Which Countries Have the Most Soldiers on Active Duty?

Military

Published: April 27, 2025 11:10 am

In a show of power on its 76th founding anniversary, China publicly presented over 30 active-duty warships on April 23, 2025. China has been ramping up its military spending in recent years as the nation seeks to increase its navy fleet. Today, China has the most naval vessels in the world and expects to expand to 425 ships by 2030. China is flexing its military might as tensions grow more intense between China and Taiwan.

The United States is known for having the most powerful military in the world. However, there are other military powers in the world with formidable forces as well. Also, when you rank countries based on the number of active military personnel, the U.S. does not come in first. That would go to China, with 2,035,000 active personnel. (Also see the countries with the most frigates in the world.)

24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the most active military personnel by reviewing data from the 2025 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. We ordered countries based on the total number of active military personnel, including information on personnel, reserves, total population, fit-for-service, as well as each country’s overall military strength score. The term “active-duty military personnel” refers to full-time service members in the armed forces. These are different than reserve forces or paramilitary forces that might be called into action should there be a deficit in full-time service members in times of war.

(This article was updated on April 27, 2025, to reflect recent military news regarding China’s naval display.)

Why Are We Covering This Right Now?

Silhouette of a military man in headphones at a laptop against the background of a digital globe of the earth, contour lighting. Concept: collection of confidential information, surveillance.

China has been ramping up its military forces, which is especially critical considering tensions between China and Taiwan. 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 that have ultimately shaped the current geopolitical landscape. Although key players like the United States, China, and Russia are considered the strongest military powers in the world, there are other nations with spheres of influence and strengths that impact global relations from a military perspective.

Here is a look at the countries with the largest standing armies in the world:

30. United Kingdom

Flag of United Kingdom on military uniform. UK Army. British Armed Forces, soldiers. by Andrew Angelov

Flag of United Kingdom on military uniform. UK Army. British Armed Forces, soldiers. (Shutterstock.com) by Andrew Angelov

Active personnel: 184,860
Reserves: 924,000
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 1,108,860
Total population: 68,459,055
Fit-for-service: 25,192,932
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145

29. South Sudan

U.S., South Sudan partner during de-mining courses by US Army Africa

U.S., South Sudan partner during de-mining courses (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Active personnel: 185,000
Reserves: 0
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 185,000
Total population: 12,703,714
Fit-for-service: 4,065,188
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4321 – #113 out of 145

28. Iraq

Active personnel: 193,000
Reserves: 0
Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Total military personnel: 293,000
Total population: 42,083,436
Fit-for-service: 14,308,368
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – #43 out of 145

27. Morocco

Active personnel: 195,800
Reserves: 150,000
Paramilitary forces: 50,000
Total military personnel: 395,800
Total population: 37,387,585
Fit-for-service: 15,254,135
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1273 – #59 out of 145

26. France

Flag of France on military uniform. Army, troops, soldier (collage).

Active personnel: 200,000
Reserves: 26,000
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 376,000
Total population: 68,374,591
Fit-for-service: 23,794,358
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #8 out of 145

25. Poland

Poland military | Polish army with machine guns in field uniform.

Active personnel: 202,100
Reserves: 350,000
Paramilitary forces: 50,000
Total military personnel: 602,100
Total population: 38,746,310
Fit-for-service: 15,576,017
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #22 out of 145

24. Taiwan

Active personnel: 215,000
Reserves: 2,310,000
Paramilitary forces: 55,000
Total military personnel: 2,580,000
Total population: 23,595,274
Fit-for-service: 1,061,787
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3988 – #23 out of 145

23. Cambodia

Military boots and camouflage trousers of many soldiers in uniform in a row under the rain and snow

Active personnel: 221,000
Reserves: 0
Paramilitary forces: 10,000
Total military personnel: 231,000
Total population: 17,063,669
Fit-for-service: 5,733,393
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0752 – #95 out of 145

22. Nigeria

Active personnel: 230,000
Reserves: 0
Paramilitary forces: 50
Total military personnel: 280,000
Total population: 236,747,130
Fit-for-service: 90,437,404
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5771 – #31 out of 145

21. Japan

Active personnel: 247,150
Reserves: 56,000
Paramilitary forces: 25,000
Total military personnel: 328,150
Total population: 123,201,945
Fit-for-service: 42,874,277
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1839 – #7 out of 145

20. Saudi Arabia

Active personnel: 257,000
Reserves: 0
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 407,000
Total population: 36,544,431
Fit-for-service: 17,468,238
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – #25 out of 145

