The Countries With the Largest Active-Duty Militaries

Special Report

May 5, 2023 12:51 pm

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5. Russia
> Active-duty personnel: 830,900
> Reserves personnel: 250,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.0714 (#2 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 4,182 (7.85% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 141.7 million (#9 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $86.4 billion (3.86% of world military expenditures)

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4. North Korea
> Active-duty personnel: 1.2 million
> Reserves personnel: 600,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.5118 (#34 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 947 (1.78% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 26.1 million (#55 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: N/A

ALSO READ: These Are The Largest Air Forces In The World

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3. United States
> Active-duty personnel: 1.39 million
> Reserves personnel: 442,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.0712 (#1 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 13,300 (24.97% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 339.7 million (#3 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $876.9 billion (39.15% of world military expenditures)

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2. India
> Active-duty personnel: 1.45 million
> Reserves personnel: 1.155 million
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.1025 (#4 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 2,210 (4.15% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 1.399 billion (#2 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $81.4 billion (3.63% of world military expenditures)

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1. China
> Active-duty personnel: 2.0 million
> Reserves personnel: 510,000
> PowerIndex (military strength): 0.0722 (#3 most powerful out of 145)
> No. of military aircraft: 3,166 (5.94% of the world military aircraft)
> Population, 2023: 1.413 billion (#1 largest out of 237 countries)
> Military expenditure, 2022: $292.0 billion (13.03% of world military expenditures)

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