Top 10 Strongest Militaries in the World

The Pakistan Armed Forces are large in number, with its active-duty personnel counting amongst the largest in the world. Paramilitary units assist Pakistan’s Army, Navy and Air Force branches, and hold a large amount of power and influence within the country’s internal political sphere. In fact, history has seen the Pakistani military actually take control of government operations, to the point where a “deep state” has manifested itself within the country. That military deep state is known as “The Establishment,” and has staged multiple coup d’états over the years, while also acting to steer Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policies.

There are four levels to the Turkish Armed Forces, with the leaders at the General Staff overseeing the country’s Land, Naval and Air Forces. Their ideological commitment is to the idea of Kemalism, this notion of embracing Western cultural values (such as freedom of religion), in order to separate Turkey from rule under the Ottoman Empire. There’s currently over 350,000 active-duty personnel within the Turkish Armed Forces, while the country’s status as a member of NATO assists in its protection from active threats. Additionally, there exists a stockpile of nuclear weapons held at the country’s Incirlik Air Base as part of Turkey’s nuclear sharing agreement with NATO allies.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces encompass all of the varied branches of Japan’s military service. It’s broken up into three subdivisions, Ground, Air and Maritime, and stands in stark contrast to the country’s history immediately after World War II. Japan was forced to abandon its military after signing General Douglas MacArthur’s document of surrender in 1945, but this was changed in 1960 after the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty allowed for the JSDF’s formation. Today sees Japan’s military cooperating with the U.S. more than ever, while the country also has nearly 250,000 active-duty personnel.

Although Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has severely impacted its current military status, the country’s martial history has made it one of the world’s strongest and most impactful forces. The fact that Russia was a pivotal player in conflicts such as the Napoleonic Wars and both World Wars cannot be overstated. Meanwhile, the former Soviet Union still exists today as a major nuclear power, while its active-duty personnel number over a million. A further two million soldiers are on active-reserve, while its annual budget for military spending is fourth in the world, at over sixty-one billion U.S. dollars.

The French Armed Forces keep all their bases covered, with branches devoted to the Gendarmerie (a police force), as well as soldiers stationed within the French Army, Navy…even an Air and Space Force. Its defense budget is largest in the European Union, and possesses the largest total force within that Union. The country’s history of military might and conquest is legendary, while its present-day situation sees eleven thousand deployed personnel at the time of this writing. Its primary aims are for defense of the French people, as well as deterring nuclear aggression around the world as a member of NATO.

Her Majesty’s Armed Forces defend the United Kingdom, and, like France, have historically played a major role in shaping Europe in the present day. The Royal Navy is legendary, while the nation’s Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines support all of the U.K.’s self-defense, peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. The U.K. has a large reserve pool as well, nearing forty thousand in number, while its current active-duty service forces numbers nearly two-hundred thousand. Additionally, Britain’s stance as one of the world’s five recognized nuclear powers is backed up by its authority as a leading member of NATO.

There are a number of supporting organizations that buffer the efforts of India’s three major military branches. Special Frontier Force, the Indian Coast Guard and more all combine to make up the number two military in the world in terms of size. India boasts nearly 1.5 million active-duty personnel, with another million-plus waiting in reserves. Meanwhile, the country’s lack of conscripted military service means that India possesses the largest volunteer army in the world. The country’s military budget exceeds sixty-nine billion U.S. dollars, although it does stress the need for manufacturing at home, since India itself imports much of its defense materials from other countries, such as Russia and the United States.

The Israel Defense Forces may lack the size of active-duty personnel compared to other countries on this list, but they more than make up for this with their skill, training and vast areas of expertise. It’s believed that the IDF does possess nuclear capability, but Israel’s Ground, Air and Navy Forces are also all made up of skilled personnel from all walks of life. Conscripted military service means that every citizen of Israel is ready to defend their country, while the IDF is notable for including a large number of women within their ranks. Meanwhile, the country’s arsenal of tanks, aircraft and other vehicles is also large, due to long-standing tensions within the region.

We’re focusing on the People’s Liberation Army for this discussion of Chinese armed forces, as opposed to the Republic of China Armed Forces that defends the islands off mainland China, including Taiwan. The PLA defends China’s Communist Party and centers around the five branches of Ground, Air, Rocket, Navy and Strategic Support. Its defense budget is second only to the United States, while its active-duty personnel lead the world at over two million, with a further 510,000 on reserve. Its tank and submarine fleets are also among the largest worldwide, and China doesn’t seem to show any signs of stopping its martial dominance as one of the world’s largest superpowers.

No nation in the world spends as much annually on defense as the United States of America. The country’s yearly budget exceeds seven-hundred billion dollars, and the U.S. is ranked third in the world in terms of active-duty personnel. Over a million soldiers from the U.S. six main service branches are currently active, while the country is also the sole owner of an active and independent Space Force, established in December of 2019. This is despite the fact that the United States enjoys a comparatively isolated location against the other countries on this list. Still, this doesn’t change the United States’ status as superpower, with her Armed Forces considered as the strongest in the world.