India’s 5.1 M Troops are Triple Pakistan’s 1.7 M, And They Spend 3x as Much Per Soldier

By Chris Lange Published May 8, 9:23AM EDT

Key Points

Some of the most heavily funded militaries in the world come from the Asian continent
China’s push for naval expansion and Russia’s investment in fifth-generation aircraft are some examples of what this military funding is going towards
The continued investment in these militaries ensures their dominance as they compete for regional hegemony
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India’s 5.1 M Troops are Triple Pakistan’s 1.7 M, And They Spend 3x as Much Per Soldier — © China News 4 Ways How Chinas Military Stacks Up Against the US (CC BY 2.0) by Times Asi

Asia is home to some of the world’s most heavily funded militaries, reflecting the region’s rising geopolitical aspirations. Whether it is China’s growing investment in its naval forces, or Russia’s push into fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the Asian continent is brimming with military power. Most of this power comes from the continued investment by these countries as they vie for regional dominance. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is exploring the Asian countries with the largest defense budgets.

To determine the Asian countries with the largest military defense budgets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 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.

Update: On May 7th tensions between India and Pakistan escalated at the disputed Kashmir border. The two nuclear power nations conducted a dog fight with 125 air craft that saw the downing of 5 Indian fighter jets. India has targeted Pakistani air defense systems, while Pakistan claims to have downed 25 Indian munition drones. The situation is still developing.

Here is a look at the countries with the largest defense budgets in Asia:

Why Are We Covering This?

Asia map in satellite picture, view of China, Korea, India, Malaysia, Taiwan from space. Orbit photo of Earth, globe at night. Dark seas and Pacific ocean. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

Historically, Asia has been shaped by internal conflicts, border disputes, and great power competition. Understanding the military dynamics of Asia is important considering the region’s complex geopolitical landscape and its growing strategic significance. Today, its military forces play an important role in determining regional stability. As tensions rise over territorial claims and political influence, military power is the law of the land, from disputes in the South China Sea to the contested borders in South Asia.

45. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Bhutan’s 7,500 total military personnel, which is entirely composed of active personnel and no reserves. It also has a total population of 884,546.

44. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Laos’s 250,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 100,000 active personnel, 120,000 paramilitary forces, and 30,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 7.954 million.

43. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Mongolia’s 220,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 35,000 active personnel, 50,000 paramilitary forces, and 135,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 3.282 million.

42. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Kyrgyzstan’s 378,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 23,000 active personnel, 55,000 paramilitary forces, and 300,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 6.172 million.

41. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Afghanistan’s 80,000 total military personnel, which is composed entirely of paramilitary forces. It also has a total population of 40.12 million.

40. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Syria’s 270,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 170,000 active personnel, 50,000 paramilitary forces, and 50,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 23.87 million.

39. Nepal

Military defense budget: $409,100,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $12,456,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $144,310,000,000
External debt: $5,838,500,000
Total military aircraft: 15
Total military vehicles: 1,108
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8915 – #126 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Nepal’s 110,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 95,000 active personnel, 15,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 31.12 million.

38. Tajikistan

Military defense budget: $446,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $2,748,900,000
Purchasing power parity: $46,467,000,000
External debt: $7,150,000,000
Total military aircraft: 25
Total military vehicles: 1,240
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.3049 – #108 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Tajikistan’s 629,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 9,500 active personnel, 20,000 paramilitary forces, and 600,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 10.39 million.

37. Georgia

Military defense budget: $495,629,055
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,002,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $83,656,000,000
External debt: $13,488,000,000
Total military aircraft: 61
Total military vehicles: 3,392
Total naval vessels: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0695 – #94 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Georgia’s 207,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 55,000 active personnel, 0 paramilitary forces, and 152,500 reserves. It also has a total population of 4.901 million.

36. Lebanon

Military defense budget: $768,250,325
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $26,498,095,000
Purchasing power parity: $65,818,000,000
External debt: $36,928,000,000
Total military aircraft: 80
Total military vehicles: 4,538
Total naval vessels: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 2.5981 – #115 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Lebanon’s 160,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 60,000 active personnel, 65,000 paramilitary forces, and 35,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 5.364 million.

35. Yemen

Military defense budget: $810,375,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $923,361,750
Purchasing power parity: $67,003,300,000
External debt: $6,343,500,000
Total military aircraft: 84
Total military vehicles: 550
Total naval vessels: 33
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8901 – #85 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Yemen’s 86,700 total military personnel, which is composed of 66,700 active personnel, 20,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 32.14 million.