19. Colombia

Active personnel: 293,200
Reserves: 35,000
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 478,200
Total population: 49,588,357
Fit-for-service: 19,190,694
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8353 – #46 out of 145

18. Algeria

Active personnel: 325,000
Reserves: 135,000
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 610,000
Total population: 47,022,473
Fit-for-service: 19,185,169
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #20 out of 145

17. Sri Lanka

Active personnel: 346,000
Reserves: 90,000
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 436,000
Total population: 21,982,608
Fit-for-service: 8,551,235
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3941 – #69 out of 145

16. Turkey

Active personnel: 355,200
Reserves: 378,700
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 883,900
Total population: 84,119,531
Fit-for-service: 36,087,279
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

15. Brazil

Active personnel: 360,000
Reserves: 340,000
Paramilitary forces: 200,000
Total military personnel: 900,000
Total population: 220,051,512
Fit-for-service: 88,680,759
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2415 – #11 out of 145

14. Thailand

130612-N-IY633-018 by Naval Surface Warriors

130612-N-IY633-018 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Naval Surface Warriors

Active personnel: 360,850
Reserves: 200,000
Paramilitary forces: 25,000
Total military personnel: 585,850
Total population: 69,920,998
Fit-for-service: 27,968,399
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4536 – #26 out of 145

13. Indonesia

Active personnel: 400,000
Reserves: 400,000
Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Total military personnel: 1,050,000
Total population: 281,562,465
Fit-for-service: 114,595,923
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2557 – #13 out of 145

12. Mexico

Active personnel: 412,000
Reserves: 98,655
Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Total military personnel: 630,655
Total population: 130,739,927
Fit-for-service: 49,811,912
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5965 – #32 out of 145

11. Egypt

Active personnel: 440,000
Reserves: 480,000
Paramilitary forces: 300,000
Total military personnel: 1,220,000
Total population: 111,247,248
Fit-for-service: 38,269,053
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145

10. South Korea

Flag of South Korea on soldiers arm. Flag of South Korea on military uniforms (collage). by Bumble Dee

Flag of South Korea on soldiers arm. Flag of South Korea on military uniforms (collage). (Shutterstock.com) by Bumble Dee

Active personnel: 600,000
Reserves: 3,100,000
Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Total military personnel: 3,820,000
Total population: 52,081,799
Fit-for-service: 21,353,538
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145

9. Vietnam

Active personnel: 600,000
Reserves: 5,000,000
Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Total military personnel: 5,850,000
Total population: 105,758,975
Fit-for-service: 45,053,323
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #24 out of 145

8. Iran

Active personnel: 610,000
Reserves: 350,000
Paramilitary forces: 220,000
Total military personnel: 1,180,000
Total population: 88,386,937
Fit-for-service: 41,541,860
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145

7. Pakistan

Pakistan military tank by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Pakistan military tank (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Active personnel: 654,000
Reserves: 550,000
Paramilitary forces: 500,000
Total military personnel: 1,704,000
Total population: 252,363,571
Fit-for-service: 85,803,614
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145

6. Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in hoisting the State Flag of Ukraine in liberated Kherson. by President Of Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in hoisting the State Flag of Ukraine in liberated Kherson. (CC0 1.0) by President Of Ukraine

Active personnel: 900,000
Reserves: 1,200,000
Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Total military personnel: 2,200,000
Total population: 35,661,826
Fit-for-service: 12,731,272
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3755 – #21 out of 145

5. North Korea

Active personnel: 1,320,000
Reserves: 560,000
Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Total military personnel: 1,980,000
Total population: 26,298,666
Fit-for-service: 5,312,331
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6016 – #34 out of 145

4. Russia

Russia military | Close up hands russian soldier man dressed military camouflage uniform holds weapon in woodland at soldiers background. Male border guard in country border holding machine gun on war. Copy text space

Active personnel: 1,320,000
Reserves: 2,000,000
Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Total military personnel: 3,570,000
Total population: 140,820,810
Fit-for-service: 46,189,226
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145

3. United States

Active personnel: 1,328,000
Reserves: 799,500
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 2,127,500
Total population: 341,963,408
Fit-for-service: 124,816,644
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145

2. India

Active personnel: 1,455,550
Reserves: 1,155,000
Paramilitary forces: 2,527,000
Total military personnel: 5,137,550
Total population: 1,409,128,296
Fit-for-service: 522,786,598
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – #4 out of 145

1. China

Active personnel: 2,035,000
Reserves: 510,000
Paramilitary forces: 625,000
Total military personnel: 3,170,000
Total population: 1,415,043,270
Fit-for-service: 626,864,169
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145

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