It is true that the United States spends more money on its military then the next twenty-some-odd countries combined. For that fact, we all know that there is no beating the U.S. military in any category. But it isinteresting to see where our allies, or more importantly, our enemies, rank in military strength.
Global Fire Power does a ranking every year based on available information. The rankings are evaluated over 50 different factors, to determine who has the greatest firepower out of any military. All those factors allow for an accurate assessment of 133 different countries’ military strength. We will give you the quick take on each military power based on how many personnel, aircraft, armored vehicles, naval vessels, and what size of a budget (in USD) each country has to work with.
Take a look at how the rest of the world’s militaries stacks up against us in 2017. There’s a little easter egg for you at the end, after the No. 1 superpower, so make sure you follow all the way through.
25. Algeria
Defense budget: $10.57 billion
Military personnel: 792,350 (520,000 active)
Airpower: 502
Armor power: 9,825
Naval power: 85
24. Saudi Arabia
Defense budget: $56.725 billion
Military personnel: 256,000 (231,000 active)
Airpower: 790
Armor power: 7,892
Naval power: 55
23. North Korea
Defense budget: $7.5 billion
Military personnel: 6,445,000 (945,000 active)
Airpower: 944
Armor power: 18,075
Naval power: 967
22. Australia
Defense budget: $24.1 billion
Military personnel: 81,000 (60,000 active)
Airpower: 465
Armor power: 2,174
Naval power: 47
21. Iran
Defense budget: $6.3 billion
Military personnel: 934,000 (534,000 active)
Airpower: 477
Armor power: 6,803
Naval power: 398
20. Thailand
Defense budget: $5.39 billion
Military personnel: 627,425 (335,425 active)
Airpower: 555
Armor power: 4,085
Naval power: 81
19. Poland
Defense budget: $9.36 billion
Military personnel: 184,650 (109,650 active)
Airpower: 465
Armor power: 4,428
Naval power: 83
18. Taiwan
Defense budget: $10.725 billion
Military personnel: 1,932,500 (257,500 active)
Airpower: 850
Armor power: 8,069
Naval power: 87
17. Brazil
Defense budget: $24.5 billion
Military personnel: 1,987,000 (334,500 active)
Airpower: 697
Armor power: 3,031
Naval power: 110
16. Vietnam
Defense budget: $3.365 billion
Military personnel: 5,488,500 (448,500 active)
Airpower: 278
Armor power: 8,519
Naval power: 65
15. Isreal
Defense budget: $15.5 billion
Military personnel: 718,250 (168,250 active)
Airpower: 652
Armor power: 13,803
Naval power: 65
14. Indonesia
Defense budget: $6.9 billion
Military personnel: 975,750 (435,750 active)
Airpower: 441
Armor power: 1,710
Naval power: 221
13. Pakistan
Defense budget: $7 billion
Military personnel: 919,000 (637,000 active)
Airpower: 951
Armor power: 9,629
Naval power: 197
12. South Korea
Defense budget: $43.8 billion
Military personnel: 5,829,750 (627,500 active)
Air power: 1,477
Armor power: 12,892
Naval power: 166
11. Italy
Defense budget: $34 billion
Military personnel: 267,500 (247,500 active)
Airpower: 822
Armor power: 7,449
Naval power: 143
10. Egypt
Defense budget: $4.4 billion
Military personnel: 1,329,250 (454,250 active)
Airpower: 1,132
Armor power: 22,789
Naval power: 319
9. Germany
Defense budget: $39.2 billion
Military personnel: 210,000 (180,000 active)
Airpower: 698
Armor power: 6,616
Naval power: 81
8. Turkey
Defense budget: $8.208 billion
Military personnel: 734,415 (382,850 active)
Airpower: 1,018
Armor power: 12,516
Naval power: 194
7. Japan
Defense budget: $43.8 billion
Military personnel: 311,875 (248,575 active)
Airpower: 1,594
Armor power: 4,351
Naval power: 131
6. The United Kingdom
Defense budget: $45.7 billion
Military personnel: 232,675 (151,175 active)
Airpower: 856
Armor power: 6,466
Naval power: 76
5. France
Defense budget: $35 billion
Military personnel: 387,635 (204,000 active)
Airpower: 1,305
Armor power: 7,871
Naval power: 118
4. India
Defense budget: $51 billion
Military personnel: 4,207,250 (1,362,500 active)
Airpower: 2,102
Armor power: 19,126
Naval power: 295
3. China
Defense budget: $161.7 billion
Military personnel: 3,712,500 (2,260,000 active)
Airpower: 2,955
Armor power: 20,971
Naval power: 714
2. Russia
Defense budget: $44.6 billion
Military personnel: 3,371,027 (798,527 active)
Airpower: 3,764
Armor power: 65,904
Naval power: 352
1. The United States military
Defense budget: $587.8 billion
Military personnel: 2,363,675 (1,373,650 active)
Airpower: 13,762
Armor power: 51,510
Naval power: 415
133. Bhutan
Defense budget: $10 million
Military personnel: 7,500
Airpower: 4
Armor power: 10
Naval power: 0