Military

Which Countries Command the World’s Largest Naval Fleets?

TRAVELARIUM / iStock via Getty Images

The most powerful navy doesn’t mean it’s the navy with the biggest fleet. While the U.S. is considered to have the world’s most powerful navy on Earth, it’s not the world’s largest navy. The U.S. Navy was the largest in the world by the end of WWII. But today, with a fleet size of 472 ships and submarines, the U.S. has the world’s fourth-largest naval fleet. The strength of the U.S. Navy comes from its seven fleets stationed across the world, including attack submarines, aircraft carriers, and large combat vessels.

To identify the countries with the most military ships and submarines, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. We ranked countries on the total number of military ships and submarines in their fleet. We included supplemental information regarding submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, corvettes, patrol vessels, and frigates, as well as each country’s overall military strength score.

Why We’re Writing About This

Denmark+navy | USNS Supply resupplies the Danish Navy frigate and USS George H.W. Bush during a replenishment-at-sea.
usnavy / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The sheer size of a country’s naval fleet can illustrate a major aspect of the nation’s military strength and influence. During conflicts, these forces are often the first to rally for defense and provide incredible firepower against opponents. However, even during times of peace, naval fleets help to patrol global trade and major sea lanes.

Here is a look at the countries with the most military ships and submarines.

30. Bangladesh

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 117
  • Total submarines: 2
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 6
  • Frigates: 7
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 55
  • Military strength score: 0.5419 – #37 out of 145

29. United Kingdom

Sitikka / iStock via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 117
  • Total submarines: 10
  • Aircraft carriers: 2
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 11
  • Destroyers: 6
  • Patrol vessels:: 26
  • Military strength score: 0.1443 – #6 out of 145

28. Morocco

Morocco+navy | 190329-N-PM781-008
cne-cna-c6f / Flickr / Public Domain
  • Total ships and submarines: 121
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 1
  • Frigates: 6
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 22
  • Military strength score: 1.0081 – #61 out of 145

27. Kuwait

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 123
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 0
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 106
  • Military strength score: 1.4261 – #77 out of 145

26. Qatar

Qatar+navy | Qatari Emiri naval special forces complete the search phase during the recovery of a submerged training mine.
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
  • Total ships and submarines: 123
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 4
  • Frigates: 0
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 20
  • Military strength score: 1.0789 – #63 out of 145

25. France

vale_t / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 128
  • Total submarines: 9
  • Aircraft carriers: 1
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 11
  • Destroyers: 10
  • Patrol vessels:: 15
  • Military strength score: 0.1878 – #11 out of 145

24. Chile

usnavy / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 130
  • Total submarines: 4
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 8
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 40
  • Military strength score: 0.8128 – #52 out of 145

23. Nigeria

infomatique / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 133
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 1
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 109
  • Military strength score: 0.5619 – #39 out of 145

22. Brazil

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
  • Total ships and submarines: 134
  • Total submarines: 4
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 2
  • Frigates: 6
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 23
  • Military strength score: 0.1944 – #12 out of 145

21. Egypt

MC3 Scott Pittman/usnavy / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 140
  • Total submarines: 8
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 7
  • Frigates: 13
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 42
  • Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145

20. Japan

Japan+Black+Hawk+helicopter | Sea Hawk launches from USS Ronald Reagan during relief efforts in Japan following earthquake.
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
  • Total ships and submarines: 155
  • Total submarines: 23
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 6
  • Frigates: 4
  • Destroyers: 36
  • Patrol vessels:: 6
  • Military strength score: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145

19. Spain

ooocha / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 168
  • Total submarines: 3
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 11
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 23
  • Military strength score: 0.2882 – #20 out of 145

18. Turkey

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 186
  • Total submarines: 12
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 9
  • Frigates: 16
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 34
  • Military strength score: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145

17. Greece

mscsealift / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 187
  • Total submarines: 11
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 13
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 35
  • Military strength score: 0.4349 – #32 out of 145

16. Mexico

navalsurfaceforces / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 194
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 4
  • Frigates: 11
  • Destroyers: 5
  • Patrol vessels:: 150
  • Military strength score: 0.4274 – #31 out of 145

15. South Korea

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 200
  • Total submarines: 22
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 5
  • Frigates: 17
  • Destroyers: 13
  • Patrol vessels:: 35
  • Military strength score: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145

14. Algeria

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 213
  • Total submarines: 6
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 16
  • Frigates: 8
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 75
  • Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

13. Myanmar

Goldquest / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 227
  • Total submarines: 3
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 3
  • Frigates: 6
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 124
  • Military strength score: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145

12. Colombia

Colombia+navy | RIMPAC 2012
Robert Sullivan / Flickr / Public Domain
  • Total ships and submarines: 237
  • Total submarines: 4
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 2
  • Frigates: 9
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 219
  • Military strength score: 0.7347 – #44 out of 145

11. Finland

dohne / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 246
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 0
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 8
  • Military strength score: 0.7967 – #50 out of 145

10. Sri Lanka

ertyo5 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 270
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 5
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 59
  • Military strength score: 1.3459 – #75 out of 145

9. Thailand

Goldquest / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 293
  • Total submarines: 0
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 6
  • Frigates: 7
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 49
  • Military strength score: 0.3389 – #25 out of 145

8. India

vale_t / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 294
  • Total submarines: 18
  • Aircraft carriers: 2
  • Corvettes: 18
  • Frigates: 12
  • Destroyers: 12
  • Patrol vessels:: 137
  • Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145

7. Italy

usnavy / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 309
  • Total submarines: 8
  • Aircraft carriers: 2
  • Corvettes: 0
  • Frigates: 13
  • Destroyers: 4
  • Patrol vessels:: 18
  • Military strength score: 0.1863 – #10 out of 145

6. Indonesia

Reezky Pradata / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Total ships and submarines: 333
  • Total submarines: 4
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 25
  • Frigates: 8
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 205
  • Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145

5. Sweden

  • Total ships and submarines: 353
  • Total submarines: 5
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 7
  • Frigates: 0
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 298
  • Military strength score: 0.4009 – #29 out of 145

4. United States

United States Navy U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 472
  • Total submarines: 64
  • Aircraft carriers: 11
  • Corvettes: 23
  • Frigates: 0
  • Destroyers: 75
  • Patrol vessels:: 5
  • Military strength score: 0.0699 – #1 out of 145

3. North Korea

High Contrast / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 505
  • Total submarines: 35
  • Aircraft carriers: 0
  • Corvettes: 4
  • Frigates: 1
  • Destroyers: 0
  • Patrol vessels:: 169
  • Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145

2. China

navalsurfaceforces / Flickr
  • Total ships and submarines: 730
  • Total submarines: 61
  • Aircraft carriers: 2
  • Corvettes: 72
  • Frigates: 42
  • Destroyers: 49
  • Patrol vessels:: 150
  • Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145

1. Russia

Philippe Chagniot / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total ships and submarines: 781
  • Total submarines: 65
  • Aircraft carriers: 1
  • Corvettes: 83
  • Frigates: 12
  • Destroyers: 14
  • Patrol vessels:: 122
  • Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145

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