This Rising Military Power Has a Standing Army of Nearly 7 Million

Over the past year, countries around the world have risen and fallen in terms of military power. One of the most pivotal factors in this calculus is the overall size of a country’s military. While some countries might have technologically advanced forces, they might not have the manpower to back them up. Here, 24/7 Wall […] The post This Rising Military Power Has a Standing Army of Nearly 7 Million appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Mar 31, 2025 - 14:35

This Rising Military Power Has a Standing Army of Nearly 7 Million

Over the past year, countries around the world have risen and fallen in terms of military power. One of the most pivotal factors in this calculus is the overall size of a country’s military. While some countries might have technologically advanced forces, they might not have the manpower to back them up. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at military powers with the largest armies and fit-for-service populations.

To determine the countries with the largest military forces, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 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. We ranked these countries according to their fit-for-service populations, but included numerous military personnel metrics for each country. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is.

This is an updated version of a previously published article, now including more recent 2025 Military Strength Rankings along with various other military personnel statistics.

25. South Korea

Fit-for-service: 21,353,538
Population reaching military age annually: 416,654
Active military personnel: 600,000
Reserve military personnel: 3,100,000
Paramilitary personnel: 120,000
Total military personnel: 3,820,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145
Military defense budget: $46,300,000,000 – #14 out of 145

24. Myanmar

Fit-for-service: 21,975,367
Population reaching military age annually: 1,035,489
Active military personnel: 150,000
Reserve military personnel: 20,000
Paramilitary personnel: 55,000
Total military personnel: 225,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6735 – #37 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,948,000,000 – #62 out of 145

23. Italy

Fit-for-service: 22,191,235
Population reaching military age annually: 548,684
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

22. France

Fit-for-service: 23,794,358
Population reaching military age annually: 752,121
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

21. United Kingdom

Fit-for-service: 25,192,932
Population reaching military age annually: 753,050
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

20. Thailand

Fit-for-service: 27,968,399
Population reaching military age annually: 1,118,736
Active military personnel: 360,850
Reserve military personnel: 200,000
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 585,850
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4536 – #26 out of 145
Military defense budget: $5,887,883,500 – #45 out of 145

19. Germany

Fit-for-service: 30,955,829
Population reaching military age annually: 841,191
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

18. Democratic Republic of Congo

Fit-for-service: 31,389,623
Population reaching military age annually: 2,538,867
Active military personnel: 166,580
Reserve military personnel: 31,000
Paramilitary personnel: 10,000
Total military personnel: 207,580
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3111 – #66 out of 145
Military defense budget: $796,560,000 – #95 out of 145

17. Ethiopia

Fit-for-service: 35,327,989
Population reaching military age annually: 2,726,657
Active military personnel: 162,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Paramilitary personnel: 0
Total military personnel: 162,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9305 – #52 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,097,575,000 – #71 out of 145

16. Turkey

Fit-for-service: 36,087,279
Population reaching military age annually: 1,430,032
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

15. Egypt

Fit-for-service: 38,269,053
Population reaching military age annually: 1,668,709
Active military personnel: 440,000
Reserve military personnel: 480,000
Paramilitary personnel: 300,000
Total military personnel: 1,220,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145
Military defense budget: $5,879,500,000 – #46 out of 145

14. Iran

Fit-for-service: 41,541,860
Population reaching military age annually: 1,414,191
Active military personnel: 610,000
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Paramilitary personnel: 220,000
Total military personnel: 1,180,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145
Military defense budget: $15,450,000,000 – #25 out of 145

13. Philippines

Fit-for-service: 41,751,803
Population reaching military age annually: 2,128,987
Active military personnel: 150,000
Reserve military personnel: 1,200,000
Paramilitary personnel: 35,000
Total military personnel: 1,385,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6987 – #41 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,380,000,000 – #55 out of 145

12. Japan

Fit-for-service: 42,874,277
Population reaching military age annually: 1,108,818
Active military personnel: 247,150
Reserve military personnel: 56,000
Paramilitary personnel: 25,000
Total military personnel: 328,150
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1839 – #7 out of 145
Military defense budget: $57,000,000,000 – #7 out of 145

11. Vietnam

Fit-for-service: 45,053,323
Population reaching military age annually: 1,797,903
Active military personnel: 600,000
Reserve military personnel: 5,000,000
Paramilitary personnel: 250,000
Total military personnel: 5,850,000
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #24 out of 145
Military defense budget: $8,594,000,000 – #35 out of 145

10. Russia

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