China’s Expanding Navy Outpaces Every Naval Power in the World
Over the past few decades China’s navy has undergone a huge transformation, building up from a modest coastal defense force into the largest naval power on Earth. With more than 750 warships and submarines at its disposal, China’s fleet has…
Over the past few decades China’s navy has undergone a huge transformation, building up from a modest coastal defense force into the largest naval power on Earth. With more than 750 warships and submarines at its disposal, China’s fleet has not only surpassed its long-standing rival Russia, but it has also eclipsed the U.S. Navy in raw numbers. This rapid expansion has positioned China as a premier naval power, ultimately shifting the strategic balance across the world’s oceans.
To identify the countries with the largest naval fleets in 2025, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Countries were ranked on the total number of military vessels in their fleet. We included supplemental information regarding submarines, aircraft carriers, helicopter carriers, destroyers, corvettes, patrol vessels, and frigates.
Here is a look at the countries with the largest naval fleets in the world:
Why Are We Covering This?
A strong navy not only protects a nation’s coastlines but it is also capable of projecting power on the global stage. For most countries this means that their navies serve to protect trade routes, aid in logistics, and help with humanitarian efforts or disaster relief. But in a more militaristic sense, naval fleet size can shift the balance in any given conflict or deter potential aggression. By tracking which nations have the largest fleets, we gain a clearer picture of which nations hold the strategic upper hand at sea.
30. Philippines
- Total naval vessels: 113
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 1
- Frigates: 2
- Patrol vessels: 58
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
29. Qatar
- Total naval vessels: 115
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 4
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 105
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
28. Bangladesh
- Total naval vessels: 118
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 2
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 6
- Frigates: 7
- Patrol vessels: 61
- Mine warfare vessels: 5
27. Pakistan
- Total naval vessels: 121
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 8
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 9
- Frigates: 9
- Patrol vessels: 69
- Mine warfare vessels: 3
26. Kuwait
- Total naval vessels: 123
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 106
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
25. France
- Total naval vessels: 129
- Aircraft carriers: 1
- Helicopter carriers: 3
- Submarines: 9
- Destroyers: 11
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 11
- Patrol vessels: 20
- Mine warfare vessels: 17
24. Chile
- Total naval vessels: 130
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 4
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 8
- Patrol vessels: 40
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
23. Nigeria
- Total naval vessels: 133
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 1
- Patrol vessels: 109
- Mine warfare vessels: 2
22. Egypt
- Total naval vessels: 150
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 2
- Submarines: 8
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 7
- Frigates: 13
- Patrol vessels: 62
- Mine warfare vessels: 17
21. Spain
- Total naval vessels: 152
- Aircraft carriers: 1
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 2
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 11
- Patrol vessels: 22
- Mine warfare vessels: 6
20. Japan
- Total naval vessels: 159
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 4
- Submarines: 24
- Destroyers: 42
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 6
- Patrol vessels: 6
- Mine warfare vessels: 22
19. Mexico
- Total naval vessels: 167
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 5
- Corvettes: 3
- Frigates: 1
- Patrol vessels: 140
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
18. United Arab Emirates
- Total naval vessels: 181
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 11
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 34
- Mine warfare vessels: 2
17. Turkey
- Total naval vessels: 182
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 1
- Submarines: 13
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 9
- Frigates: 17
- Patrol vessels: 41
- Mine warfare vessels: 11
16. Greece
- Total naval vessels: 192
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 10
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 13
- Patrol vessels: 39
- Mine warfare vessels: 7
15. Portugal
- Total naval vessels: 194
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 2
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 2
- Frigates: 5
- Patrol vessels: 20
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
14. Italy
- Total naval vessels: 196
- Aircraft carriers: 2
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 8
- Destroyers: 3
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 10
- Patrol vessels: 19
- Mine warfare vessels: 10
13. North Korea
- Total naval vessels: 207
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 13
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 4
- Frigates: 2
- Patrol vessels: 155
- Mine warfare vessels: 1
12. South Korea
- Total naval vessels: 227
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 2
- Submarines: 22
- Destroyers: 13
- Corvettes: 5
- Frigates: 17
- Patrol vessels: 35
- Mine warfare vessels: 14
11. Myanmar
- Total naval vessels: 232
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 3
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 3
- Frigates: 6
- Patrol vessels: 146
- Mine warfare vessels: 2
10. Colombia
- Total naval vessels: 233
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 4
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 2
- Frigates: 7
- Patrol vessels: 217
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
9. Finland
- Total naval vessels: 264
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 8
- Mine warfare vessels: 18
8. Sri Lanka
- Total naval vessels: 270
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 0
- Frigates: 5
- Patrol vessels: 59
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
7. Thailand
- Total naval vessels: 293
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 1
- Submarines: 0
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 6
- Frigates: 7
- Patrol vessels: 49
- Mine warfare vessels: 5
6. India
- Total naval vessels: 293
- Aircraft carriers: 2
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 18
- Destroyers: 13
- Corvettes: 18
- Frigates: 14
- Patrol vessels: 135
- Mine warfare vessels: 0
5. Sweden
- Total naval vessels: 308
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 4
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 7
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 179
- Mine warfare vessels: 8
4. Indonesia
- Total naval vessels: 331
- Aircraft carriers: 0
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 4
- Destroyers: 0
- Corvettes: 25
- Frigates: 7
- Patrol vessels: 211
- Mine warfare vessels: 12
3. Russia
- Total naval vessels: 419
- Aircraft carriers: 1
- Helicopter carriers: 0
- Submarines: 63
- Destroyers: 10
- Corvettes: 83
- Frigates: 12
- Patrol vessels: 123
- Mine warfare vessels: 47
2. United States
- Total naval vessels: 440
- Aircraft carriers: 11
- Helicopter carriers: 9
- Submarines: 70
- Destroyers: 81
- Corvettes: 26
- Frigates: 0
- Patrol vessels: 0
- Mine warfare vessels: 8
1. China
- Total naval vessels: 754
- Aircraft carriers: 3
- Helicopter carriers: 4
- Submarines: 61
- Destroyers: 50
- Corvettes: 72
- Frigates: 47
- Patrol vessels: 150
- Mine warfare vessels: 36
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.
His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.
When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.