34. Cambodia

Military defense budget: $860,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $17,801,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $85,900,000,000
External debt: $13,200,000,000
Total military aircraft: 25
Total military vehicles: 3,627
Total naval vessels: 20
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0752 – #95 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Cambodia’s 231,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 221,000 active personnel, 10,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 17.06 million.

33. Turkmenistan

Military defense budget: $1,078,020,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $23,415,400,000
Purchasing power parity: $94,790,000,000
External debt: $2,134,500,000
Total military aircraft: 91
Total military vehicles: 5,016
Total naval vessels: 16
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6512 – #77 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Turkmenistan’s 40,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 36,500 active personnel, 3,500 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 5.744 million.

32. Sri Lanka

Military defense budget: $1,265,400,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,450,700,000
Purchasing power parity: $287,132,000,000
External debt: $46,409,500,000
Total military aircraft: 85
Total military vehicles: 3,190
Total naval vessels: 270
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3941 – #69 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Sri Lanka’s 436,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 346,000 active personnel and 90,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 21.98 million.

31. Bahrain

Military defense budget: $1,597,200,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,118,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $85,491,000,000
External debt: $49,500,000,000
Total military aircraft: 132
Total military vehicles: 2,764
Total naval vessels: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 1.7448 – #81 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Bahrain’s 129,900 total military personnel, which is composed of 18,400 active personnel, 1,500 paramilitary forces, and 110,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 1.567 million.

30. Armenia

Military defense budget: $1,700,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,607,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $57,728,000,000
External debt: $9,014,000,000
Total military aircraft: 71
Total military vehicles: 1,306
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0373 – #91 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Armenia’s 272,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 57,500 active personnel, 5,000 paramilitary forces, and 210,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 2.977 million.

29. Kazakhstan

Military defense budget: $2,048,700,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $35,965,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $705,520,000,000
External debt: $91,321,500,000
Total military aircraft: 198
Total military vehicles: 7,736
Total naval vessels: 26
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1016 – #57 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Kazakhstan’s 300,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 110,000 active personnel, 55,000 paramilitary forces, and 135,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 20.26 million.

28. United Arab Emirates

Military defense budget: $2,212,360,382
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $189,491,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $719,733,000,000
External debt: $264,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 551
Total military vehicles: 8,707
Total naval vessels: 181
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0186 – #54 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for United Arab Emirates’s 207,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 65,000 active personnel, 12,000 paramilitary forces, and 130,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 10.03 million.

27. Jordan

Military defense budget: $2,500,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $15,715,600,000
Purchasing power parity: $106,806,000,000
External debt: $25,646,500,000
Total military aircraft: 274
Total military vehicles: 16,624
Total naval vessels: 27
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6139 – #76 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Jordan’s 200,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 100,500 active personnel, 35,000 paramilitary forces, and 65,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 11.17 million.

26. Uzbekistan

Military defense budget: $2,803,500,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $34,558,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $319,174,000,000
External debt: $19,652,500,000
Total military aircraft: 192
Total military vehicles: 2,970
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1121 – #58 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Uzbekistan’s 68,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 48,000 active personnel, 20,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 36.52 million.

25. Myanmar

Military defense budget: $2,948,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $8,590,400,000
Purchasing power parity: $290,507,000,000
External debt: $7,253,400,000
Total military aircraft: 317
Total military vehicles: 5,980
Total naval vessels: 232
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6735 – #37 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Myanmar’s 225,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 150,000 active personnel, 55,000 paramilitary forces, and 20,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 57.53 million.

24. Bangladesh

Military defense budget: $4,374,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $21,860,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,413,000,000,000
External debt: $51,965,000,000
Total military aircraft: 214
Total military vehicles: 11,584
Total naval vessels: 118
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6062 – #35 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Bangladesh’s 6,963,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 163,000 active personnel, 6,800,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 168.70 million.

23. Philippines

Military defense budget: $4,380,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $103,742,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,138,000,000,000
External debt: $90,200,000,000
Total military aircraft: 202
Total military vehicles: 11,878
Total naval vessels: 113
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6987 – #41 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for the Philippines’ 1,385,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 150,000 active personnel, 35,000 paramilitary forces, and 1,200,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 118.28 million.

