U.S. Ranked as Having World’s Top Military
Global Firepower’s 2017 Military Strength Ranking (www.globalfirepower.com) draws on more than 50 factors to assign a Power Index score to 133 countries. The ranking assesses the diversity of weapons held by each country…
Global Firepower’s 2017 Military Strength Ranking (www.globalfirepower.com) draws on more than 50 factors to assign a Power Index score to 133 countries.
The ranking assesses the diversity of weapons held by each country and pays particular attention to the manpower available. The geography, logistical capacity, available natural resources, and the status of local industry are also taken into account.
While recognized nuclear powers receive a bonus, the nuclear stockpiles are not factored into the score. Moreover, countries that are landlocked are not docked points for lacking a navy, though they are penalized for not having a merchant marine force. Countries with navies are penalized if there is a lack of diversity in their naval assets.
NATO countries received a slight bonus because the alliance would theoretically share resources, but in general, a country’s current political and military leadership was not considered.
Following are the 25 most powerful militaries in the world:
1. United States
- Total population: 323,995,528; Total military personnel: 2,363,675
- Total aircraft: 13,762; Fighter aircraft: 2,296
- Combat tanks: 5,884; Total naval assets: 415 (19 aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $587.8 billion
2. Russia
- Total population: 142,355,415; Total military personnel: 3,371,027
- Total aircraft strength: 3,794; Fighter aircraft: 806
- Combat tanks: 20,216; Total naval assets: 352 (one aircraft carrier)
- Defense budget: $44.6 billion
3. China
- Total population: 1,373,541,278; Total military personnel: 3,712,500
- Total aircraft strength: 2,955; Fighter aircraft: 1,271
- Combat tanks: 6,457; Total naval assets: 714 (one aircraft carrier)
- Defense budget: $161.7 billion
4. India
- Total population: 1,266,883,598; Total military personnel: 4,207,250
- Total aircraft strength: 2,102; Fighter aircraft: 676
- Combat tanks: 4,426; Total naval assets: 295 (three aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $51 billion
5. France
- Total population: 66,836,154; Total military personnel: 387,635
- Total aircraft strength: 1,305; Fighter aircraft 296
- Combat tanks: 406; Total naval assets: 118 (four aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $35 billion
6. United Kingdom
- Total population: 64,430,428; Total military personnel: 232,675
- Total aircraft strength: 856; Fighter aircraft: 88
- Combat tanks 249; Total naval assets: 76 (two aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $45.7 billion
7. Japan
- Total population: 126,702,133; Total military personnel: 311,875
- Total aircraft strength: 1,594; Fighter aircraft: 288
- Combat tanks: 700; Total naval assets: 131 (four aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $43.8 billion
8. Turkey
- Total population: 80,274,604; Total military personnel: 743,415
- Total aircraft strength: 1,018; Fighter aircraft: 207
- Combat tanks: 2,445; Total naval assets: 194
- Defense budget: $8.2 billion
9. Germany
- Total population: 80,722,792; Total military personnel: 210,000
- Total aircraft strength: 698; Fighter aircraft: 92
- Combat tanks: 543; Total naval assets: 81
- Defense budget: $39.2 billion
10. Egypt
- Total population: 94,666,993; Total military personnel: 1,329,250
- Total aircraft strength: 1,132; Fighter aircraft: 337; Combat tanks: 4,110
- Total naval assets: 319 (two aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $4.4 billion
11. Italy
- Total population: 62,007,540; Total military personnel: 267,500
- Total aircraft strength: 822; Fighter aircraft: 79
- Combat tanks: 200; Total naval assets: 143 (two aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $34 billion
12. South Korea
- Total population: 50,924,172; Total military personnel: 5,829,750
- Total aircraft strength: 1,477; Fighter aircraft: 406
- Combat tanks: 2,654; Total naval assets: 166 (one aircraft carrier)
- Defense budget: $43.8 billion
13. Pakistan
- Total population: 201,995,540; Total military personnel: 919,000
- Total aircraft strength: 951; Fighter aircraft: 301
- Combat tanks: 2,924; Total naval assets: 197
- Defense budget: $7 billion
14. Indonesia
- Total population: 258,316,051; Total military personnel: 975,750
- Total aircraft strength: 441; Fighter aircraft: 39
- Combat tanks: 418; Total naval assets: 221
- Defense budget: $6.9 billion
15. Israel
- Total population: 8,174,527; Total military personnel: 718,250
- Total aircraft strength: 652; Fighter aircraft: 243
- Combat tanks: 2,620; Total naval assets: 65
- Defense budget: $15.5 billion
16. Vietnam
- Total population: 95,261,021; Total military personnel: 5,488,500
- Total aircraft strength: 278; Fighter aircraft: 76
- Combat tanks: 1,545; Total naval assets: 65
- Defense budget: $3.4 billion
17. Brazil
- Total population: 205,823,665; Total military personnel: 1,987,000
- Total aircraft strength: 697; Fighter aircraft: 43
- Combat tanks: 469; Total naval assets: 110
- Defense budget: $24.5 billion
18. Taiwan
- Total population: 23,464,787; Total military personnel: 1,932,500
- Total aircraft strength: 850; Fighter aircraft: 286
- Combat tanks: 2,005; Total naval assets: 87
- Defense budget: $10.7 billion
19. Poland
- Total population: 38,523,261; Total military personnel: 184,650
- Total aircraft strength: 465; Fighter aircraft: 99
- Combat tanks: 1,065; Total naval assets: 83
- Defense budget: $9.4 billion
20. Thailand
- Total population: 68,200,824; Total military personnel: 627,425
- Total aircraft strength: 555; Fighter aircraft: 76
- Combat tanks: 737; Total naval assets: 81 (one aircraft carrier)
- Defense budget: $5.4 billion
21. Iran
- Total population: 82,801,633; Total military personnel: 934,000
- Total aircraft strength: 477; Fighter aircraft: 137
- Combat tanks: 1,616; Total naval assets: 398
- Defense budget: $6.3 billion
22. Australia
- Total population: 22,992,654; Total military personnel: 81,000
- Total aircraft strength: 465; Fighter aircraft: 78
- Combat tanks: 59; Total naval assets: 47 (two aircraft carriers)
- Defense budget: $24.1 billion
23.North Korea
- Total population: 25,115,311; Total military personnel: 6,445,000
- Total aircraft strength: 944; Fighter aircraft: 458
- Combat tanks: 5,025; Total naval assets: 967
- Defense budget: $7.5 billion
24. Saudi Arabia
- Total population: 28,160,273; Total military personnel: 256,000
- Total aircraft strength: 790; Fighter aircraft: 177
- Combat tanks: 1,142; Total naval assets: 55
- Defense budget: $56.7 billion
25. Algeria
- Total population: 40,263,711; Total military personnel: 792,350
- Total aircraft strength: 502; Fighter aircraft: 89
- Combat tanks: 2,405; Total naval assets: 85
- Defense budget: $10.6 billion
Mike EppingerAuthor