The United States ranks at the top as the most powerful military in the world. In addition to its abundant resources, which enable the country to carry out multiple military activities, it has consistently had an impressive defense budget (the current fiscal year of 2024 has an almost 850 billion dollar budget). This spending allows the U.S. to maintain advanced military equipment, adequate personnel, and a specialized military research department to name a few.
The American military currently has an estimated 750 bases spread across almost every continent except Antarctica where it is illegal to conduct military activity per international law. This gives the U.S. a massive, global military footprint, with troops deployed in around 176 countries. These military bases are intended to deter adversaries, project power, and reassure allies, but the bulk of American military power is still concentrated within the United States. (This is the country with the most people in the military.)
According to the Department of Defense’s report Demographics Profile of the Military Community, there are hundreds of military bases home to nearly 1.2 million active-duty service members and their families spread across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and its territories, like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While some outposts are relatively small, like Ammunition Depot Indian Island, in Port Hadlock, Washington, others have populations comparable to a mid-size city. (This is the county in every state with the most people in the military.)
Using DoD military demographics data for 2019, the most recent year of comprehensive base-level, 24/7 Wall St. identified the biggest military bases in America. For this story, only bases housing active-duty military personnel for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and DoD were considered. Each of the 26 bases on this list is home to at least 10,000 active-duty military personnel. Including dependents and military families, some of these bases have over 100,000 people.
The largest branch of the U.S. military by headcount is the Army which controls most of these bases. The Air Force and Marine Corps each have only two bases on this list, while the Navy has five.  These bases include those used as basic training sites for these four military branches.
Here are the biggest military bases in America.
26. Nellis AFB, Nevada
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Service branch: Air Force
- Location: 8 miles from Las Vegas
Nellis AFB in Nevada has a total of 10,168 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 89.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,937.
25. Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Source: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Bradley J. Sapp, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Navy
- Location: 6 miles from Honolulu
The Naval Base Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu has a total of 10,222 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 21.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,697.
24. Mayport NAVSTA, Florida
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Navy
- Location: 10 miles from Jacksonville
The Mayport NAVSTA in Florida has a total of 10,442 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 15.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,013.
23. Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: San Antonio
Fort Sam Houston in Texas has a total of 10,721 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 8.8%% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,655.
22. Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Source: National Security Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 15 miles from Baltimore
Fort George G. Meade in Maryland has a total of 11,140 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 39.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 26,041.
21. Fort Gordon, Georgia
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 12 miles from Augusta
Fort Gordon in Georgia has a total of 11,220 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 16.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,636.
20. Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Source: Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: Columbia
Fort Jackson in South Carolina has a total of 11,545 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 28.4% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 20,589.
19. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Source: D'oh Boy (Mark Holloway), CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 85 miles from Springfield
Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri has a total of 12,218 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 72.3% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 23,479.
18. Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 90 miles from Oklahoma City
Fort Sill in Oklahoma has a total of 13,310 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 59.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 26,189.
17. Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Source: Phil Mislinski / Getty Images
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 20 miles from Honolulu
The Schofield Barracks in Hawaii has a total of 15,057 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 31.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 34,022.
16. Fort Drum, New York
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 8 miles from Watertown
Fort Drum in New York has a total of 15,195 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 74.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 32,011.
15. Fort Riley, Kansas
Source: wellesenterprises / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 50 miles from Topeka
Fort Riley in Kansas has a total of 15,214 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 69.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 33,295.
14. Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois
Source: usnavy / Flickr
- Service branch: Navy
- Location: 30 miles from Chicago
The Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois has a total of 15,726 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 72.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,875.
13. Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 35 miles from Savannah
Fort Stewart in Georgia has a total of 19,476 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 28.6% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 45,302.
12. Lackland AFB, Texas
Source: RonBailey / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Service branch: Air Force
- Location: 5 miles from San Antonio
Lackland AFB in Texas has a total of 22,220 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 18.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 42,521.
11. Fort Moore, Georgia
Source: John Davis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 5 miles from Columbus
Fort Moore (previously known as Fort Benning) in Georgia has a total of 24,305 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 35.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 46,785.
10. Fort Carson, Colorado
Source: Fish Cop, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 6 miles from Colorado Springs
Fort Carson in Colorado has a total of 24,520 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 68.4% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 57,473.
9. Fort Bliss, Texas
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: El Paso
Fort Bliss in Texas has a total of 26,100 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 21.3% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 60,307.
8. Fort Lewis, Washington
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 12 miles from Tacoma
Fort Lewis in Washington state has a total of 26,512 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 44.6% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 62,831.
7. Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 50 miles from Nashville
Fort Campbell in Kentucky has a total of 26,824 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 83.1% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 62,977.
6. San Diego NAVSTA, California
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Navy
- Location: San Diego
San Diego NAVSTA in California has a total of 32,983 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 20.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 66,557.
5. Fort Cavazos, Texas
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Army
- Location: Killeen
Fort Cavazos in Texas has a total of 36,697 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 30.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 83,815.
4. Camp Lejeune MCB, North Carolina
Source: Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Location: 3 miles from Jacksonville
Camp Lejeune MCB in North Carolina has a total of 38,706 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 37.1% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 72,106.
3. Camp Pendleton, California
Source: David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Location: 35 miles from San Diego
Camp Pendleton in California has a total of 39,690 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 24.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 70,700.
2. Fort Liberty, North Carolina
Source: Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Service branch: Army
- Location: 10 miles from Fayetteville
Fort Liberty in North Carolina has a total of 45,055 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 43.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 109,101.
1. Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Service branch: Navy
- Location: Norfolk
Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia has a total of 47,368 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 37.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 100,893.
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