The World’s Strongest Militaries Are Changing – See Which Nations Lead Now

India and Pakistan have a long and complex history of conflict, beginning with the Partition of British India in 1947. The Partition established two separate nations: a Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India. However, the lines between the nations were poorly established, leading to widespread violence and displacement. As the Council for Foreign Relations explains, “the […] The post The World’s Strongest Militaries Are Changing – See Which Nations Lead Now appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Apr 29, 2025 - 13:12

The World’s Strongest Militaries Are Changing – See Which Nations Lead Now

India and Pakistan have a long and complex history of conflict, beginning with the Partition of British India in 1947. The Partition established two separate nations: a Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India. However, the lines between the nations were poorly established, leading to widespread violence and displacement. As the Council for Foreign Relations explains, “the maharaja (Kashmir’s monarch) at the time initially sought independence, as Kashmir was neglected and subjugated for centuries by conquering empires. However, he ultimately agreed to join India in exchange for help against invading Pakistani herders, triggering the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48.” Further wars followed in 1965, 1971, and 1999, largely due to territorial issues. While a ceasefire was declared in 2003, and has been tenuously held, the countries continue to act violently toward one another — most recently, 26 tourists were killed by militants in Kashmir (currently held by India), leading to India and Pakistan continuing to trade fire over the border. It’s uncertain whether this conflict will become a larger war, but the possibility is certainly on the table. (Discover the foreign terror groups the U.S. government deems a threat.)

When it comes to conflicts, whether these conflicts are newly formed (such as U.S. President Donald Trump encouraging Canada to become the 51st state) or long-lasting like the one between India and Pakistan, a country’s military forms the basis for how said country responds. Military forces have both defensive and offensive capabilities, keeping a country safe while also projecting power across far distances. If India and Pakistan devolve further into warfare, which country’s military would come out on top? To answer that question, and to identify the world’s largest militaries, 24/7 Wall St. used data from Global Firepower’s 2025 Military Strength Ranking. The guide evaluates 145 countries on over 60 different factors to come up with a strength ranking — the closer to 0.000, the more powerful that nation’s military is. We listed the top 33 countries with the most powerful militaries. Additional data on military vehicles, personnel, air and naval power, and defense budgets was also sourced from Global Firepower.

This previously published article was updated in April 2025 to provide additional insight on Nigeria, Mexico, and Argentina and to explain why a powerful military can be so important.

Why Are We Covering This Now?

Military Surveillance Officer Working on a City Tracking Operation in a Central Office Hub for Cyber Control and Monitoring for Managing National Security, Technology and Army Communications.

Understanding global military dynamics is incredibly important due to the interconnected nature of international relations and conflicts. As long as civilization has existed, the world has witnessed shifting power balances and alliances which have ultimately shaped the current geopolitical landscape. While key players like the United States, China, and Russia are considered the strongest military powers in the world, there are a number of other nations with their own spheres of influence and strengths that impact global relations from a military perspective. If an “incursion” happens by India, which Pakistan claims is incoming, we’ll see firsthand how global dynamics change and which country emerges successful. Should this occur, we will also see which countries internationally provide military support to India or Pakistan — sometimes, it doesn’t matter how powerful your military is alone if you’ve got other strength to back it up.

Here are the world’s 33 most powerful militaries:

33. Argentina

Active military personnel: 108,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 20,000
Total military personnel: 128,000
Total military aircraft: 239
Total helicopters: 94
Total military vehicles: 21,724
Total tanks: 342
Total navy ships and submarines: 44
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6013 – #33 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Argentina has a total population of 46.9 million, and of this population 17,575,900 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $928,897,000.

32. Mexico

Active military personnel: 412,000
Reserve military personnel: 98,655
Paramilitary personnel: 120,000
Total military personnel: 630,655
Total military aircraft: 433
Total helicopters: 178
Total military vehicles: 19,658
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 167
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5965 – #32 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Mexico has a total population of 130.7 million, and of this population 49,811,912 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $7,600,000,000.

31. Nigeria

Active military personnel: 230,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 50,000
Total military personnel: 280,000
Total military aircraft: 163
Total helicopters: 66
Total military vehicles: 8,962
Total tanks: 330
Total navy ships and submarines: 192
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5771 – #31 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Nigeria has a total population of 236.7 million, and of this population 90,437,404 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $3,160,000,000.

30. Greece

Active military personnel: 142,700
Reserve military personnel: 221,350
Paramilitary personnel: 55,000
Total military personnel: 419,050
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

Outside of these military assets, Greece has a total population of 10.5 million, and of this population 3,985,676 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $6,500,000,000.

29. Singapore

Active military personnel: 51,000
Reserve military personnel: 252,500
Paramilitary personnel: 12,000
Total military personnel: 315,500
Total military aircraft: 230
Total helicopters: 70
Total military vehicles: 8,998
Total tanks: 170
Total navy ships and submarines: 50
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5271 – #29 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Singapore has a total population of 6.0 million, and of this population 2,628,408 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $15,000,000,000.

