Generally speaking, larger military budgets imply larger and stronger military forces. There are some exceptions to this rule, but by and large the countries that spend the most on their military forces are the strongest. But what about those countries spending the least on their militaries? Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the countries with the smallest military budgets in the world.
To determine the countries with the smallest military defense budgets in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2025 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. We ranked these countries based on their military defense budget. We also included supplemental information regarding purchasing power parity, foreign exchange/gold reserves, external debt, a composition of military assets, as well as the overall military strength score.
Here is a look at the countries with the smallest defense budgets in the world:
Why Are We Covering This?
Understanding global military dynamics is incredibly important due to the interconnected nature of international relations and conflicts. As long as civilization has existed, the world has witnessed shifting power balances and alliances which have ultimately shaped the current geopolitical landscape. While key players like the United States, China, and Russia are considered the strongest military powers in the world, there are a number of other nations with their own spheres of influence and strengths that impact global relations from a military perspective.
30. Namibia
- Military defense budget: $370,500,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $2,956,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $29,944,000,000
- External debt: $8,800,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 34
- Total military vehicles: 2,094
- Total naval vessels: 15
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.6384 – #116 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Namibia’s 18,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 13,000 active personnel and 5,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 2.804 million.
29. Liberia
- Military defense budget: $364,800,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $599,660,000
- Purchasing power parity: $8,884,000,000
- External debt: $830,923,000
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total military vehicles: 300
- Total naval vessels: 4
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.7781 – #138 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Liberia’s 7,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 1,500 active personnel, 0 reserves, and 5,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 5.437 million.
28. Sudan
- Military defense budget: $342,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $206,763,700
- Purchasing power parity: $136,039,000,000
- External debt: $37,846,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 165
- Total military vehicles: 2,900
- Total naval vessels: 6
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.4756 – #74 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Sudan’s 194,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 92,000 active personnel, 85,000 reserves, and 17,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 50.47 million.
27. Niger
- Military defense budget: $336,400,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,442,772,000
- Purchasing power parity: $44,561,000,000
- External debt: $3,844,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 26
- Total military vehicles: 456
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.6689 – #119 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Niger’s 30,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 25,000 active personnel and 5,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 26.34 million.
26. El Salvador
- Military defense budget: $334,620,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,799,434,000
- Purchasing power parity: $71,957,000,000
- External debt: $14,258,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 52
- Total military vehicles: 1,844
- Total naval vessels: 14
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.9371 – #128 out of 145
These finances go to pay for El Salvador’s 50,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 25,000 active personnel, 10,000 reserves, and 15,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 6.629 million.
25. Iceland
- Military defense budget: $312,400,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,809,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $26,155,000,000
- External debt: $22,000,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total military vehicles: 150
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.5181 – #135 out of 145
Iceland has no military forces to speak of, despite having a total population of 364,036.
24. Ghana
![Ghana Armed Forces u2013 Military Sergeant Soldier by Flickr: [2]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Ghana_Armed_Forces_%E2%80%93_Military_Sergeant_Soldier.jpg "Ghana Armed Forces u2013 Military Sergeant Soldier by Flickr: [2]")
- Military defense budget: $308,500,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,624,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $229,639,000,000
- External debt: $22,550,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 19
- Total military vehicles: 1,824
- Total naval vessels: 28
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.3775 – #110 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Ghana’s 15,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 15,500 active personnel with no reserves or paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 34.59 million.
23. Republic of the Congo
- Military defense budget: $306,400,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $715,391,000
- Purchasing power parity: $38,163,000,000
- External debt: $5,741,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 13
- Total military vehicles: 644
- Total naval vessels: 4
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.7282 – #121 out of 145
These finances go to pay for the Republic of the Congo’s 11,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 8,500 active personnel and 2,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 6.098 million.
22. Syria
- Military defense budget: $291,850,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $341,962,500
- Purchasing power parity: $55,935,900,000
- External debt: $4,309,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 207
- Total military vehicles: 11,148
- Total naval vessels: 27
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.2771 – #64 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Syria’s 270,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 170,000 active personnel, 50,000 reserves, and 50,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 23.87 million.
21. Afghanistan
- Military defense budget: $290,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $8,852,092,000
- Purchasing power parity: $54,772,700,000
- External debt: $1,142,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 9
- Total military vehicles: 5,202
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.6442 – #118 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Afghanistan’s 80,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 80,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 40.12 million.
20. Gabon
_(2).jpg "Gabon military by US Army Africa")
- Military defense budget: $274,820,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,568,196,000
- Purchasing power parity: $48,201,000,000
- External debt: $6,280,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 24
- Total military vehicles: 424
- Total naval vessels: 5
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.1805 – #133 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Gabon’s 7,300 total military personnel, which is composed of 4,800 active personnel and 2,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 2.455 million.
19. Mauritania
- Military defense budget: $261,250,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $2,629,290,500
- Purchasing power parity: $30,395,000,000
- External debt: $3,661,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 24
- Total military vehicles: 628
- Total naval vessels: 6
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.7977 – #123 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Mauritania’s 102,540 total military personnel, which is composed of 31,540 active personnel, 66,000 reserves, and 5,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 4.328 million.
18. Kosovo
- Military defense budget: $260,715,150
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,245,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $23,794,000,000
- External debt: $2,750,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total military vehicles: 737
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 4.9141 – #144 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Kosovo’s 15,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 10,000 active personnel, 5,000 reserves, and 500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 1.977 million.