22. North Korea

Military defense budget: $4,736,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,500,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $72,000,000,000
External debt: $5,500,000,000
Total military aircraft: 861
Total military vehicles: 18,288
Total naval vessels: 207
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6016 – #34 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for North Korea’s 1,980,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 1,320,000 active personnel, 100,000 paramilitary forces, and 560,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 26.30 million.

21. Malaysia

Military defense budget: $4,800,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $113,438,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,152,000,000,000
External debt: $247,500,000,000
Total military aircraft: 135
Total military vehicles: 13,506
Total naval vessels: 100
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7429 – #42 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Malaysia’s 264,600 total military personnel, which is composed of 113,000 active personnel, 100,000 paramilitary forces, and 51,600 reserves. It also has a total population of 34.56 million.

20. Azerbaijan

Military defense budget: $5,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $13,749,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $215,896,000,000
External debt: $16,159,500,000
Total military aircraft: 154
Total military vehicles: 7,642
Total naval vessels: 38
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2531 – #60 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Azerbaijan’s 441,400 total military personnel, which is composed of 126,400 active personnel, 15,000 paramilitary forces, and 300,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 10.65 million.

19. Thailand

Military defense budget: $5,887,883,500
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $224,470,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,516,000,000,000
External debt: $102,694,000,000
Total military aircraft: 493
Total military vehicles: 16,935
Total naval vessels: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4536 – #26 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Thailand’s 585,850 total military personnel, which is composed of 360,850 active personnel, 25,000 paramilitary forces, and 200,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 69.92 million.

18. Kuwait

Military defense budget: $6,950,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $52,619,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $219,060,000,000
External debt: $55,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 128
Total military vehicles: 5,636
Total naval vessels: 123
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6982 – #79 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Kuwait’s 103,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 72,000 active personnel, 7,500 paramilitary forces, and 24,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 3.138 million.

17. Pakistan

Military defense budget: $7,640,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $13,730,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,347,000,000,000
External debt: $92,426,000,000
Total military aircraft: 1,399
Total military vehicles: 17,516
Total naval vessels: 121
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Pakistan’s 1,704,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 654,000 active personnel, 500,000 paramilitary forces, and 550,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 252.36 million.

16. Iraq

Military defense budget: $7,923,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $112,233,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $572,939,000,000
External debt: $45,032,500,000
Total military aircraft: 391
Total military vehicles: 37,288
Total naval vessels: 68
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – #43 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Iraq’s 293,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 193,000 active personnel, 100,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 42.08 million.

15. Oman

Military defense budget: $8,200,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $17,455,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $185,960,000,000
External debt: $50,897,000,000
Total military aircraft: 128
Total military vehicles: 4,084
Total naval vessels: 22
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8047 – #82 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Oman’s 152,600 total military personnel, which is composed of 42,600 active personnel, 10,000 paramilitary forces, and 100,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 3.902 million.

14. Vietnam

The flag of Vietnam fluttering on ship in the Halong Bay at the Gulf of Tonkin of the South China Sea, Vietnam.

Military defense budget: $8,594,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $97,955,500,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,354,000,000,000
External debt: $110,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 246
Total military vehicles: 11,912
Total naval vessels: 110
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #24 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Vietnam’s 5,850,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 600,000 active personnel, 250,000 paramilitary forces, and 5,000,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 105.76 million.

13. Qatar

Military defense budget: $9,432,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $51,539,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $304,973,000,000
External debt: $187,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 251
Total military vehicles: 5,024
Total naval vessels: 115
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4307 – #72 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Qatar’s 87,050 total military personnel, which is composed of 66,550 active personnel, 5,500 paramilitary forces, and 15,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 2.552 million.

12. Indonesia

Military defense budget: $10,600,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $146,359,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $3,906,000,000,000
External debt: $440,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 459
Total military vehicles: 20,440
Total naval vessels: 331
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2557 – #13 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Indonesia’s 1,050,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 400,000 active personnel, 250,000 paramilitary forces, and 400,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 281.56 million.

11. Singapore

Military defense budget: $15,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $359,835,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $754,758,000,000
External debt: $1,713,410,600,000
Total military aircraft: 230
Total military vehicles: 8,998
Total naval vessels: 50
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5271 – #29 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Singapore’s 315,500 total military personnel, which is composed of 51,000 active personnel, 12,000 paramilitary forces, and 252,500 reserves. It also has a total population of 6.028 million.

