It is said that the United States began its status as a world power on August 12, 1898, after agreeing to a cease-fire with Spain in the Spanish-American War. But it wasn’t until after World War II that its status was cemented and the U.S. still maintains its position as the foremost military force in the world. As reported by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, America maintains a network of over 750 military installations in approximately 80 countries and territories.
The U.S. possesses more than three times the number of overseas bases than all other nations combined. The annual cost of upkeeping these foreign bases is estimated to be around $55 billion, a financial burden shouldered by American taxpayers.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed military think-tank the Quincy Institute’s 2021 article Drawdown: Improving U.S. and Global Security Through Military Base Closures Abroad to determine the nations with the most American military bases We ranked the countries according to the number of active bases within each country. We did not include countries with less than four bases. All data is from the Quincy Institute.
The United States has bases on every continent, except Antarctica which per the Antarctic Treaty, effective June 1961, prohibits military activity in the area. The majority of facilities are in Asia and Europe, a relic of America’s involvement in World War II and responsibilities stemming from confronting communism during the Cold War. Bases have been added in Africa more recently, including Niger and Somalia. (Also see, the six European bases where the U.S. is storing nuclear bombs.)
Though the Department of Defense considers its installations as U.S. military facilities, many operate jointly with the host nation or through alliances such as NATO. There is growing debate among government officials over the need for so many American overseas facilities. Besides the cost, there are concerns that the bases are a lightning rod for hostility toward the United States and serve as a recruiting tool for militant groups. The Quincy Institute notes that foreign installations have made it easier for America to become involved in wars of choice. (Here are all NATO members ranked by military power.)
Here are the nations with the most American military bases.
33. Poland
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 4
- First US base opened: 2012
- US active-duty personnel in country: 226 – #30 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Lask, Powidz
32. Syria
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 4
- First US base opened: 2016
- US active-duty personnel in country: 900 – #18 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Al-Tanf 1, Dier Ezzour
31. Bulgaria
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 4
- First US base opened: 2005
- US active-duty personnel in country: 2,500 – #11 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Bezmer Air Base, Aitos Logistics Center
30. Spain
Source: ejercitoaire / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 4
- First US base opened: 1953
- US active-duty personnel in country: 3,353 – #9 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Moron AB, Naval Station Rota
29. N. Mariana Islands
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 5
- First US base opened: 1944
- US active-duty personnel in country: 45 – #51 out of 80
- Notable base(s): NAVBASE Guam Tinian
28. Somalia
Source: africom / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 5
- First US base opened: 2013
- US active-duty personnel in country: 71 – #46 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Bosasso, Camp Baledogle, Mogadishu
27. Oman
Source: Courtesy of Marlon Cureg via Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 1981
- US active-duty personnel in country: 25 – #56 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Masirah Island Mpt Site 1, Al Mussanah AB
26. The Bahamas
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 1966
- US active-duty personnel in country: 56 – #49 out of 80
- Notable base(s): AUTEC Main Base, AUTEC Big Wood Cay
25. Israel
Source: chris-yunker / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 1979
- US active-duty personnel in country: 127 – #40 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Haifa, Mashabim Air Base
24. Romania
Source: 7armyjmtc / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 2007
- US active-duty personnel in country: 165 – #36 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Smardan Training base, Cincu Training Base, Campia Turzii
23. Netherlands
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 1954
- US active-duty personnel in country: 641 – #22 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Eygelshoven Army Depot, Schinnen Emma Mine
22. Virgin Islands
Source: Courtesy of Virgin Islands National Guard via Facebook
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 1973
- US active-duty personnel in country: 787 – #20 out of 80
- Notable base(s): NG Bethlehem Military Compound, NG Sprat Hall
21. Iraq
Source: expertinfantry / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 6
- First US base opened: 2014
- US active-duty personnel in country: 2,500 – #11 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Al Asad AB, Anbar, Abu Ghraib, Camp Taji
20. Norway
Source: Stig Andersen / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 7
- First US base opened: 2018
- US active-duty personnel in country: 167 – #35 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Rygge
19. Australia
Source: FiledIMAGE / iStock via Getty Images
- Number of US military installations: 7
- First US base opened: 1963
- US active-duty personnel in country: 1,736 – #16 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Alice Springs, Robertson Barracks, Tindal Air Base
18. Niger
Source: SkySat / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 8
- First US base opened: 2012
- US active-duty personnel in country: 21 – #57 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Dirkou, Arlit
17. Philippines
Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 8
- First US base opened: 2002
- US active-duty personnel in country: 155 – #38 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Basa Air Base, Camp Navarro
16. Greece
Source: cne-cna-c6f / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 8
- First US base opened: 1969
- US active-duty personnel in country: 446 – #24 out of 80
- Notable base(s): NSA Souda Bay, NATO Ordnance Area
15. Kuwait
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 10
- First US base opened: 1991
- US active-duty personnel in country: 2,054 – #13 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Camp Arifjan, Camp Patriot, Camp Virginia
14. Panama
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 11
- First US base opened: 2007
- US active-duty personnel in country: 35 – #52 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Panama City Support Complex, North Coast Area Test Sites
13. Saudi Arabia
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 11
- First US base opened: 1951
- US active-duty personnel in country: 693 – #21 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Drone Base, Jeddah, Prince Sultan AB
12. Belgium
Source: Gtosti / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 11
- First US base opened: 1962
- US active-duty personnel in country: 1,869 – #14 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Brussels, Zutendaal, Chievres AB
11. Marshall Islands
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Army Garrison - Kwajalein Atoll via Facebook
- Number of US military installations: 12
- First US base opened: 1944
- US active-duty personnel in country: 96 – #43 out of 80
- Notable base(s): US Army Kwajalein Atoll, Meck Island
10. Bahrain
Source: navcent / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 12
- First US base opened: 1948
- US active-duty personnel in country: 4,603 – #8 out of 80
- Notable base(s): NSA Bahrain, Sheik Isa Air Base
9. Turkey
Source: Kayhan ERTUGRUL / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 13
- First US base opened: 1951
- US active-duty personnel in country: 1,758 – #15 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Batman AB, Incirlik AB, Izmir AB
8. Portugal
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 21
- First US base opened: 1944
- US active-duty personnel in country: 256 – #29 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Lajes Air Base, Cinco Picos Globecom Annex
7. United Kingdom
Source: usairforce / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 25
- First US base opened: 1942
- US active-duty personnel in country: 10,770 – #7 out of 80
- Notable base(s): RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth, RAF Mildenhall
6. Puerto Rico
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 34
- First US base opened: 1902
- US active-duty personnel in country: 13,571 – #5 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Mayaguez AFRC, Fort Buchanan, MTA Camp Santiago Rq
5. Italy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 44
- First US base opened: 1951
- US active-duty personnel in country: 14,756 – #4 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Camp Darby, Aviano Air Base, NAS Sigonella
4. Guam
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 54
- First US base opened: 1899
- US active-duty personnel in country: 11,295 – #6 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Agana, Andersen AFB, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz
3. South Korea
Source: soldiersmediacenter / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 76
- First US base opened: 1946
- US active-duty personnel in country: 28,503 – #3 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Camp Casey, Camp Humphreys, Kunsan AB
2. Germany
Source: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of US military installations: 119
- First US base opened: 1945
- US active-duty personnel in country: 46,562 – #2 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Duelmen Tower Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Spangdahlem AB
1. Japan
Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr
- Number of US military installations: 119
- First US base opened: 1946
- US active-duty personnel in country: 63,690 – #1 out of 80
- Notable base(s): Camp Fuji, Camp Hansen, Kadena AB
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