This Country’s Paramilitary Is Almost as Big as Its Entire Military Force

Over the weekend, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, admitted to being pushed out of Khartoum, the country’s capital. This marks a turning point in Sudan’s current Civil War, which has been raging for the past two years between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary RSF. (These regional conflicts will escalate in the coming months.)

Paramilitaries like the RSF are military organizations that operate outside the country’s official and recognized armed forces. These groups can be associated with the government or particular political parties and often help to strengthen the country’s official military units. However, in some cases — as seen by the current events in Sudan — paramilitaries may operate against the government. (These simmering conflicts could erupt under Trump.)

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the world’s various paramilitary forces and assessing which nations have the largest. To identify the countries with the largest paramilitary forces, 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. Countries were ranked on the total number of paramilitary personnel. We included supplemental information regarding active personnel, total personnel, reserves, total population, fit-for-service, and overall military strength score.

This is an updated version of a previously published story to reflect current paramilitary numbers and the RSF’s role in Sudan’s current conflict.

Why This Matters Today

Paramilitary forces around the globe are a large factor in today’s volatile geopolitical landscape, greatly impacting regional and global security. These forces often operate outside traditional military structures and can rapidly destabilize nations and amplify existing conflicts. The fighting between Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is a stark example of this. In just two years, this conflict has forced more than 12 million people to leave their homes, causing one of the world’s biggest displacement and hunger crises. Many of Sudan’s people are starving, and tens of thousands have died.

These are the countries with the largest paramilitary forces:

35. Kazakhstan

• Paramilitary forces: 55,000
• Active personnel: 110,000
• Reserves: 135,000
• Total military personnel: 300,000
• Total population: 20,260,006
• Fit-for-service: 6,928,922
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.1016 – #57 out of 145

Kazakhstan also has a total of 198 aircraft, 7,736 military vehicles, and 26 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

34. 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

Greece also has a total of 558 aircraft, 61,888 military vehicles, and 192 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

33. 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

Belarus also has a total of 185 aircraft and 6,916 military vehicles at its disposal.

32. Peru

• Paramilitary forces: 60,000
• Active personnel: 120,000
• Reserves: 385,000
• Total military personnel: 565,000
• Total population: 32,600,249
• Fit-for-service: 12,681,497
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8588 – #49 out of 145

Peru also has a total of 256 aircraft, 6,560 military vehicles, and 71 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

31. Lebanon

• Paramilitary forces: 65,000
• Active personnel: 60,000
• Reserves: 35,000
• Total military personnel: 160,000
• Total population: 5,364,482
• Fit-for-service: 1,775,644
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.5981 – #115 out of 145

Lebanon also has a total of 80 aircraft, 4,538 military vehicles, and 64 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

30. 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: 3.242 – #17 out of 145

Spain also has a total of 461 aircraft, 17,626 military vehicles, and 152 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

29. Panama

• Paramilitary forces: 80,000
• Active personnel: 0
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 80,000
• Total population: 4,470,241
• Fit-for-service: 1,206,965
• Military strength score and world rank: 3.65181 – #136 out of 145

Panama also has a total of 38 aircraft, 262 military vehicles, and 30 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

28. Afghanistan

• Paramilitary forces: 80,000
• Active personnel: 0
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 80,000
• Total population: 40,121,552
• Fit-for-service: 8,826,741
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.6442 – #118 out of 145

Afghanistan also has a total of 9 aircraft and 5,202 military vehicles at its disposal.

27. 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

Ukraine also has a total of 324 aircraft, 18,920 military vehicles, and 89 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

26. North Korea

• Paramilitary forces: 100,000
• Active personnel: 1,320,000
• Reserves: 560,000
• Total military personnel: 1,980,000
• Total population: 26,298,666
• Fit-for-service: 5,312,331
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.6016 – #34 out of 145

North Korea also has a total of 861 aircraft, 18,288 military vehicles, and 207 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

25. Malaysia

• Paramilitary forces: 100,000
• Active personnel: 113,000
• Reserves: 51,600
• Total military personnel: 264,600
• Total population: 34,564,810
• Fit-for-service: 13,480,276
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.7429 – #42 out of 145

Malaysia also has a total of 135 aircraft, 13,506 military vehicles, and 100 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

24. Libya

• Paramilitary forces: 100,000
• Active personnel: 32,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 132,000
• Total population: 7,361,263
• Fit-for-service: 3,290,485
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.4449 – #76 out of 145

Libya also has a total of 143 aircraft, 1,816 military vehicles, and 5 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

23. Iraq

• Paramilitary forces: 100,000
• Active personnel: 193,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 293,000
• Total population: 42,083,436
• Fit-for-service: 14,308,368
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – #43 out of 145

Iraq also has a total of 391 aircraft, 37,288 military vehicles, and 68 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

22. 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

Italy also has a total of 729 aircraft, 73,480 military vehicles, and 196 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

21. South Korea

• Paramilitary forces: 120,000
• Active personnel: 600,000
• Reserves: 3,100,000
• Total military personnel: 3,820,000
• Total population: 52,081,799
• Fit-for-service: 21,353,538
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145

South Korea also has a total of 1,592 aircraft, 58,880 military vehicles, and 227 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

20. Mexico

• Paramilitary forces: 120,000
• Active personnel: 412,000
• Reserves: 98,655
• Total military personnel: 630,655
• Total population: 130,739,927
• Fit-for-service: 49,811,912
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.5965 – #32 out of 145

Mexico also has a total of 433 aircraft, 19,658 military vehicles (including 90 artillery units), and 167 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

19. Laos

• Paramilitary forces: 120,000
• Active personnel: 100,000
• Reserves: 30,000
• Total military personnel: 250,000
• Total population: 7,953,556
• Fit-for-service: 2,521,277
• Military strength score and world rank: 2.2663 – #106 out of 145

Laos also has a total of 33 aircraft and 4,380 military vehicles at its disposal.

