NATO’s Smallest 15 Armies Total Only 322 K Troops, 25% of U.S. Strength

From the Cold War to the current tensions with Russia, NATO’s ground forces have been central to European security. A few member nations maintain sizable forces at the ready should any conflict pop off but for the most part these countries don’t devote that many resources to their troops. However, as geopolitical tensions are rising […] The post NATO’s Smallest 15 Armies Total Only 322 K Troops, 25% of U.S. Strength appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Jun 8, 2025 - 13:46

NATO’s Smallest 15 Armies Total Only 322 K Troops, 25% of U.S. Strength

Key Points

From the Cold War to the current tensions with Russia, NATO’s ground forces have been central to European security
A few of these NATO nations maintain formidable forces, but most do not
As geopolitical tensions are rising following Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web, more NATO nations are mustering their forces
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From the Cold War to the current tensions with Russia, NATO’s ground forces have been central to European security. A few member nations maintain sizable forces at the ready should any conflict pop off but for the most part these countries don’t devote that many resources to their troops. However, as geopolitical tensions are rising following Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web, more NATO nations are mustering their forces in anticipation of what could come. Here, 24/7 Wall St. took a closer look at NATO and which countries within the alliance have the most Army personnel at the ready.

To determine the NATO countries with the most army personnel, 24/7 Wall St. 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. We ranked these countries based on total army personnel. We also included supplemental information regarding personnel counts from other military branches, active personnel, total personnel, as well as the overall military strength score and defense budget. Countries with no army personnel were excluded.

Here is a look at the countries with the most army personnel in NATO:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding NATO’s military dynamics is important when looking at the state of global security. Since its inception, NATO has played a pivotal role in shaping international relations through its collective defense and security framework. As geopolitical tensions continue to rise and new threats emerge, knowing and understanding NATO’s military capabilities is important for getting a clearer picture of the world stage. Not to mention, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, among others, contribute significantly to NATO’s military strength, influencing global power balances and regional stability.

31. Luxembourg

Total army personnel: 940
Total air force personnel: 0
Total navy personnel: 0
Active military personnel: 1,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 1,000
Military strength score and world rank: 2.6415 – #117 out of 145
Military defense budget: $726,092,925 – #98 out of 145

Luxembourg’s army personnel operate 182 total military vehicles.

30. Montenegro

Montenegro | Montenegro

Total army personnel: 1,500
Total air force personnel: 350
Total navy personnel: 550
Active military personnel: 2,350
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 5,500
Total military personnel: 7,850
Military strength score and world rank: 2.9216 – #127 out of 145
Military defense budget: $148,100,000 – #136 out of 145

Montenegro’s army personnel operate 471 total military vehicles, including 12 MLRS units and 12 artillery units.

29. Albania

Total army personnel: 2,335
Total air force personnel: 660
Total navy personnel: 1,000
Active military personnel: 6,600
Reserve military personnel: 2,000
Paramilitary personnel: 500
Total military personnel: 9,100
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145
Military defense budget: $558,862,420 – #101 out of 145

Albania’s army personnel operate 1,796 total military vehicles, including 46 tanks, 135 MLRS units, and 50 artillery units.

28. Netherlands

Netherlands national flag cloth fabric waving on beautiful background.

Total army personnel: 2,370
Total air force personnel: 6,540
Total navy personnel: 7,510
Active military personnel: 41,380
Reserve military personnel: 6,765
Paramilitary personnel: 5,000
Total military personnel: 53,145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6412 – #36 out of 145
Military defense budget: $27,000,000,000 – #18 out of 145

Netherlands’s army personnel operate 2,755 total military vehicles, including 18 tanks, 2 MLRS units, and 46 artillery units.

27. Estonia

Total army personnel: 4,000
Total air force personnel: 1,570
Total navy personnel: 500
Active military personnel: 7,700
Reserve military personnel: 78,800
Paramilitary personnel: 10,000
Total military personnel: 96,500
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2917 – #107 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,463,360,000 – #77 out of 145

Estonia’s army personnel operate 1,685 total military vehicles, including 36 artillery units.

26. Slovenia

Total army personnel: 6,500
Total air force personnel: 610
Total navy personnel: 350
Active military personnel: 7,300
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Paramilitary personnel: 5,000
Total military personnel: 38,300
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145
Military defense budget: $886,860,000 – #91 out of 145

Slovenia’s army personnel operate 1,428 total military vehicles, including 54 tanks and 18 artillery units.

25. Latvia

Total army personnel: 6,700
Total air force personnel: 250
Total navy personnel: 1,000
Active military personnel: 17,250
Reserve military personnel: 36,000
Paramilitary personnel: 12,500
Total military personnel: 65,750
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1246 – #99 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,138,000,000 – #84 out of 145

Latvia’s army personnel operate 1,848 total military vehicles, including 47 artillery units.

