Paramilitary Forces Account for Almost 10% of This Country’s Population

It seems like Serbian citizens are growing tired of populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his policies. In November 2024, a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in northern Serbia. People became frustrated by what seemed like a lack of care from the administration, as well as widespread political corruption. Students began a nationwide anti-corruption movement designed to oppose oppressive governance and tackle corruption — with an ultimate goal of having Vucic resign. Vucic, who has called the student-led protestors “evil” and argued that their anti-corruption campaign was nothing but a result of foreign actors, has remained in his presidential position. The protests have started to slow after fears that violence would be levied against the student protestors by paramilitary forces or hidden actors that supported, but were not fully associated with, the Vucic government. (Global corruption exposed: these 10 countries top the list.)

Paramilitary forces can be deployed to manage unrest and quiet any voices that don’t align with their specific ideology. Since they aren’t fully associated with the government (though they can be), these forces may also act in ways that are more violent or less principled if they feel it fits their needs. However, outside of conflict zones like Serbia or Sudan, another hotspot for paramilitary violence, paramilitary forces may also be used in helpful ways. Here, 24/7 Wall St. wanted to learn which European countries had the largest paramilitary forces. We sourced data from the 2025 Military Strength Ranking compiled by Global Firepower. This ranking assesses 145 countries across the globe on more than sixty factors to determine each country’s military strength score. With their proprietary algorithm, scores closest to 0.000 represent the strongest military. We listed the European countries with the biggest paramilitaries in ascending order, from smallest to largest forces. Any European countries with no paramilitary forces were excluded.

This previously published article was updated in April 2025 to highlight specific instances of paramilitary conflict, as well as to provide updated data from Global Firepower. 

What Are Paramilitary Forces?

Most nations (save for ones like Iceland) hold some standing military, and that military is official, legitimate, and sanctioned by the government. Paramilitary forces operate beyond the formal military and are not formally part of a country’s military operations. Paramilitaries may be associated with the government. But they may also be associated with extremist groups or criminal organizations. Some examples of paramilitary forces include:

• Fedayeen Saddam, an Iraqi paramilitary organization that was loyal to Saddam Hussein
• People’s Armed Police Force in China
• United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
• Rapid Support Forces in Sudan
• Odessa Brigade, a pro-Russian militant group

Roles of Paramilitary Forces

Paramilitary forces can be used in a variety of ways — some positive, some negative. These forces may supplement military and law enforcement operations through counterinsurgency efforts or counterterrorism initiatives. However, paramilitary forces can also be used to stop dissent from opposing groups, staunch the flow of political beliefs and ideology, or maintain control — sometimes through violence.

Why Are We Covering This Now?

Our world seems to be headed towards an increasingly unstable and uncertain future, and conflicts are breaking out on nearly every continent. In Africa, Sudan has been engaged in a violent crisis for years after paramilitary groups clashed with the country’s military over who should be in power. As the war wages on, Sudanese paramilitary forces recently killed over 200 civilians in attacks on displacement camps.

For some, it might be hard to imagine the same situations emerging in Europe — but looking at the history of the world shows that these types of conflict can and have happened, and could happen again. This is especially true considering the military dynamics in Europe and the continent’s deeply rooted geopolitical challenges. Whether it is a question of NATO’s expansion or Russia’s campaign in Eastern Europe, these military forces tilt the region’s balance of power. Knowing which nations have the largest military forces gives you a better understanding of which nation might leverage their paramilitary troops to rise to the top of the power hierarchy, and who might be poised for battle should the need arise.

Here are the 28 European countries with the largest paramilitary forces: 

28. Albania

• Paramilitary forces: 500
• Active personnel: 6,600
• Reserves: 2,000
• Total military personnel: 9,100
• Total population: 3,107,100
• Fit-for-service: 1,292,554
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Albania also has a total of 19 aircraft, 1,796 military vehicles (including 46 tanks and 135 MLRS units), as well as 19 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

27. Kosovo

• Paramilitary forces: 500
• Active personnel: 10,000
• Reserves: 5,000
• Total military personnel: 15,500
• Total population: 1,977,093
• Fit-for-service: 743,387
• Military strength score and world rank: 4.9141 – #141 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Kosovo also has a total of 737 military vehicles at its disposal.

