These Countries Have the Most Powerful Militaries in the World
It is true that the United States spends more money on its military then the next twenty-some-odd countries combined. For that fact, we all know that there is no beating the U.S. military in any category. But it is interesting to see where our allies, or more importantly, our enemies, rank in military strength.
Global Fire Power does a ranking every year based on available information. The rankings are evaluated over 50 different factors, to determine who has the greatest firepower out of any military. All those factors allow for an accurate assessment of 133 different countries’ military strength. We will give you the quick take on each military power based on how many personnel, aircraft, armored vehicles, naval vessels, and what size of a budget (in USD) each country has to work with.
Take a look at how the rest of the world’s militaries stacks up against us in 2017. There’s a little easter egg for you at the end, after the No. 1 superpower, so make sure you follow all the way through.
25. Algeria

Defense budget: $10.57 billion
Military personnel: 792,350 (520,000 active)
Airpower: 502
Armor power: 9,825
Naval power: 85
Next: They have been making quite a ruckus as of late.
24. Saudi Arabia

Defense budget: $56.725 billion
Military personnel: 256,000 (231,000 active)
Airpower: 790
Armor power: 7,892
Naval power: 55
Next: The Hermit Kingdom.
23. North Korea

Defense budget: $7.5 billion
Military personnel: 6,445,000 (945,000 active)
Airpower: 944
Armor power: 18,075
Naval power: 967
Next: The thunder from down under.
22. Australia

Defense budget: $24.1 billion
Military personnel: 81,000 (60,000 active)
Airpower: 465
Armor power: 2,174
Naval power: 47
Next: There is an actual possibility we could go to war with them.
21. Iran

Defense budget: $6.3 billion
Military personnel: 934,000 (534,000 active)
Airpower: 477
Armor power: 6,803
Naval power: 398
Next: เพื่อชาติ ศาสน์ กษัตริย์ และประชาชน (“For the Nation, Religions, King, and People”)
20. Thailand

Defense budget: $5.39 billion
Military personnel: 627,425 (335,425 active)
Airpower: 555
Armor power: 4,085
Naval power: 81
Next: Za wolność Naszą i Waszą (“For our freedom, and yours.”)
19. Poland

Defense budget: $9.36 billion
Military personnel: 184,650 (109,650 active)
Airpower: 465
Armor power: 4,428
Naval power: 83
Next: They are our friends, but not really.
18. Taiwan

Defense budget: $10.725 billion
Military personnel: 1,932,500 (257,500 active)
Airpower: 850
Armor power: 8,069
Naval power: 87
Next: Braço Forte, Mão Amiga! (“Strong Arm, Friendly Hand!”)
17. Brazil

Defense budget: $24.5 billion
Military personnel: 1,987,000 (334,500 active)
Airpower: 697
Armor power: 3,031
Naval power: 110
Next: Did we win or lose the war we had with them? The answer may surprise you.
16. Vietnam

Defense budget: $3.365 billion
Military personnel: 5,488,500 (448,500 active)
Airpower: 278
Armor power: 8,519
Naval power: 65
Next: We just moved our embassy in this country.
15. Isreal

Defense budget: $15.5 billion
Military personnel: 718,250 (168,250 active)
Airpower: 652
Armor power: 13,803
Naval power: 65
Next: Kartika Eka Paksi (“Unmatchable bird with noble goals”)
14. Indonesia

Defense budget: $6.9 billion
Military personnel: 975,750 (435,750 active)
Airpower: 441
Armor power: 1,710
Naval power: 221
Next: We found Osama Bin Laden in this country … shocker.
13. Pakistan

Defense budget: $7 billion
Military personnel: 919,000 (637,000 active)
Airpower: 951
Armor power: 9,629
Naval power: 197
Next: A country we have still not assigned an ambassador for.
12. South Korea

Defense budget: $43.8 billion
Military personnel: 5,829,750 (627,500 active)
Air power: 1,477
Armor power: 12,892
Naval power: 166
Next: Salus Rei Publicae Suprema Lex Esto (“The safeguard of the Republic shall be the supreme law”)
11. Italy

Defense budget: $34 billion
Military personnel: 267,500 (247,500 active)
Airpower: 822
Armor power: 7,449
Naval power: 143
Next: We’re finally to the top 10!
10. Egypt

Defense budget: $4.4 billion
Military personnel: 1,329,250 (454,250 active)
Airpower: 1,132
Armor power: 22,789
Naval power: 319
Next: Schutzen, Helfen, Vermittein, Kampfen (“Protect, Help, Mediate, Fight”)
9. Germany

Defense budget: $39.2 billion
Military personnel: 210,000 (180,000 active)
Airpower: 698
Armor power: 6,616
Naval power: 81
Next: Well, at least they’re not chicken.
8. Turkey

Defense budget: $8.208 billion
Military personnel: 734,415 (382,850 active)
Airpower: 1,018
Armor power: 12,516
Naval power: 194
Next: They are the state-of-the-art.
7. Japan

Defense budget: $43.8 billion
Military personnel: 311,875 (248,575 active)
Airpower: 1,594
Armor power: 4,351
Naval power: 131
Next: For Queen and Country
6. The United Kingdom

Defense budget: $45.7 billion
Military personnel: 232,675 (151,175 active)
Airpower: 856
Armor power: 6,466
Naval power: 76
Next: Viva La France!
5. France

Defense budget: $35 billion
Military personnel: 387,635 (204,000 active)
Airpower: 1,305
Armor power: 7,871
Naval power: 118
Next: Service Before Self
4. India

Defense budget: $51 billion
Military personnel: 4,207,250 (1,362,500 active)
Airpower: 2,102
Armor power: 19,126
Naval power: 295
Next: Trump complains about them a bunch.
3. China

Defense budget: $161.7 billion
Military personnel: 3,712,500 (2,260,000 active)
Airpower: 2,955
Armor power: 20,971
Naval power: 714
Next: The meddlers that everyone is talking about.
2. Russia

Defense budget: $44.6 billion
Military personnel: 3,371,027 (798,527 active)
Airpower: 3,764
Armor power: 65,904
Naval power: 352
Next: Semper Fi (“Always faithful”)
1. The United States military

Defense budget: $587.8 billion
Military personnel: 2,363,675 (1,373,650 active)
Airpower: 13,762
Armor power: 51,510
Naval power: 415
Next: Ever wondered which country has the weakest military power?
133. Bhutan

Defense budget: $10 million
Military personnel: 7,500
Airpower: 4
Armor power: 10
Naval power: 0
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