17. Sierra Leone
- Military defense budget: $228,600,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $495,699,000
- Purchasing power parity: $14,633,000,000
- External debt: $2,687,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 1
- Total military vehicles: 150
- Total naval vessels: 7
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.9701 – #140 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Sierra Leone’s 13,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 13,000 active personnel, and no reserves or paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 9.121 million.
16. Kyrgyzstan
- Military defense budget: $221,800,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,237,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $45,461,000,000
- External debt: $6,728,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 7
- Total military vehicles: 2,686
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.2543 – #105 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Kyrgyzstan’s 378,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 23,000 active personnel, 300,000 reserves, and 55,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 6.172 million.
15. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Military defense budget: $216,400,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $9,205,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $63,769,000,000
- External debt: $7,760,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 22
- Total military vehicles: 720
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.0799 – #131 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 18,770 total military personnel, which is composed of 12,770 active personnel and 6,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 3.799 million.
14. Eritrea
- Military defense budget: $198,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $225,014,976
- Purchasing power parity: $9,702,000,000
- External debt: $635,504,500
- Total military aircraft: 20
- Total military vehicles: 860
- Total naval vessels: 23
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.6985 – #120 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Eritrea’s 250,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 120,000 active personnel and 130,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 6.344 million.
13. South Sudan
- Military defense budget: $175,300,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $183,615,000
- Purchasing power parity: $20,010,000,000
- External debt: $2,475,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 20
- Total military vehicles: 1,950
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.4321 – #113 out of 145
These finances go to pay for South Sudan’s 185,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 185,000 active personnel, and no reserves or paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 12.70 million.
12. Somalia
- Military defense budget: $171,002,350
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $16,747,500
- Purchasing power parity: $26,351,000,000
- External debt: $5,830,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total military vehicles: 682
- Total naval vessels: 10
- Military strength score and world rank: 4.2037 – #141 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Somalia’s 17,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 15,000 active personnel and 2,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 13.02 million.
11. Mongolia
- Military defense budget: $165,110,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $4,782,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $56,264,000,000
- External debt: $19,542,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 7
- Total military vehicles: 2,560
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.1135 – #98 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Mongolia’s 220,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 35,000 active personnel, 135,000 reserves, and 50,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 3.282 million.
10. Montenegro
- Military defense budget: $148,100,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,574,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $17,115,000,000
- External debt: $2,958,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 11
- Total military vehicles: 471
- Total naval vessels: 14
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.9216 – #127 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Montenegro’s 7,850 total military personnel, which is composed of 2,350 active personnel and 5,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 599,849.
9. Suriname
- Military defense budget: $144,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,346,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $11,824,000,000
- External debt: $2,200,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 3
- Total military vehicles: 650
- Total naval vessels: 17
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.9127 – #139 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Suriname’s 2,200 total military personnel, which is composed of 2,000 active personnel and 200 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 646,758.
8. Laos
- Military defense budget: $135,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,770,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $64,173,000,000
- External debt: $16,500,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 33
- Total military vehicles: 4,380
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.2663 – #106 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Laos’s 250,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 100,000 active personnel, 30,000 reserves, and 120,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 7.954 million.
7. Madagascar
- Military defense budget: $112,210,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $2,632,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $51,255,000,000
- External debt: $3,028,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 5
- Total military vehicles: 158
- Total naval vessels: 6
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.0609 – #130 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Madagascar’s 21,600 total military personnel, which is composed of 13,500 active personnel and 8,100 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 29.45 million.
6. Benin
- Military defense budget: $98,350,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $698,900,000
- Purchasing power parity: $52,510,000,000
- External debt: $4,066,500,000
- Total military aircraft: 5
- Total military vehicles: 92
- Total naval vessels: 2
- Military strength score and world rank: 4.3156 – #143 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Benin’s 4,750 total military personnel, which is composed of 4,750 active personnel, and no reserves or paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 14.70 million.
5. Nicaragua
- Military defense budget: $92,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,447,000,000
- Purchasing power parity: $51,088,000,000
- External debt: $9,053,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 17
- Total military vehicles: 1,869
- Total naval vessels: 23
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.0966 – #132 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Nicaragua’s 50,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 45,000 active personnel, 0 reserves, and 5,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 6.677 million.
4. Burkina Faso
- Military defense budget: $81,280,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $47,138,000
- Purchasing power parity: $57,152,000,000
- External debt: $3,145,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 25
- Total military vehicles: 491
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.9734 – #129 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Burkina Faso’s 16,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 12,000 active personnel and 4,500 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 23.04 million.
3. Central African Republic
- Military defense budget: $45,990,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $374,405,000
- Purchasing power parity: $5,849,000,000
- External debt: $666,293,000
- Total military aircraft: 6
- Total military vehicles: 228
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 4.2347 – #142 out of 145
These finances go to pay for the Central African Republic’s 11,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 10,000 active personnel and 1,000 paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 5.651 million.
2. Beliz
- Military defense budget: $29,538,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $473,729,000
- Purchasing power parity: $5,257,000,000
- External debt: $1,248,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 3
- Total military vehicles: 130
- Total naval vessels: 8
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.7191 – #137 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Beliz’s 2,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 1,650 active personnel and 850 reserves. It also has a total population of 415,789.
1. Bhutan
- Military defense budget: $14,000,000
- Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $976,260,000
- Purchasing power parity: $10,981,000,000
- External debt: $2,757,000,000
- Total military aircraft: 2
- Total military vehicles: 84
- Total naval vessels: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 6.3934 – #145 out of 145
These finances go to pay for Bhutan’s 7,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 7,500 active personnel, and no reserves or paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 884,546.
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