28. Canada

Active military personnel: 68,000
Reserve military personnel: 27,000
Paramilitary personnel: 5,500
Total military personnel: 100,500
Total military aircraft: 351
Total helicopters: 145
Total military vehicles: 21,704
Total tanks: 74
Total navy ships and submarines: 73
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5179 – #28 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Canada has a total population of 38.80 million, and of this population 13,500,595 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $41,000,000,000.

27. Sweden

Active military personnel: 24,400
Reserve military personnel: 32,900
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 82,300
Total military aircraft: 169
Total helicopters: 53
Total military vehicles: 6,795
Total tanks: 110
Total navy ships and submarines: 308
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Sweden has a total population of 10.6 million, and of this population 3,558,185 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $13,000,000,000.

26. Algeria

Active military personnel: 325,000
Reserve military personnel: 135,000
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 610,000
Total military aircraft: 608
Total helicopters: 299
Total military vehicles: 26,000
Total tanks: 1,485
Total navy ships and submarines: 110
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Algeria has a total population of 47.0 million, and of this population 19,185,169 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $25,000,000,000.

25. Thailand

Active military personnel: 360,850
Reserve military personnel: 200,000
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 585,850
Total military aircraft: 493
Total helicopters: 258
Total military vehicles: 16,935
Total tanks: 635
Total navy ships and submarines: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4536 – #25 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Thailand has a total population of 69.9 million, and of this population 27,968,399 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $5,887,883,500.

24. Saudi Arabia

Active military personnel: 257,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 407,000
Total military aircraft: 917
Total helicopters: 264
Total military vehicles: 19,040
Total tanks: 840
Total navy ships and submarines: 32
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – #24 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Saudi Arabia has a total population of 36.5 million, and of this population 17,468,238 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $74,760,000,000.

23. Vietnam

The flag of Vietnam fluttering on ship in the Halong Bay at the Gulf of Tonkin of the South China Sea, Vietnam.

Active military personnel: 600,000
Reserve military personnel: 5,000,000
Paramilitary personnel: 250,000
Total military personnel: 5,850,000
Total military aircraft: 246
Total helicopters: 101
Total military vehicles: 11,912
Total tanks: 1,374
Total navy ships and submarines: 110
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #24 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Vietnam has a total population of 105.8 million, and of this population 45,053,323 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $8,594,000,000.

22. Taiwan

Active military personnel: 215,000
Reserve military personnel: 2,310,000
Paramilitary personnel: 55,000
Total military personnel: 2,580,000
Total military aircraft: 761
Total helicopters: 236
Total military vehicles: 19,921
Total tanks: 888
Total navy ships and submarines: 97
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3988 – #22 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Taiwan has a total population of 23.6million, and of this population 1,061,787 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $19,740,000,000.

21. Poland

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

Active military personnel: 202,100
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Paramilitary personnel: 50,000
Total military personnel: 602,100
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

Outside of these military assets, Poland has a total population of 38.7 million, and of this population 15,576,017 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $48,700,000,000.

20. Ukraine

Active military personnel: 900,000
Reserve military personnel: 1,200,000
Paramilitary personnel: 100,000
Total military personnel: 2,200,000
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

Outside of these military assets, Ukraine has a total population of 35.7 million, and of this population 12,731,272 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $53,700,000,000.

19. Egypt

Active military personnel: 440,000
Reserve military personnel: 480,000
Paramilitary personnel: 300,000
Total military personnel: 1,220,000
Total military aircraft: 1,093
Total helicopters: 348
Total military vehicles: 41,012
Total tanks: 3,620
Total navy ships and submarines: 150
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Egypt has a total population of 111.2 million, and of this population 38,269,053 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $5,879,500,000.

18. Australia

Active military personnel: 57,350
Reserve military personnel: 32,050
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 89,400
Total military aircraft: 327
Total helicopters: 69
Total military vehicles: 15,648
Total tanks: 59
Total navy ships and submarines: 44
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3298 – #18 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Australia has a total population of 26.8 million, and of this population 9,208,398 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $55,700,000,000.

17. Spain

Active military personnel: 133,282
Reserve military personnel: 15,150
Paramilitary personnel: 78,470
Total military personnel: 226,902
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

Outside of these military assets, Spain has a total population of 47.3 million, and of this population 17,635,602 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $23,397,000,000.

16. Iran

Active military personnel: 610,000
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Paramilitary personnel: 220,000
Total military personnel: 1,180,000
Total military aircraft: 551
Total helicopters: 128
Total military vehicles: 65,825
Total tanks: 1,713
Total navy ships and submarines: 107
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Iran has a total population of 88.4 million, and of this population 41,541,860 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $15,450,000,000.

15. Israel

Israel+F-35 | 161206-F-XX111-001

Active military personnel: 170,000
Reserve military personnel: 465,000
Paramilitary personnel: 35,000
Total military personnel: 670,000
Total military aircraft: 611
Total helicopters: 147
Total military vehicles: 35,985
Total tanks: 1,300
Total navy ships and submarines: 62
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2661 – #15 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Israel has a total population of 9.4 million, and of this population 3,281,513 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $30,500,000,000.

