Special Report
The Countries With the Largest Active-Duty Militaries
May 5, 2023 12:51 pm
Source: Photo by Abid Katib / Getty Images
20. Saudi Arabia
> Active-duty personnel: 225,000
> Reserves personnel: N/A
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.3626 (#22 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 897 (1.68% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 35.9 million (#42 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $75.0 billion (3.35% of world military expenditures)
Source: ziggy_mars / iStock via Getty Images
19. Japan
> Active-duty personnel: 240,000
> Reserves personnel: 55,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.1711 (#8 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 1,451 (2.72% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 123.7 million (#11 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $46.0 billion (2.05% of world military expenditures)
Source: ertyo5 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
18. Sri Lanka
> Active-duty personnel: 250,000
> Reserves personnel: 5,500
> PowerIndex (military strength): 1.2478 (#71 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 86 (0.16% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 23.3 million (#58 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $1.1 billion (0.05% of world military expenditures)
Source: Azael Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
17. Mexico
> Active-duty personnel: 250,000
> Reserves personnel: 65,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.4687 (#31 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 468 (0.88% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 129.9 million (#10 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $8.5 billion (0.38% of world military expenditures)
Source: Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
16. Thailand
> Active-duty personnel: 350,000
> Reserves personnel: 100,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.3738 (#24 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 488 (0.92% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 69.8 million (#20 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $5.7 billion (0.26% of world military expenditures)
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