10. Iran

Military defense budget: $15,450,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $120,600,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,440,000,000,000
External debt: $4,134,926,000
Total military aircraft: 551
Total military vehicles: 65,825
Total naval vessels: 107
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Iran’s 1,180,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 610,000 active personnel, 220,000 paramilitary forces, and 350,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 88.39 million.

9. Taiwan

Military defense budget: $19,740,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $492,635,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,257,300,000,000
External debt: $209,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 761
Total military vehicles: 19,921
Total naval vessels: 97
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3988 – #23 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Taiwan’s 2,580,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 215,000 active personnel, 55,000 paramilitary forces, and 2,310,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 23.60 million.

8. Israel

Military defense budget: $30,500,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $204,661,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $471,030,000,000
External debt: $148,500,000,000
Total military aircraft: 611
Total military vehicles: 35,985
Total naval vessels: 62
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2661 – #15 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Israel’s 670,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 170,000 active personnel, 35,000 paramilitary forces, and 465,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 9.403 million.

7. South Korea

Military defense budget: $46,300,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $420,930,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $2,615,000,000,000
External debt: $503,519,500,000
Total military aircraft: 1,592
Total military vehicles: 58,880
Total naval vessels: 227
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for South Korea’s 3,820,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 600,000 active personnel, 120,000 paramilitary forces, and 3,100,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 52.08 million.

6. Turkey

Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $140,858,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $2,936,000,000,000
External debt: $294,441,000,000
Total military aircraft: 1,083
Total military vehicles: 61,173
Total naval vessels: 182
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Turkey’s 883,900 total military personnel, which is composed of 355,200 active personnel, 150,000 paramilitary forces, and 378,700 reserves. It also has a total population of 84.12 million.

5. Japan

Military defense budget: $57,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $1,295,000,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $5,761,000,000,000
External debt: $4,679,698,100,000
Total military aircraft: 1,443
Total military vehicles: 31,964
Total naval vessels: 159
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1839 – #7 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Japan’s 328,150 total military personnel, which is composed of 247,150 active personnel, 25,000 paramilitary forces, and 56,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 123.2 million.

4. Saudi Arabia

Military defense budget: $74,760,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $457,949,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,831,000,000,000
External debt: $225,610,000,000
Total military aircraft: 917
Total military vehicles: 19,040
Total naval vessels: 32
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – #25 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Saudi Arabia’s 407,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 257,000 active personnel, 150,000 paramilitary forces, and no reserves. It also has a total population of 36.54 million.

3. India

Military defense budget: $75,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $627,793,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $13,104,000,000,000
External debt: $371,020,500,000
Total military aircraft: 2,229
Total military vehicles: 148,594
Total naval vessels: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – #4 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for India’s 5,137,550 total military personnel, which is composed of 1,455,550 active personnel, 2,527,000 paramilitary forces, and 1,155,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 1.409 billion.

2. Russia

Military defense budget: $126,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $597,217,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $5,816,000,000,000
External debt: $317,650,500,000
Total military aircraft: 4,292
Total military vehicles: 131,527
Total naval vessels: 419
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Russia’s 3,570,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 1,320,000 active personnel, 250,000 paramilitary forces, and 2,000,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 140.82 million.

1. China

Military defense budget: $266,850,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,450,000,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $31,227,000,000,000
External debt: $1,218,458,500,000
Total military aircraft: 3,309
Total military vehicles: 144,017
Total naval vessels: 754
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for China’s 3,170,000 total military personnel, which is composed of 2,035,000 active personnel, 625,000 paramilitary forces, and 510,000 reserves. It also has a total population of 1.415 billion.

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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Here is a look at the countries with the largest defense budgets in Asia:

Why Are We Covering This?

45. Bhutan

44. Laos

43. Mongolia

42. Kyrgyzstan

41. Afghanistan

40. Syria

39. Nepal

38. Tajikistan

37. Georgia

36. Lebanon

35. Yemen

34. Cambodia

33. Turkmenistan

32. Sri Lanka

31. Bahrain

30. Armenia

29. Kazakhstan

28. United Arab Emirates

27. Jordan

26. Uzbekistan

25. Myanmar

24. Bangladesh

23. Philippines

22. North Korea

21. Malaysia

20. Azerbaijan

19. Thailand

18. Kuwait

17. Pakistan

16. Iraq

15. Oman

14. Vietnam

13. Qatar

12. Indonesia

11. Singapore

10. Iran

9. Taiwan

8. Israel

7. South Korea

6. Turkey

5. Japan

4. Saudi Arabia

3. India

2. Russia

1. China

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