24. Sweden

Sweden navy | Swedish naval flag

Total army personnel: 6,850
Total air force personnel: 2,700
Total navy personnel: 2,100
Active military personnel: 24,400
Reserve military personnel: 32,900
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 82,300
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145
Military defense budget: $13,000,000,000 – #28 out of 145

Sweden’s army personnel operate 6,795 total military vehicles, including 110 tanks and 26 artillery units.

23. Croatia

Total army personnel: 7,075
Total air force personnel: 1,260
Total navy personnel: 1,365
Active military personnel: 14,325
Reserve military personnel: 20,100
Paramilitary personnel: 2,000
Total military personnel: 36,425
Military strength score and world rank: 1.5074 – #75 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,176,000,000 – #83 out of 145

Croatia’s army personnel operate 2,848 total military vehicles, including 45 tanks, 42 MLRS units, and 67 artillery units.

22. North Macedonia

Total army personnel: 7,500
Total air force personnel: 350
Total navy personnel: 0
Active military personnel: 9,000
Reserve military personnel: 60,000
Paramilitary personnel: 3,500
Total military personnel: 7,250
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4042 – #112 out of 145
Military defense budget: $388,421,700 – #114 out of 145

North Macedonia’s army personnel operate 1,108 total military vehicles, including 20 tanks, 17 MLRS units, and 150 artillery units.

21. Norway

Norwegian flag in May 17th constitution day parade in Haugesund, Norway 2022

Total army personnel: 8,815
Total air force personnel: 3,650
Total navy personnel: 4,000
Active military personnel: 23,250
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 40,000
Total military personnel: 63,250
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6811 – #38 out of 145
Military defense budget: $9,710,000,000 – #32 out of 145

Norway’s army personnel operate 6,552 total military vehicles, including 44 tanks and 42 artillery units.

20. Slovakia

Slovakia | Bratislava skyline

Total army personnel: 10,200
Total air force personnel: 3,200
Total navy personnel: 0
Active military personnel: 19,500
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 19,500
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3978 – #71 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,656,000,000 – #64 out of 145

Slovakia’s army personnel operate 3,074 total military vehicles, including 45 tanks, 25 MLRS units, and 44 artillery units.

19. Portugal

Total army personnel: 11,000
Total air force personnel: 6,000
Total navy personnel: 7,000
Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 211,700
Paramilitary personnel: 24,700
Total military personnel: 260,400
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6856 – #39 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,627,000,000 – #52 out of 145

Portugal’s army personnel operate 10,828 total military vehicles, including 34 tanks and 139 artillery units.

18. Belgium

Total army personnel: 12,120
Total air force personnel: 6,500
Total navy personnel: 1,300
Active military personnel: 25,000
Reserve military personnel: 6,400
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 31,400
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2564 – #62 out of 145
Military defense budget: $10,200,000,000 – #31 out of 145

Belgium’s army personnel operate 4,606 total military vehicles.

17. Czechia

Total army personnel: 13,000
Total air force personnel: 5,000
Total navy personnel: 0
Active military personnel: 28,000
Reserve military personnel: 4,200
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 32,200
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9994 – #53 out of 145
Military defense budget: $6,750,000,000 – #43 out of 145

Czechia’s army personnel operate 6,340 total military vehicles, including 43 tanks, 16 MLRS units, and 50 artillery units.

16. Lithuania

Total army personnel: 14,500
Total air force personnel: 1,500
Total navy personnel: 700
Active military personnel: 23,000
Reserve military personnel: 104,000
Paramilitary personnel: 14,150
Total military personnel: 141,150
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9075 – #88 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,388,900,000 – #66 out of 145

Lithuania’s army personnel operate 1,263 total military vehicles, including 75 artillery units.

15. Bulgaria

Bulgaria+air+force | U.S.-Bulgarian air force mission

Total army personnel: 17,000
Total air force personnel: 8,500
Total navy personnel: 4,450
Active military personnel: 37,000
Reserve military personnel: 3,000
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 40,000
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2563 – #61 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,373,232,000 – #80 out of 145

Bulgaria’s army personnel operate 4,914 total military vehicles, including 90 tanks, 24 MLRS units, and 72 artillery units.

14. Hungary

Hungary | Hungary-0024 - Buda Castle

Total army personnel: 32,000
Total air force personnel: 5,750
Total navy personnel: 0
Active military personnel: 41,600
Reserve military personnel: 20,000
Paramilitary personnel: 15,000
Total military personnel: 76,600
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,576,000,000 – #53 out of 145

Hungary’s army personnel operate 7,797 total military vehicles, including 209 tanks and 319 artillery units.

13. Romania

Romania+artillery | Romanian artillery

Total army personnel: 35,500
Total air force personnel: 11,700
Total navy personnel: 6,800
Active military personnel: 81,300
Reserve military personnel: 55,000
Paramilitary personnel: 15,000
Total military personnel: 151,300
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145
Military defense budget: $9,700,000,000 – #33 out of 145

Romania’s army personnel operate 10,774 total military vehicles, including 328 tanks, 243 MLRS units, and 720 artillery units.

