Even The Best-Funded Military in Africa Only Has 3% of the US Budget

Military

Published: June 13, 2025 10:14 am

Key Points

Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa have some of the largest military budgets on the African continent
The military budgets of all African countries does not amount to what the US spends on its military annually
Despite this, a few African countries rank fairly high on the world stage in terms of their military strength
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Across the African continent, rising defense budgets are potentially signaling a shifting landscape in military strategy and even regional influence. Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are pushing billions towards expanding and modernizing their armed forces, but these defense budgets still pale in comparison to that of the United States. While some of these African countries rank fairly high in terms of military strength on a global level, their collective defense budgets don’t even add up to what the US military is funding on an annual basis. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the military budgets of African countries.

To determine the African 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.

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

Why Are We Covering This?

Africa map of Portuguese discoveries and colony conquests made of marble stone in Belem district of Lisbon, Portugal.

Understanding the military dynamics of Africa is important due to the continent’s strategic geopolitical significance. The continent is known for some instability, and military power is one way of ensuring stability both political and economical. Many of these African nations are growing rapidly and the continued stability of this region is crucial.

38. Central African Republic

Exercise Kwanza Angola 06-2010 (9) by US Army Africa

Exercise Kwanza Angola 06-2010 (9) (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for the Central African Republic’s 11,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 5.651 million.

37. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Burkina Faso’s 16,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 23.04 million.

36. Benin

Africa Endeavor 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for Benin’s 4,750 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 14.70 million.

35. Madagascar

Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march. by Anne & David (Use Albums)

Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march. (PDM 1.0) by Anne & David (Use Albums)

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

All of these finances go to pay for Madagascar’s 21,600 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 29.45 million.

34. Somalia

Close up to a Somalia political map with country frontiers and most importants cities

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

All of these finances go to pay for Somalia’s 17,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 13.02 million.

33. 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

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

All of these finances go to pay for South Sudan’s 185,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 12.70 million.

32. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Eritrea’s 250,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 6.344 million.

31. Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone and Brig. Gen. Kabia: A progressive voice for African military women - ALFS 2010 by US Army Africa

Sierra Leone and Brig. Gen. Kabia: A progressive voice for African military women - ALFS 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for Sierra Leone’s 13,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 9.121 million.

30. Mauritania

Mauritanian troops stage borde... by Magharebia

Mauritanian troops stage borde... (CC BY 2.0) by Magharebia

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

All of these finances go to pay for Mauritania’s 102,540 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 4.328 million.

29. Gabon

Gabon military (CC BY 2.0) 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

All of these finances go to pay for Gabon’s 7,300 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 2.455 million.

28. Republic of the Congo

U.S. Army Africa assists with ... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

U.S. Army Africa assists with ... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for the Republic of the Congo’s 11,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 6.098 million.

27. Ghana

Ghana+military+aircraft | UGANDA ADAPT 2010

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

All of these finances go to pay for Ghana’s 15,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 34.59 million.

26. Niger

Army partners with Republic of... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Army partners with Republic of... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for Niger’s 30,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 26.34 million.

25. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Sudan’s 194,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 50.47 million.

24. Liberia

Liberian delegation visits Fort Benning - 090806 by US Army Africa

Liberian delegation visits Fort Benning - 090806 (CC BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

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

All of these finances go to pay for Liberia’s 7,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 5.437 million.

23. 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

All of these finances go to pay for Namibia’s 18,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 2.804 million.

22. Chad

Military defense budget: $381,350,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $211,591,000
Purchasing power parity: $32,446,000,000
External debt: $2,038,000,000
Total military aircraft: 40
Total military vehicles: 3,316
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8712 – #84 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Chad’s 38,250 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 19.09 million.

21. Zambia

Military defense budget: $394,240,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $2,861,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $76,493,000,000
External debt: $13,200,000,000
Total military aircraft: 77
Total military vehicles: 424
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.3411 – #109 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Zambia’s 16,350 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 20.80 million.

20. Mozambique

Military defense budget: $412,400,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,515,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $50,631,000,000
External debt: $12,100,000,000
Total military aircraft: 22
Total military vehicles: 872
Total naval vessels: 33
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9265 – #89 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Mozambique’s 14,200 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 33.35 million.

19. Senegal

military (CC BY 2.0) by Jeff Attaway

Military defense budget: $465,150,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $889,295,000
Purchasing power parity: $77,382,000,000
External debt: $11,326,000,000
Total military aircraft: 40
Total military vehicles: 1,740
Total naval vessels: 4
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8116 – #125 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Senegal’s 17,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 18.85 million.

18. Botswana

Botswana Defence Force, U.S. conducts joint military exercise by US Army Africa

Botswana Defence Force, U.S. conducts joint military exercise (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Military defense budget: $465,600,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $4,756,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $46,742,000,000
External debt: $1,853,500,000
Total military aircraft: 45
Total military vehicles: 1,224
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.7509 – #122 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Botswana’s 21,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 2.451 million.

17. Zimbabwe

Military defense budget: $530,800,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $115,530,000
Purchasing power parity: $58,583,000,000
External debt: $11,000,000,000
Total military aircraft: 95
Total military vehicles: 828
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.3863 – #111 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Zimbabwe’s 50,800 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 17.15 million.

