Which Countries are Most Prepared for Naval Warfare?

By Jessica Lynn April 7, 2025

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Which Countries are Most Prepared for Naval Warfare? — © NickolayV / iStock via Getty Images

Throughout history, naval superiority has translated directly into global influence and security advantages. How, you might ask? Naval power gives countries control over shipping routes and trade, but also protect a country’s economic interests. Naval forces are uniquely flexible. They can shift between combat, disaster relief, and even peacekeeping if the situation requires that. Countries with weak navies find themselves bending to the will of those with maritime strength, so building a significant naval fleet can only be a benefit. Recently, the United States Navy has been working to upgrade and bolster its naval fleet. SSN 797, a USS Iowa submarine known colloquially as “The Gray Ghost,” was commissioned in April 2025 and will play a crucial part, alongside other submarines, in deterring aggression from enemy forces. Raytheon also secured a $117 million contract with the U.S. Navy for the continued development of Standard Missile-6 Tactical All-Up Rounds. (Here are the 20 most incredible facts about the U.S. Navy.)

While most people recognize the prowess of the U.S. Navy (though it isn’t yet the top naval force on this list), there are many countries around the world that prioritize defense spending for the navy. Here, 24/7 Wall St. determined which global powers have the largest naval fleets. To do so, we used insights from the 2025 Military Strength Ranking prepared by Global Firepower. This resource ranks 145 different countries to determine how powerful their militaries are, using over 60 different factors for Global Firepower’s proprietary formula. In addition to listing the number of military vessels that each country has, 24/7 Wall St. also included supplemental data — the military strength score — from Global Firepower. The closer to zero, the more powerful the military.

This previously published article was updated on April 6, 2025 to reflect new Global Firepower data and to provide updates on naval efforts.

Why We’re Writing About This Now

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. This list will provide an overview of which countries are most prepared should naval warfare become more common — a possibility considering the rapid destabilization of geopolitical relationships across the world. Even countries like Denmark (who did not make this list) are working to upgrade their naval forces in anticipation of potential conflict. After recent conflicts with Russia, and after Trump’s assertion that he wanted to take over Greenland, a territory of Denmark, Denmark is planning to modernize the navy with 25 new vessels and advanced unmanned systems. If conflicts continue to intensify, we may see more defense budget put towards these naval needs.

These countries have the most military ships and submarines: