Military · personnel · 2023 data

Largest Armies in the World

China leads the world with 2,000,000 soldiers, followed by India (1,450,000) and United States (1,390,000).

2,000,000

#1 China

19,670,450

World total (145 countries)

40,200

Median country

25%

Share held by the top 3

Top 10

2,000,000

1,450,000

1,390,000

1,200,000

830,900

654,000

575,000

555,000

470,000

440,000

Top 5%
Top 30%
Lower half
None

Active military personnel — full ranking

Rank	Country	Active military personnel	Share of world
1	China	2,000,000	10.2%
2	India	1,450,000	7.4%
3	United States	1,390,000	7.1%
4	North Korea	1,200,000	6.1%
5	Russia	830,900	4.2%
6	Pakistan	654,000	3.3%
7	Iran	575,000	2.9%
8	South Korea	555,000	2.8%
9	Vietnam	470,000	2.4%
10	Egypt	440,000	2.2%
11	Türkiye	425,000	2.2%
12	Indonesia	400,000	2.0%
12	Myanmar	400,000	2.0%
14	Brazil	360,000	1.8%
14	Colombia	360,000	1.8%
16	Thailand	350,000	1.8%
17	Mexico	250,000	1.3%
17	Sri Lanka	250,000	1.3%
19	Japan	240,000	1.2%
20	Saudi Arabia	225,000	1.1%
21	France	205,000	1.0%
22	Iraq	200,000	1.0%
22	Morocco	200,000	1.0%
22	Ukraine	200,000	1.0%
25	United Kingdom	194,000	1.0%
26	Germany	184,000	0.9%
27	Eritrea	175,000	0.9%
27	South Sudan	175,000	0.9%
29	Israel	173,000	0.9%
30	Italy	170,000	0.9%
30	Taiwan	170,000	0.9%
32	Bangladesh	165,000	0.8%
33	Ethiopia	150,000	0.8%
34	DR Congo	140,000	0.7%
35	Venezuela	137,500	0.7%
36	Nigeria	135,000	0.7%
37	Algeria	130,000	0.7%
37	Greece	130,000	0.7%
39	Poland	120,000	0.6%
39	Spain	120,000	0.6%
41	Angola	107,000	0.5%
42	Philippines	101,000	0.5%
43	Cambodia	100,000	0.5%
43	Libya	100,000	0.5%
43	Sudan	100,000	0.5%
43	Syria	100,000	0.5%
47	Nepal	95,000	0.5%
47	Peru	95,000	0.5%
49	Jordan	90,000	0.5%
49	Tunisia	90,000	0.5%
51	Malaysia	85,000	0.4%
52	Argentina	83,000	0.4%
53	Chile	80,000	0.4%
53	Lebanon	80,000	0.4%
55	Canada	70,000	0.4%
55	Ecuador	70,000	0.4%
57	Romania	67,000	0.3%
58	Qatar	66,550	0.3%
59	Azerbaijan	65,000	0.3%
59	United Arab Emirates	65,000	0.3%
61	Georgia	61,200	0.3%
62	Australia	60,500	0.3%
63	Bolivia	60,000	0.3%
63	Dominican Republic	60,000	0.3%
63	Singapore	60,000	0.3%
66	Uzbekistan	55,000	0.3%
67	Cuba	50,000	0.3%
68	Uganda	47,000	0.2%
69	Armenia	45,000	0.2%
69	Belarus	45,000	0.2%
69	Kazakhstan	45,000	0.2%
69	Yemen	45,000	0.2%
73	South Africa	40,200	0.2%
74	Cameroon	40,000	0.2%
74	Oman	40,000	0.2%
76	Chad	35,000	0.2%
76	Kenya	35,000	0.2%
76	Mongolia	35,000	0.2%
76	Netherlands	35,000	0.2%
80	Mauritania	31,500	0.2%
81	Laos	30,000	0.2%
81	Turkmenistan	30,000	0.2%
81	Zimbabwe	30,000	0.2%
84	Portugal	27,000	0.1%
85	Belgium	26,000	0.1%
85	Czechia	26,000	0.1%
85	Tanzania	26,000	0.1%
88	Bulgaria	25,000	0.1%
88	Côte d'Ivoire	25,000	0.1%
88	Serbia	25,000	0.1%
91	Finland	24,000	0.1%
91	Nicaragua	24,000	0.1%
91	Switzerland	24,000	0.1%
94	Austria	23,000	0.1%
94	Hungary	23,000	0.1%
94	Norway	23,000	0.1%
97	Uruguay	22,000	0.1%
98	Guatemala	21,500	0.1%
99	El Salvador	21,000	0.1%
100	Bahrain	20,000	0.1%
100	Paraguay	20,000	0.1%
102	Mali	18,000	0.1%
103	Somalia	17,500	0.1%
104	Kuwait	17,000	0.1%
104	Senegal	17,000	0.1%
106	Zambia	16,500	0.1%
107	Denmark	16,000	0.1%
107	Honduras	16,000	0.1%
107	Lithuania	16,000	0.1%
107	Sweden	16,000	0.1%
111	Croatia	15,000	0.1%
111	Kyrgyzstan	15,000	0.1%
113	Ghana	14,000	0.1%
114	Madagascar	13,000	0.1%
114	Sierra Leone	13,000	0.1%
114	Slovakia	13,000	0.1%
117	Namibia	12,500	0.1%
118	Burkina Faso	12,000	0.1%
118	Mozambique	12,000	0.1%
118	Republic of the Congo	12,000	0.1%
121	Central African Republic	10,000	0.1%
121	Niger	10,000	0.1%
123	New Zealand	9,600	0.0%
124	Tajikistan	9,500	0.0%
125	Bosnia and Herzegovina	9,000	0.0%
125	Botswana	9,000	0.0%
125	North Macedonia	9,000	0.0%
128	Ireland	8,700	0.0%
129	Albania	8,000	0.0%
129	Bhutan	8,000	0.0%
131	Slovenia	7,000	0.0%
132	Gabon	6,500	0.0%
132	Latvia	6,500	0.0%
134	Moldova	6,000	0.0%
135	Benin	5,000	0.0%
135	Kosovo	5,000	0.0%
137	Estonia	4,000	0.0%
138	Montenegro	2,500	0.0%
139	Belize	2,000	0.0%
139	Liberia	2,000	0.0%
141	Suriname	1,800	0.0%
142	Luxembourg	1,000	0.0%
143	Afghanistan	0	0.0%
143	Iceland	0	0.0%
143	Panama	0	0.0%