16. Cameroon

Military defense budget: $554,952,283
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,754,093,000
Purchasing power parity: $138,925,000,000
External debt: $9,506,000,000
Total military aircraft: 35
Total military vehicles: 430
Total naval vessels: 51
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0501 – #93 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Cameroon’s 52,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 30.97 million.

15. Mali

Military defense budget: $650,386,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $647,800,000
Purchasing power parity: $57,235,000,000
External debt: $4,057,500,000
Total military aircraft: 43
Total military vehicles: 570
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2379 – #104 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Mali’s 44,800 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 21.99 million.

14. Ivory Coast

Malawi Defence Force receives ... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Malawi Defence Force receives ... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Military defense budget: $669,600,935
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $7,583,484,000
Purchasing power parity: $202,758,000,000
External debt: $19,311,500,000
Total military aircraft: 19
Total military vehicles: 656
Total naval vessels: 3
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1796 – #102 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Ivory Coast’s 27,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 29.98 million.

13. Democratic Republic of Congo

MEDFLAG 2010, Kinshasa, Democr... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

MEDFLAG 2010, Kinshasa, Democr... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Military defense budget: $796,560,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,898,125,000
Purchasing power parity: $154,012,000,000
External debt: $4,994,000,000
Total military aircraft: 46
Total military vehicles: 916
Total naval vessels: 16
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3111 – #66 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Democratic Republic of Congo’s 207,580 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 115.40 million.

12. Uganda

Uganda+military | Ugandan military police train for future AMISOM mission

Military defense budget: $985,400,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,506,500,000
Purchasing power parity: $135,668,000,000
External debt: $11,818,000,000
Total military aircraft: 51
Total military vehicles: 3,862
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4767 – #114 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Uganda’s 55,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 49.28 million.

11. Angola

Military defense budget: $1,101,360,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $13,942,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $265,868,000,000
External debt: $45,774,500,000
Total military aircraft: 298
Total military vehicles: 5,500
Total naval vessels: 31
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0961 – #56 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Angola’s 117,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 37.20 million.

10. Kenya

Military defense budget: $1,307,383,850
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $7,342,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $314,063,000,000
External debt: $30,514,500,000
Total military aircraft: 156
Total military vehicles: 4,128
Total naval vessels: 23
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8135 – #83 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Kenya’s 75,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 58.25 million.

9. Tunisia

Military defense budget: $1,400,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $9,240,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $153,637,000,000
External debt: $27,084,500,000
Total military aircraft: 154
Total military vehicles: 7,913
Total naval vessels: 58
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9538 – #90 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Tunisia’s 101,800 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 12.05 million.

8. Tanzania

Military defense budget: $1,406,745,334
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $5,693,050,000
Purchasing power parity: $234,050,000,000
External debt: $18,983,500,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total military vehicles: 1,072
Total naval vessels: 12
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0416 – #92 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Tanzania’s 113,500 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 67.46 million.

7. Ethiopia

Military defense budget: $2,097,575,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $3,131,288,000
Purchasing power parity: $354,604,000,000
External debt: $25,761,000,000
Total military aircraft: 103
Total military vehicles: 7,256
Total naval vessels: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9305 – #52 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Ethiopia’s 162,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 118.55 million.

6. South Africa

Military defense budget: $2,266,800,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $62,492,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $862,981,000,000
External debt: $58,773,000,000
Total military aircraft: 182
Total military vehicles: 18,692
Total naval vessels: 49
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6889 – #40 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for South Africa’s 150,585 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 60.44 million.

5. Libya

Military defense budget: $3,060,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $92,427,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $121,951,000,000
External debt: $3,322,000,000
Total military aircraft: 143
Total military vehicles: 1,816
Total naval vessels: 5
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4449 – #73 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Libya’s 132,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 7.361 million.

4. Nigeria

Military defense budget: $3,160,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $41,349,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,275,000,000,000
External debt: $32,455,500,000
Total military aircraft: 163
Total military vehicles: 8,962
Total naval vessels: 133
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5771 – #31 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Nigeria’s 280,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 236.75 million.

3. Egypt

Military defense budget: $5,879,500,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $33,070,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $1,912,000,000,000
External debt: $103,750,000,000
Total military aircraft: 1,093
Total military vehicles: 41,012
Total naval vessels: 150
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Egypt’s 1,220,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 111.25 million.

2. Morocco

Military defense budget: $13,400,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $36,328,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $337,480,000,000
External debt: $45,645,000,000
Total military aircraft: 260
Total military vehicles: 7,877
Total naval vessels: 111
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1273 – #59 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Morocco’s 395,800 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 37.39 million.

1. Algeria

Military defense budget: $25,000,000,000
Foreign exchange and gold reserves: $81,217,000,000
Purchasing power parity: $699,947,000,000
External debt: $3,335,624,000
Total military aircraft: 608
Total military vehicles: 26,000
Total naval vessels: 110
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #20 out of 145

All of these finances go to pay for Algeria’s 610,000 total military personnel. It also has a total population of 47.02 million.

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