These Are The World’s 25 Most Powerful Armies

Harin

The 2019 Military Strength Ranking puts on the scales 137 countries based on 55 factors. Here is the list of the world’s 25 most powerful militaries.

The 2019 Military Strength Ranking puts on the scales 137 countries based on 55 factors. The ranking then evaluates each country’s weapon diversity and focuses on their available manpower. It also considers factors like geography, available natural resources, logistical capacity, and local industry’s status. A bonus point will be given to recognized nuclear powers. However, the nuclear stockpile is not considered as a factor in this ranking. Bonus points are also given to NATO countries. 0.0000 is the top power index score, which is said to be “realistically unattainable.” The closer the point to this number suggests the more powerful a military is. Based on these criteria, here is the list of the world’s 25 most powerful armies.

25. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Military.

Power Index Score: 0.4268

Country’s population: 33,091,113

Defense budget: $70 million

The number of military personnel: around 230,000

Aircraft strength: 848 – Ranking: 12th

Naval assets: 55

Fighter aircraft: 244 – Ranking: 12th

Combat tanks: 1,062 – Ranking: 24th

24. Poland

A NATO member, the military of Poland has a power index rating of 0.4059.

Power Index Score: 0.4059 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 38,420,687

Defense budget: $9.36 billion

The number of military personnel: around 105,000

Aircraft strength: 469 – Ranking: 27th

Naval assets: 83

Fighter aircraft: 93 – Ranking: 26th

Combat tanks: 1100 – Ranking: 23rd

23. Vietnam

The military of Vietnam has a power index rating of 0.3988.

Power Index Score: 0.3988

Country’s population: 97,040,334

Defense budget: $3.365 billion

The number of military personnel: around 5,482,000

Aircraft strength: 318 – Ranking: 33rd

Naval assets: 65

Fighter aircraft: 108 – Ranking: 21st

Combat tanks: 2,575 – Ranking: 28th

22. Taiwan

Submarines of the Taiwanese military.

Power Index Score: 0.3956

Country’s population: 23,545,963

Defense budget: $10.725 billion

The number of military personnel: around 5,482,000

Aircraft strength: 837 – Ranking: 13th

Naval assets: 87

Fighter aircraft: 286 – Ranking: 9th

Combat tanks: 1,885 – Ranking: 17th

21. Canada

The military of Canada has a power index rating of 0.3941.

Power Index Score: 0.3941 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 35,881,659

Defense budget: $21.2 billion

The number of military personnel: around 94,000

Aircraft strength: 384 – Ranking: 31st

Naval assets: 63

Fighter aircraft: 53 – Ranking: 38th

Combat tanks: 80 – Ranking: 79th

20. Spain

The military of Spain has a power index rating of 0.3921.

Power Index Score: 0.3921 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 49,331,076

Defense budget: $11.6 billion

The number of military personnel: around 139,500

Aircraft strength: 522 – Ranking: 23rd

Naval assets: 46 with one aircraft carrier

Fighter aircraft: 136 – Ranking: 18th

Combat tanks: 327 – Ranking: 51st

19. Australia

The military of Australia has a power index rating of 0.3277.

Power Index Score: 0.3277

Country’s population: 49,331,076

Defense budget: $26.3 billion

The number of military personnel: around 79,700

Aircraft strength: 467 – Ranking: 28th

Naval assets: 47 with two aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 78 – Ranking: 27th

Combat tanks: 66 – Ranking: 86th

18. North Korea

The military of North Korea has a power index rating of 0.3274.

Power Index Score: 0.3274

Country’s population: 25,381,085

Defense budget: $7.5 billion

The number of military personnel: around 7.58 million

Aircraft strength: 949 – Ranking: 11th

Naval assets: 967

Fighter aircraft: 458 – Ranking: 5th

Combat tanks: 6,075 – Ranking: 4th

17. Israel

The military of Israel has a power index rating of 0.2964.

Power Index Score: 0.2964

Country’s population: 8,424,904

Defense budget: $19.6 billion

The number of military personnel: around 615,000

Aircraft strength: 595 – Ranking: 18th

Naval assets: 65

Fighter aircraft: 253 – Ranking: 11th

Combat tanks: 2,760 – Ranking: 8th

16. Indonesia

The military of Indonesia has a power index rating of 0.2804.

Power Index Score: 0.2804

Country’s population: 262,787,403

Defense budget: $6.9 billion

The number of military personnel: around 800,000

Aircraft strength: 451 – Ranking: 30th

Naval assets: 221

Fighter aircraft: 41 – Ranking: 43rd

Combat tanks: 315 – Ranking: 52nd

15. Pakistan

The military of Pakistan has a power index rating of 0.2798.

Power Index Score: 0.2798

Country’s population: 207,862,518

Defense budget: $6.9 billion

The number of military personnel: around 800,000

Aircraft strength: 451 – Ranking: 30th

Naval assets: 221

Fighter aircraft: 41 – Ranking: 43rd

Combat tanks: 315 – Ranking: 52nd

14. Iran

The military of Iran has a power index rating of 0.2606.

Power Index Score: 0.2606

Country’s population: 83,024,745

Defense budget: $6.3 billion

The number of military personnel: around 873,000

Aircraft strength: 509 – Ranking: 24th

Naval assets: 398

Fighter aircraft: 142 – Ranking: 17th

Combat tanks: 1,634 – Ranking: 18th

13. Brazil

The military of Brazil has a power index rating of 0.2487.