18. Turkiye

• Paramilitary forces: 150,000
• Active personnel: 355,200
• Reserves: 378,700
• Total military personnel: 883,900
• Total population: 84,119,531
• Fit-for-service: 36,087,279
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

Turkey also has a total of 1,083 aircraft, 61,173 military vehicles, and 182 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

17. Saudi Arabia

• Paramilitary forces: 150,000
• Active personnel: 257,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 407,000
• Total population: 36,544,431
• Fit-for-service: 17,468,238
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – #24 out of 145

Saudi Arabia also has a total of 917 aircraft, 19,040 military vehicles, and 32 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

16. 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

France also has a total of 976 aircraft, 110,932 military vehicles, and 129 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

15. Colombia

• Paramilitary forces: 150,000
• Active personnel: 293,200
• Reserves: 35,000
• Total military personnel: 478,200
• Total population: 49,588,357
• Fit-for-service: 19,190,694
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8353 – #46 out of 145

Colombia also has a total of 436 aircraft, 3,460 military vehicles, and 233 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

14. Algeria

• Paramilitary forces: 150,000
• Active personnel: 325,000
• Reserves: 135,000
• Total military personnel: 610,000
• Total population: 47,022,473
• Fit-for-service: 19,185,169
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #25 out of 145

Algeria also has a total of 608 aircraft, 26,000 military vehicles, and 110 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

13. Brazil

• Paramilitary forces: 200,000
• Active personnel: 360,000
• Reserves: 340,000
• Total military personnel: 900,000
• Total population: 220,051,512
• Fit-for-service: 88,680,759
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.2415 – #11 out of 145

Brazil also has a total of 513 aircraft, 22,464 military vehicles, and 64 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

12. Venezuela

• Paramilitary forces: 220,000
• Active personnel: 109,000
• Reserves: 8,000
• Total military personnel: 337,000
• Total population: 31,250,306
• Fit-for-service: 12,812,625
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.8882 – #50 out of 145

Venezuela also has a total of 229 aircraft, 8,802 military vehicles, and 34 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

11. Iran

• Paramilitary forces: 220,000
• Active personnel: 610,000
• Reserves: 350,000
• Total military personnel: 1,180,000
• Total population: 88,386,937
• Fit-for-service: 41,541,860
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145

Iran also has a total of 551 aircraft, 65,825 military vehicles, and 107 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

10. Vietnam

• Paramilitary forces: 250,000
• Active personnel: 600,000
• Reserves: 5,000,000
• Total military personnel: 5,850,000
• Total population: 105,758,975
• Fit-for-service: 45,053,323
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #23 out of 145

Vietnam also has a total of 246 aircraft, 11,912 military vehicles, and 110 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

9. 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

Russia also has a total of 4,292 aircraft, 131,527 military vehicles, and 419 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

8. Indonesia

• Paramilitary forces: 250,000
• Active personnel: 400,000
• Reserves: 400,000
• Total military personnel: 1,050,000
• Total population: 281,562,465
• Fit-for-service: 114,595,923
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.2557 – #13 out of 145

Indonesia also has a total of 459 aircraft, 20,440 military vehicles, and 331 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

7. Egypt

• Paramilitary forces: 300,000
• Active personnel: 440,000
• Reserves: 480,000
• Total military personnel: 1,220,000
• Total population: 111,247,248
• Fit-for-service: 38,269,053
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145

Egypt also has a total of 1,093 aircraft, 41,012 military vehicles, and 150 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

6. Pakistan

• Paramilitary forces: 500,000
• Active personnel: 654,000
• Reserves: 550,000
• Total military personnel: 1,704,000
• Total population: 252,363,571
• Fit-for-service: 85,803,614
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145

Pakistan also has a total of 1,399 aircraft, 17,516 military vehicles, and 121 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

5. 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

Serbia also has a total of 110 aircraft and 3,683 military vehicles at its disposal.

4. China

• Paramilitary forces: 625,000
• Active personnel: 2,035,000
• Reserves: 510,000
• Total military personnel: 3,170,000
• Total population: 1,415,043,270
• Fit-for-service: 626,864,169
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145

China also has a total of 3,309 aircraft, 144,017 military vehicles, and 754 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

3. Cuba

• Paramilitary forces: 1,145,000
• Active personnel: 45,500
• Reserves: 40,000
• Total military personnel: 1,230,500
• Total population: 10,966,038
• Fit-for-service: 4,737,328
• Military strength score and world rank: 1.3286 – #67 out of 145

Cuba also has a total of 31 aircraft, 6,864 military vehicles, and 19 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

2. India

• Paramilitary forces: 2,527,000
• Active personnel: 1,455,550
• Reserves: 1,155,000
• Total military personnel: 5,137,550
• Total population: 1,409,128,296
• Fit-for-service: 522,786,598
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – #4 out of 145

India also has a total of 2,229 aircraft, 148,594 military vehicles, and 293 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

1. Bangladesh

• Paramilitary forces: 6,800,000
• Active personnel: 163,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total military personnel: 6,963,000
• Total population: 168,697,184
• Fit-for-service: 66,129,296
• Military strength score and world rank: 0.6062 – #35 out of 145

Bangladesh also has a total of 214 aircraft, 11,584 military vehicles, and 118 ships and/or submarines at its disposal.

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