Which Countries Have the Biggest Paramilitary Forces? See the Rankings

Military

Published: April 30, 2025 9:10 am

In Sudan on April 15, 2025, a paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has declared the formation of a rival government. This is after two years of fighting a deadly civil war. The group has been accused of war crimes, including executing 31 people, including children. The BBC reports that over 400 people have been killed in recent attacks. The war between the RSF and the Sudanese government has resulted in a humanitarian crisis for the region. Although the actions of the RSF highlight the danger of unchecked paramilitary power, there are other parts of the world where governments rely on paramilitaries to increase their overall military strength.

Indeed, in some countries, paramilitary forces sometimes play an important role in national security systems. This role varies based on the country. For example, in Colombia, the paramilitary may target drug trafficking and gangs. In India, paramilitaries help manage border security and maintain internal security. (Also see the world’s strongest militaries.) 24/7 Wall St. wanted to explore which countries have the strongest paramilitary forces.

24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the most paramilitary personnel in the world by reviewing 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 paramilitary personnel, including information regarding total personnel, active personnel, reserves, total population, fit-for-service, and overall military strength score.

(This article was updated on April 30, 2025, to reflect recent news regarding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in Sudan.)

Why Are We Covering This 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.

The current civil war in the Sudan highlights the dangers of unchecked paramilitary groups. Key players like the United States, China, and Russia are considered the strongest military powers in the world, yet there are a number of 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 paramilitary forces in the world:

30. Spain

Paramilitary forces: 78,470
Active personnel: 133,282
Reserves: 15,150
Total military personnel: 226,902
Total population: 47,280,433
Fit-for-service: 17,635,602
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145

29. Panama

Paramilitary forces: 80,000
Active personnel: 0
Reserves: 0
Total military personnel: 80,000
Total population: 4,470,241
Fit-for-service: 1,206,965
Military strength score and world rank: 3.6575 – #136 out of 145

28. Afghanistan

A U.S. Army soldier fires a Barrett M82A1 rifle on a firing range in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Paramilitary forces: 80,000
Active personnel: 0
Reserves: 0
Total military personnel: 80,000
Total population: 40,121,552
Fit-for-service: 8,826,741
Military strength score and world rank: 2.6442 – #118 out of 145

27. Libya

Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Active personnel: 32,000
Reserves: 0
Total military personnel: 132,000
Total population: 7,361,263
Fit-for-service: 3,290,485
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4449 – #73 out of 145

26. Iraq

Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Active personnel: 193,000
Reserves: 0
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

25. Malaysia

Malaysia Navy (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Rizuan

Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Active personnel: 113,000
Reserves: 51,600
Total military personnel: 264,600
Total population: 34,564,810
Fit-for-service: 13,480,276
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7429 – #42 out of 145

24. North Korea

Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Active personnel: 1,320,000
Reserves: 560,000
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

23. 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

Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Active personnel: 900,000
Reserves: 1,200,000
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

22. Italy

Paramilitary forces: 105,000
Active personnel: 165,500
Reserves: 18,500
Total military personnel: 289,000
Total population: 60,964,931
Fit-for-service: 22,191,235
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145

21. Laos

Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Active personnel: 100,000
Reserves: 30,000
Total military personnel: 250,000
Total population: 7,953,556
Fit-for-service: 2,521,277
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2663 – #106 out of 145

20. Mexico

Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Active personnel: 412,000
Reserves: 98,655
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

19. 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

Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Active personnel: 600,000
Reserves: 3,100,000
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

18. Colombia

Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Active personnel: 293,200
Reserves: 35,000
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

17. Saudi Arabia

Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Active personnel: 257,000
Reserves: 0
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

16. Algeria

Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Active personnel: 325,000
Reserves: 135,000
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

15. Turkey

Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Active personnel: 355,200
Reserves: 378,700
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

14. France

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

Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Active personnel: 200,000
Reserves: 26,000
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

13. Brazil

Paramilitary forces: 200,000
Active personnel: 360,000
Reserves: 340,000
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

12. Venezuela

Paramilitary forces: 220,000
Active personnel: 109,000
Reserves: 8,000
Total military personnel: 337,000
Total population: 31,250,306
Fit-for-service: 12,812,625
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8882 – #50 out of 145

11. Iran

Paramilitary forces: 220,000
Active personnel: 610,000
Reserves: 350,000
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

10. Vietnam

Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Active personnel: 600,000
Reserves: 5,000,000
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

9. Indonesia

Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Active personnel: 400,000
Reserves: 400,000
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

8. 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

Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Active personnel: 1,320,000
Reserves: 2,000,000
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

7. Egypt

Paramilitary forces: 300,000
Active personnel: 440,000
Reserves: 480,000
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

6. Pakistan

Pakistan military tank by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

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

Paramilitary forces: 500,000
Active personnel: 654,000
Reserves: 550,000
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

5. Serbia

Paramilitary forces: 600,000
Active personnel: 25,000
Reserves: 2,000
Total military personnel: 627,000
Total population: 6,652,212
Fit-for-service: 2,574,406
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2576 – #63 out of 145

4. China

Flag of China on military uniform. Army, troops, soldiers. Collage.

Paramilitary forces: 625,000
Active personnel: 2,035,000
Reserves: 510,000
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

3. Cuba

Paramilitary forces: 1,145,000
Active personnel: 45,500
Reserves: 40,000
Total military personnel: 1,230,500
Total population: 10,966,038
Fit-for-service: 4,737,328
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3286 – #67 out of 145

2. India

Paramilitary forces: 2,527,000
Active personnel: 1,455,550
Reserves: 1,155,000
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. Bangladesh

Paramilitary forces: 6,800,000
Active personnel: 163,000
Reserves: 0
Total military personnel: 6,963,000
Total population: 168,697,184
Fit-for-service: 66,129,296
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6062 – #35 out of 145

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