Power Index Score: 0.2487

Country’s population: 208,846,892

Defense budget: $29.3 billion

The number of military personnel: around 1,674,500

Aircraft strength: 706 – Ranking: 16th

Naval assets: 110

Fighter aircraft: 43 – Ranking: 42nd

Combat tanks: 437 – Ranking: 40th

12. Egypt

The military of Egypt has a power index rating of 0.2283.

Power Index Score: 0.2283

Country’s population: 99.413.317

Defense budget: $4.4 billion

The number of military personnel: around 920.000

Aircraft strength: 1,092 – Ranking: 9th

Naval assets: 319 with two aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 211 – Ranking: 13th

Combat tanks: 2,160 – Ranking: 14th

11. Italy

The military of Italy has a power index rating of 0.2277.

Power Index Score: 0.2277 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 62.246.674

Defense budget: $29.2 billion

The number of military personnel: around 357,000

Aircraft strength: 831– Ranking: 14th

Naval assets: 137 with five aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 94 – Ranking: 25th

Combat tanks: 200 – Ranking: 60th

10. Germany

The military of Germany has a power index rating of 0.2097.

Power Index Score: 0.2097 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 80,457,737

Defense budget: $49.1 billion

The number of military personnel: around 208,641

Aircraft strength: 613 – Ranking: 17th

Naval assets: 81

Fighter aircraft: 122 – Ranking: 20th

Combat tanks: 900 – Ranking: 26th

9. Turkey

The military of Turkey has a power index rating of 0.2089.

Power Index Score: 0.2089 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 81,257,239

Defense budget: $8.6 billion

The number of military personnel: around 735,000

Aircraft strength: 1,067 – Ranking: 10th

Naval assets: 194

Fighter aircraft: 207 – Ranking: 14th

Combat tanks: 3.200 – Ranking: 7th

8. United Kingdom

The military of the United Kingdom has a power index rating of 0.1797.

Power Index Score: 0.1797 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 65,105,246

Defense budget: $47.5 billion

The number of military personnel: around 233,000

Aircraft strength: 811 – Ranking: 15th

Naval assets: 76 with one aircraft carrier

Fighter aircraft: 129 – Ranking: 19th

Combat tanks: 331 – Ranking: 49th

7. South Korea

The military of South Korea has a power index rating of 0.1761.

Power Index Score: 0.1761

Country’s population: 51,418.097

Defense budget: $38.3 billion

The number of military personnel: around 5,827,150

Aircraft strength: 1,614 – Ranking: 5th

Naval assets: 166 with one aircraft carrier

Fighter aircraft: 406 – Ranking: 6th

Combat tanks: 2,654– Ranking: 9th

6. Japan

The military of Japan has a power index rating of 0.1707.

Power Index Score: 0.1707

Country’s population: 125,128,156

Defense budget: $47 billion

The number of military personnel: around 303,157

Aircraft strength: 1,572 – Ranking: 6th

Naval assets: 131 with four aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 297 – Ranking: 8th

Combat tanks: 1,004 – Ranking: 25th

5. France

The military of France has a power index rating of 0.1584.

Power Index Score: 0.1584 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 67,364,357

Defense budget: $40.5 billion

The number of military personnel: around 388,635

Aircraft strength: 1,248 – Ranking: 8th

Naval assets: 118 with four aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 273 – Ranking: 10th

Combat tanks: 406 – Ranking: 44th

4. India

The military of India has a power index rating of 0.1065.

Power Index Score: 0.1065

Country’s population: 1,296,834,042

Defense budget: $55.2 billion

The number of military personnel: around 3,462,500

Aircraft strength: 2,082 – Ranking: 4th

Naval assets: 295 with one aircraft carrier

Fighter aircraft: 520 – Ranking: 4th

Combat tanks: 4,184 – Ranking: 6th

3. China

The military of China has a power index rating of 0.0673.

Power Index Score: 0.0673

Country’s population: 1,384,688,986

Defense budget: $224 billion

The number of military personnel: around 2,693,000

Aircraft strength: 3,187 – Ranking: 3rd

Naval assets: 714 with one aircraft carrier

Fighter aircraft: 1,222 – Ranking: 2nd

Combat tanks: 13,050 – Ranking: 2nd

2. Russia

The military of Russia has a power index rating of 0.0639.

Power Index Score: 0.0639

Country’s population: 142,122,776

Defense budget: $44 billion

The number of military personnel: around 3,586,128

Aircraft strength: 4,078 – Ranking: 2nd

Naval assets: 352 with one aircraft carrier but it is out of service permanently

Fighter aircraft: 869 – Ranking: 3rd

Combat tanks: 21,932 – Ranking: 1st

1. United States

The military of the US has a power index rating of 0.0615.

Power Index Score: 0.0615 (NATO member)

Country’s population: 329,256,465

Defense budget: $716 billion

The number of military personnel: around 2,141,900

Aircraft strength: 13,398 – Ranking: 1st

Naval assets: 415 with 415 aircraft carriers

Fighter aircraft: 2,362 – Ranking: 1st

Combat tanks: 6,287 – Ranking: 3rd