26. Croatia

• Paramilitary forces: 2,000
• Active personnel: 14,325
• Reserves: 20,100
• Total military personnel: 36,425
• Total population: 4,150,116
• Fit-for-service: 1,564,594
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.5074 – #74 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Croatia also has a total of 67 aircraft, 2,848 military vehicles (including 45 tanks and 42 MLRS units), as well as 30 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

25. Moldova

• Paramilitary forces: 2,000
• Active personnel: 8,500
• Reserves: 67,000
• Total military personnel: 77,500
• Total population: 3,599,528
• Fit-for-service: 1,792,565
• Military strength score and world rank: 3.2555 – #134 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Moldova also has a total of 3 aircraft and 500 military vehicles (including 11 MLRS units) at its disposal.

24. North Macedonia

• Paramilitary forces: 3,500
• Active personnel: 9,000
• Reserves: 60,000
• Total military personnel: 72,500
• Total population: 2,135,622
• Fit-for-service: 783,773
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.4042 – #112 out of 145

Outside of its troops, North Macedonia also has a total of 20 aircraft and 1,108 military vehicles (including 20 tanks and 17 MLRS units) at its disposal.

23. Slovenia

• Paramilitary forces: 5,000
• Active personnel: 7,300
• Reserves: 26,000
• Total military personnel: 38,300
• Total population: 2,097,893
• Fit-for-service: 826,570
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Slovenia also has a total of 39 aircraft, 1,428 military vehicles (including 54 tanks), as well as 2 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

22. Netherlands

• Paramilitary forces: 5,000
• Active personnel: 41,380
• Reserves: 6,765
• Total military personnel: 53,145
• Total population: 17,772,378
• Fit-for-service: 6,486,918
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.6412 – #36 out of 145

Outside of its troops, the Netherlands also has a total of 120 aircraft, 2,755 military vehicles (including 18 tanks and 2 MLRS units), as well as 64 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

21. Switzerland

• Paramilitary forces: 5,000
• Active personnel: 101,584
• Reserves: 49,715
• Total military personnel: 156,299
• Total population: 8,860,574
• Fit-for-service: 3,163,225
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.7869 – #44 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Switzerland also has a total of 146 aircraft and 6,996 military vehicles (including 205 tanks) at its disposal.

20. Montenegro

• Paramilitary forces: 5,500
• Active personnel: 2,350
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 7,850
• Total population: 599,849
• Fit-for-service: 85,179
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.9216 – #127 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Montenegro also has a total of 11 aircraft, 471 military vehicles (including 12 MLRS units), as well as 14 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

19. Estonia

• Paramilitary forces: 10,000
• Active personnel: 7,700
• Reserves: 78,800
• Total military personnel: 96,500
• Total population: 1,193,791
• Fit-for-service: 456,028
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.2917 – #107 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Estonia also has a total of 5 aircraft, 1,685 military vehicles, as well as 8 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

18. Latvia

• Paramilitary forces: 12,500
• Active personnel: 17,250
• Reserves: 36,000
• Total military personnel: 65,750
• Total population: 1,801,246
• Fit-for-service: 648,449
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.1246 – #99 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Latvia also has a total of 7 aircraft, 1,848 military vehicles, as well as 18 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

17. Lithuania

• Paramilitary forces: 14,150
• Active personnel: 23,000
• Reserves: 104,000
• Total military personnel: 141,150
• Total population: 2,628,186
• Fit-for-service: 1,332,490
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.9075 – #88 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Lithuania also has a total of 9 aircraft, 1,263 military vehicles, as well as 14 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

16. Hungary

• Paramilitary forces: 15,000
• Active personnel: 41,600
• Reserves: 20,000
• Total military personnel: 76,600
• Total population: 9,855,745
• Fit-for-service: 3,794,462
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Hungary also has a total of 69 aircraft and 7,797 military vehicles (including 209 tanks) at its disposal.

15. Romania

• Paramilitary forces: 15,000
• Active personnel: 81,300
• Reserves: 55,000
• Total military personnel: 151,300
• Total population: 18,148,155
• Fit-for-service: 7,731,114
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Romania also has a total of 140 aircraft, 10,774 military vehicles (including 328 tanks and 243 MLRS units), as well as 20 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

14. Portugal

• Paramilitary forces: 24,700
• Active personnel: 24,000
• Reserves: 211,700
• Total military personnel: 260,400
• Total population: 10,639,726
• Fit-for-service: 4,096,295
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.6856 – #39 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Portugal also has a total of 115 aircraft, 10,828 military vehicles (including 34 tanks), as well as 194 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

