military personnel: 142,700
Reserve military personnel: 221,350
Total military aircraft: 558
Total helicopters: 293
Total military vehicles: 61,888
Total tanks: 1,344
Total navy ships and submarines: 192
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145

Greece has a total population of 10.46 million. Of this population, 3.98 million are fit to serve in the military.

8. Sweden

Sweden+Gripen-E | Gripen E/F Test Aircraft

Active military personnel: 24,400
Reserve military personnel: 32,900
Total military aircraft: 169
Total helicopters: 53
Total military vehicles: 6,795
Total tanks: 110
Total navy ships and submarines: 353
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145

Sweden has a total population of 10.59 million. Of this population, 3.55 million are fit to serve in the military.

7. Poland

Active military personnel: 202,100
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Total military aircraft: 479
Total helicopters: 216
Total military vehicles: 23,138
Total tanks: 614
Total navy ships and submarines: 62
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #21 out of 145

Poland has a total population of 38.7 million. Of this population, 15.5 million are fit to serve in the military.

6. Ukraine

President Of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Visits Turkey

Active military personnel: 900,000
Reserve military personnel: 1,200,000
Total military aircraft: 324
Total helicopters: 136
Total military vehicles: 18,920
Total tanks: 1,114
Total navy ships and submarines: 89
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3755 – #20 out of 145

Ukraine has a total population of 35.66 million. Of this population, 12.73 million are fit to serve in the military.

5. Spain

Active military personnel: 133,282
Reserve military personnel: 15,150
Total military aircraft: 461
Total helicopters: 153
Total military vehicles: 17,626
Total tanks: 317
Total navy ships and submarines: 152
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145

Spain has a total population of 47.28 million. Of this population, 17.63 million are fit to serve in the military.

4. Germany

Active military personnel: 181,600
Reserve military personnel: 34,000
Total military aircraft: 584
Total helicopters: 309
Total military vehicles: 83,260
Total tanks: 296
Total navy ships and submarines: 61
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2601 – #14 out of 145

Germany has a total population of 84.1 million. Of this population, 30.95 million are fit to serve in the military.

3. Italy

Active military personnel: 165,500
Reserve military personnel: 18,500
Total military aircraft: 729
Total helicopters: 392
Total military vehicles: 73,480
Total tanks: 200
Total navy ships and submarines: 196
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145

Italy has a total population of 60.96 million. Of this population, 22.19 million are fit to serve in the military.

2. France

Active military personnel: 200,000
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Total military aircraft: 972
Total helicopters: 447
Total military vehicles: 110,932
Total tanks: 215
Total navy ships and submarines: 129
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #7 out of 145

France has a total population of 68.37 million. Of this population, 23.79 million are fit to serve in the military.

1. United Kingdom

Active military personnel: 184,860
Reserve military personnel: 924,000
Total military aircraft: 631
Total helicopters: 266
Total military vehicles: 38,200
Total tanks: 227
Total navy ships and submarines: 109
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145

The United Kingdom has a total population of 68.45 million. Of this population, 25.19 million are fit to serve in the military.

The post Can This Country Carry the Weight of Europe’s Military Defense? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..