12. Finland

Total army personnel: 42,000
Total air force personnel: 41,100
Total navy personnel: 16,000
Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 870,000
Paramilitary personnel: 53,800
Total military personnel: 947,800
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145
Military defense budget: $6,779,661,000 – #42 out of 145

Finland’s army personnel operate 11,704 total military vehicles, including 200 tanks, 76 MLRS units, and 774 artillery units.

11. Canada

Total army personnel: 44,000
Total air force personnel: 15,560
Total navy personnel: 16,300
Active military personnel: 68,000
Reserve military personnel: 27,000
Paramilitary personnel: 5,500
Total military personnel: 100,500
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5179 – #28 out of 145
Military defense budget: $41,000,000,000 – #15 out of 145

Canada’s army personnel operate 21,704 total military vehicles, including 74 tanks.

10. Germany

Total army personnel: 62,800
Total air force personnel: 27,725
Total navy personnel: 16,500
Active military personnel: 181,600
Reserve military personnel: 34,000
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 215,600
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2601 – #14 out of 145
Military defense budget: $50,000,000,000 – #11 out of 145

Germany’s army personnel operate 83,260 total military vehicles, including 296 tanks, 33 MLRS units, and 134 artillery units.

9. Spain

Total army personnel: 75,825
Total air force personnel: 23,000
Total navy personnel: 20,840
Active military personnel: 133,282
Reserve military personnel: 15,150
Paramilitary personnel: 78,470
Total military personnel: 226,902
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145
Military defense budget: $23,397,000,000 – #22 out of 145

Spain’s army personnel operate 17,626 total military vehicles, including 317 tanks and 382 artillery units.

8. Denmark

Total army personnel: 88,400
Total air force personnel: 3,500
Total navy personnel: 3,600
Active military personnel: 20,000
Reserve military personnel: 12,000
Paramilitary personnel: 51,000
Total military personnel: 83,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8109 – #45 out of 145
Military defense budget: $7,225,466,250 – #40 out of 145

Denmark’s army personnel operate 3,856 total military vehicles, including 44 tanks, 8 MLRS units, and 19 artillery units.

7. Italy

Total army personnel: 100,000
Total air force personnel: 43,000
Total navy personnel: 31,000
Active military personnel: 165,500
Reserve military personnel: 18,500
Paramilitary personnel: 105,000
Total military personnel: 289,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145
Military defense budget: $30,890,000,000 – #16 out of 145

Italy’s army personnel operate 73,480 total military vehicles, including 200 tanks, 21 MLRS units, and 172 artillery units.

6. Poland

Poland military | Polish army with machine guns in field uniform.

Total army personnel: 100,000
Total air force personnel: 16,500
Total navy personnel: 12,350
Active military personnel: 202,100
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Paramilitary personnel: 50,000
Total military personnel: 602,100
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #22 out of 145
Military defense budget: $48,700,000,000 – #12 out of 145

Poland’s army personnel operate 23,138 total military vehicles, including 614 tanks, 196 MLRS units, and 677 artillery units.

5. United Kingdom

Total army personnel: 106,626
Total air force personnel: 34,790
Total navy personnel: 35,730
Active military personnel: 184,860
Reserve military personnel: 924,000
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 1,108,860
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145
Military defense budget: $71,500,540,000 – #6 out of 145

The United Kingdom’s army personnel operate 38,200 total military vehicles, including 227 tanks, 29 MLRS units, and 197 artillery units.

4. France

Flag of France on military uniform. Army, troops, soldier (collage).

Total army personnel: 141,600
Total air force personnel: 40,500
Total navy personnel: 44,000
Active military personnel: 200,000
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 376,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #8 out of 145
Military defense budget: $55,000,000,000 – #9 out of 145

France’s army personnel operate 110,932 total military vehicles, including 215 tanks, 9 MLRS units, and 96 artillery units.

3. Greece

Total army personnel: 200,000
Total air force personnel: 42,500
Total navy personnel: 30,000
Active military personnel: 142,700
Reserve military personnel: 221,350
Paramilitary personnel: 55,000
Total military personnel: 419,050
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145
Military defense budget: $6,500,000,000 – #44 out of 145

Greece’s army personnel operate 61,888 total military vehicles, including 1,344 tanks, 152 MLRS units, and 1287 artillery units.

2. Turkey

Total army personnel: 518,900
Total air force personnel: 115,000
Total navy personnel: 100,000
Active military personnel: 355,200
Reserve military personnel: 378,700
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 883,900
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145
Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000 – #13 out of 145

Turkey’s army personnel operate 61,173 total military vehicles, including 2,238 tanks, 296 MLRS units, and 2,745 artillery units.

1. United States

Total army personnel: 1,403,200
Total air force personnel: 701,319
Total navy personnel: 667,108
Active military personnel: 1,328,000
Reserve military personnel: 799,500
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 2,127,500
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145
Military defense budget: $895,000,000,000 – #1 out of 145

The United States’s army personnel operate 391,963 total military vehicles, including 4,640 tanks, 641 MLRS units, and 1,883 artillery units.

The post NATO’s Smallest 15 Armies Total Only 322 K Troops, 25% of U.S. Strength appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..