14. Germany

Active military personnel: 181,600
Reserve military personnel: 34,000
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 215,600
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

Outside of these military assets, Germany has a total population of 84.1 million, and of this population 30,955,829 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $50,000,000,000.

13. Indonesia

indonesia flags under blue sky independence day concept

Active military personnel: 400,000
Reserve military personnel: 400,000
Paramilitary personnel: 250,000
Total military personnel: 1,050,000
Total military aircraft: 459
Total helicopters: 214
Total military vehicles: 20,440
Total tanks: 331
Total navy ships and submarines: 331
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2557 – #13 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Indonesia has a total population of 281.6 million, and of this population 114,595,923 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $10,600,000,000.

12. Pakistan

Active military personnel: 654,000
Reserve military personnel: 550,000
Paramilitary personnel: 500,000
Total military personnel: 1,704,000
Total military aircraft: 1,399
Total helicopters: 373
Total military vehicles: 17,516
Total tanks: 2,627
Total navy ships and submarines: 121
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Pakistan has a total population of 252.4 million, and of this population 85,803,614 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $7,640,000,000.

11. Brazil

Active military personnel: 360,000
Reserve military personnel: 340,000
Paramilitary personnel: 200,000
Total military personnel: 900,000
Total military aircraft: 513
Total helicopters: 191
Total military vehicles: 22,464
Total tanks: 294
Total navy ships and submarines: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2415 – #11 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Brazil has a total population of 220.1 million, and of this population 88,680,759 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $26,157,300,000.

10. Italy

Active military personnel: 165,500
Reserve military personnel: 18,500
Paramilitary personnel: 105,000
Total military personnel: 289,000
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

Outside of these military assets, Italy has a total population of 61.0 million, and of this population 22,191,235 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $30,890,000,000.

9. Turkey

Turkey military | Turkish flag in crowded people.

Active military personnel: 355,200
Reserve military personnel: 378,700
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 883,900
Total military aircraft: 1,083
Total helicopters: 508
Total military vehicles: 61,173
Total tanks: 2,238
Total navy ships and submarines: 182
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Turkey has a total population of 84.1 million, and of this population 36,087,279 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $47,000,000,000.

8. Japan

Active military personnel: 247,150
Reserve military personnel: 56,000
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 328,150
Total military aircraft: 1,443
Total helicopters: 596
Total military vehicles: 31,964
Total tanks: 521
Total navy ships and submarines: 159
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1839 – #8 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Japan has a total population of 123.2 million, and of this population 42,874,277 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $57,000,000,000.

7. France

Active military personnel: 200,000
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Paramilitary personnel: 150,000
Total military personnel: 376,000
Total military aircraft: 976
Total helicopters: 448
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

Outside of these military assets, France has a total population of 68.4 million, and of this population 23,794,358 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $55,000,000,000.

6. United Kingdom

Active military personnel: 184,860
Reserve military personnel: 924,000
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 1,108,860
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

Outside of these military assets, the United Kingdom has a total population of 68.5 million, and of this population 25,192,932 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $71,500,540,000.

5. South Korea

Active military personnel: 600,000
Reserve military personnel: 3,100,000
Paramilitary personnel: 120,000
Total military personnel: 3,820,000
Total military aircraft: 1,592
Total helicopters: 807
Total military vehicles: 58,880
Total tanks: 2,236
Total navy ships and submarines: 227
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, South Korea has a total population of 52.1 million, and of this population 21,353,538 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $46,300,000,000.

4. India

Active military personnel: 1,455,550
Reserve military personnel: 1,155,000
Paramilitary personnel: 2,527,000
Total military personnel: 5,137,550
Total military aircraft: 2,229
Total helicopters: 899
Total military vehicles: 148,594
Total tanks: 4,201
Total navy ships and submarines: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – #4 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, India has a total population of 1.41 billion, and of this population 522,786,598 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $75,000,000,000.

3. China

Active military personnel: 2,035,000
Reserve military personnel: 510,000
Paramilitary personnel: 625,000
Total military personnel: 3,170,000
Total military aircraft: 3,309
Total helicopters: 913
Total military vehicles: 144,017
Total tanks: 6,800
Total navy ships and submarines: 754
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, China has a total population of 1.42 billion, and of this population 626,864,169 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $266,850,000,000.

2. Russia

The soldiers are standing in the open hatches of the tank. The Russian military on military equipment is going around the city.

Active military personnel: 1,320,000
Reserve military personnel: 2,000,000
Paramilitary personnel: 250,000
Total military personnel: 3,570,000
Total military aircraft: 4,292
Total helicopters: 1,651
Total military vehicles: 131,527
Total tanks: 5,750
Total navy ships and submarines: 419
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Russia has a total population of 140.8 million, and of this population 46,189,226 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $126,000,000,000.

1. United States

Active military personnel: 1,328,000
Reserve military personnel: 799,500
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 2,127,500
Total military aircraft: 13,043
Total helicopters: 5,843
Total military vehicles: 391,963
Total tanks: 4,640
Total navy ships and submarines: 440
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, the United States has a total population of 342.0 million, and of this population 124,816,644 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $895,000,000,000.

The post The World’s Strongest Militaries Are Changing – See Which Nations Lead Now appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..