About this ranking

This ranking counts full-time active-duty troops across all branches. China leads the world with 2,000,000 soldiers, followed by India (1,450,000) and United States (1,390,000).

The world total is 19,670,450 soldiers. The top three — China, India and United States — hold 25% of it. The median country has 40,200.

3 of the 145 countries in the ranking report none — Panama, Iceland, Afghanistan, Luxembourg, Suriname and Liberia.

Leaders by continent

Asia: China — 2,000,000 (world #1)
Americas: United States — 1,390,000 (world #3)
Europe: Russia — 830,900 (world #5)
Africa: Egypt — 440,000 (world #10)
Oceania: Australia — 60,500 (world #62)

A note on the data

Figures come from the Global Firepower 2023 military strength ranking. Equipment totals are estimates that include units in reserve or storage; readiness — the share actually available — is often much lower.

More personnel rankings

Personnel

Reserve military personnel

Vietnam · 2,500,000

Paramilitary forces

Bangladesh · 6,800,000

Army personnel

China · 2,545,000

Air force personnel

United States · 660,107

Navy personnel

United States · 731,600

Overall military strength ranking

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the most active military personnel?

China leads the world with 2,000,000 soldiers, followed by India (1,450,000) and United States (1,390,000).

How many countries have active military personnel?

142 of 145 countries in the ranking report active military personnel; 3 report none.

How concentrated is it?

The top three countries — China, India and United States — account for 25% of the world total of 19,670,450.

Where does the data come from?

Global Firepower 2023 military strength ranking. Equipment counts are estimates and include units in reserve or storage.