13. Sweden

• Paramilitary forces: 25,000
• Active personnel: 24,400
• Reserves: 32,900
• Total military personnel: 82,300
• Total population: 10,589,835
• Fit-for-service: 3,558,185
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Sweden also has a total of 169 aircraft, 6,795 military vehicles (including 110 tanks), as well as 308 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

12. Norway

• Paramilitary forces: 40,000
• Active personnel: 23,250
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 63,250
• Total population: 5,509,733
• Fit-for-service: 1,807,192
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.6811 – #38 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Norway also has a total of 97 aircraft, 6,552 military vehicles (including 44 tanks), as well as 43 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

11. Poland

• Paramilitary forces: 50,000
• Active personnel: 202,100
• Reserves: 350,000
• Total military personnel: 602,100
• Total population: 38,746,310
• Fit-for-service: 15,576,017
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #21 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Poland also has a total of 479 aircraft, 23,138 military vehicles (including 614 tanks and 196 MLRS units), as well as 62 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

10. Denmark

• Paramilitary forces: 51,000
• Active personnel: 20,000
• Reserves: 12,000
• Total military personnel: 83,000
• Total population: 5,973,136
• Fit-for-service: 2,126,436
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8109 – #45 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Denmark also has a total of 117 aircraft, 3,856 military vehicles (including 44 tanks and 8 MLRS units), as well as 50 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

9. Finland

• Paramilitary forces: 53,800
• Active personnel: 24,000
• Reserves: 870,000
• Total military personnel: 947,800
• Total population: 5,626,414
• Fit-for-service: 1,912,981
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Finland also has a total of 163 aircraft, 11,704 military vehicles (including 200 tanks and 76 MLRS units), as well as 264 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

8. Belarus

• Paramilitary forces: 55,000
• Active personnel: 63,000
• Reserves: 145,000
• Total military personnel: 263,000
• Total population: 9,501,451
• Fit-for-service: 3,724,569
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.3954 – #70 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Belarus also has a total of 185 aircraft, 6,916 military vehicles (including 507 tanks and 206 MLRS units) at its disposal.

7. Greece

• Paramilitary forces: 55,000
• Active personnel: 142,700
• Reserves: 221,350
• Total military personnel: 419,050
• Total population: 10,461,091
• Fit-for-service: 3,985,676
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Greece also has a total of 558 aircraft, 61,888 military vehicles (including 1,344 tanks and 152 MLRS units), as well as 192 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

6. Spain

• Paramilitary forces: 78,470
• Active personnel: 133,282
• Reserves: 15,150
• Total military personnel: 226,902
• Total population: 47,280,433
• Fit-for-service: 17,635,602
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Spain also has a total of 461 aircraft, 17,626 military vehicles (including 317 tanks), as well as 152 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

5. Ukraine

• Paramilitary forces: 100,000
• Active personnel: 900,000
• Reserves: 1,200,000
• Total military personnel: 2,200,000
• Total population: 35,661,826
• Fit-for-service: 12,731,272
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3755 – #20 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Ukraine also has a total of 324 aircraft, 18,920 military vehicles (including 1,114 tanks and 279 MLRS units), as well as 89 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

4. Italy

• Paramilitary forces: 105,000
• Active personnel: 165,500
• Reserves: 18,500
• Total military personnel: 289,000
• Total population: 60,964,931
• Fit-for-service: 22,191,235
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Italy also has a total of 729 aircraft, 73,480 military vehicles (including 200 tanks and 21 MLRS units), as well as 196 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

3. France

• Paramilitary forces: 150,000
• Active personnel: 200,000
• Reserves: 26,000
• Total military personnel: 376,000
• Total population: 68,374,591
• Fit-for-service: 23,794,358
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #7 out of 145

Outside of its troops, France also has a total of 976 aircraft, 110,932 military vehicles (including 215 tanks and 9 MLRS units), as well as 129 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

2. Russia

• Paramilitary forces: 250,000
• Active personnel: 1,320,000
• Reserves: 2,000,000
• Total military personnel: 3,570,000
• Total population: 140,820,810
• Fit-for-service: 46,189,226
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Russia also has a total of 4,292 aircraft and 131,527 military vehicles (including 5,750 tanks and 3,005 MLRS units), as well as 419 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

1. Serbia

• Paramilitary forces: 600,000
• Active personnel: 25,000
• Reserves: 2,000
• Total military personnel: 627,000
• Total population: 6,652,212
• Fit-for-service: 2,574,406
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.2576 – #63 out of 145

Outside of its troops, Serbia also has a total of 110 aircraft and 3,683 military vehicles (including 262 tanks and 98 MLRS units) at its disposal.

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