The strength of a country’s military forces is measured by many factors like manpower, annual defense budget, and number of tanks, missiles, aircraft, naval forces and economic power of the country. Global Firepower has constantly worked on providing a rank to the countries with the strongest military. We have adapted to this list and also worked on other factors to determine the real strong military powers in the world. United States Armed Forces and Russian Armed Forces have always been on top to be the most powerful armed forces in the world. In the near future, China is expecting to be the number one in terms of becoming the most powerful military force in the world. The armed forces comprises of the army, navy, air force, marine and the coast guards.

Here is the list of 10 most powerful militaries in the world:


10. Italy


Total Military Strength = 0.34 Million active personnel
Total tanks = 586
Total Aircraft = 785
Total Naval Force = 143
Annual Defense Budget = $40 Billion

Italian Armed Forces: The above statistics definitely gives a thrust to the Italian Armed Forces in the list of top 10 most powerful militaries. The Italian forces have close to 0.4 million active man-forces in their armed forces, along with 100s of tanks, fighter planes, naval ships with an annual budget of $40 billion.



9. Japan



Total Military Strength = 0.24 Million active personnel
Total tanks = 678
Total Aircraft = 1590
Total Naval Force = 131
Annual Defense Budget = $41 Billion

Japan Self-Defense Forces: The force established in the year 1954 has 0.24 million active personnel that has involved in several international peacekeeping. Apart from their active personnel, the country also has around 50,000 reserve forces. The strong force is equipped with 100s of machinery such as tanks, aircrafts, ships and missiles.



8. Turkey


Total Military Strength = 0.63 Million active personnel
Total tanks = 3778
Total Aircraft = 1007
Total Naval Force = 194
Annual Defense Budget = $18.2 Billion

Turkish Armed Forces: Turkish Armed Forces are officially claimed to be founded in 209 BC. Today, the armed forces is strong with 0.6 million active front-line personnel, more than 3 thousand tanks, around thousand aircrafts and a naval strength of close to 200. Turkey spends $18 billion annually for its defense forces.


7. Germany


Total Military Strength = 0.17 Million active personnel
Total tanks = 408
Total Aircraft = 676
Total Naval Force = 81
Annual Defense Budget = $40 Billion

Bundeswehr: Bundeswehr is the unified armed forces of Germany with a military strength of 0.17 million active personnel. The armed force has 408 tanks, 676 aircrafts, and a naval strength of 81. The powerful Germany puts forward an annual budget of $40 billion for its military expenditures.



6. France


Total Military Strength = 0.36 Million active personnel
Total Tanks = 423
Total Aircrafts = 1282
Total Naval Force = 118
Annual Defense Budget = $51 Billion

French Armed Forces: The nuclear capable French Armed Forces has a military strength of 0.36 million active officers with 423 tanks, 1282 aircrafts, and a total naval strength of 118. France spends $51 billion every year to satisfy its defense needs in manufacturing sophisticated weapons, arms and fighter planes for its armed forces.



5. United Kingdom


Total Military Strength = 0.15 Million active personnel
Total Tanks = 407
Total Aircraft = 879
Total Naval Force = 76
Annual Defense Budget = $65 billion

British Armed Forces: The British Armed Forces is one of the powerful armed forces in the world with annual defense budget of $65 billion. Military strength of 0.15 million is equipped with powerful tanks, fighter jets, nuclear missiles and destroyers.


4. India


Total Military Strength = 1.3 Million active personnel

Total Tanks = 6464

Total Aircraft = 2086

Total Naval Force = 295

Annual Defense Budget = $51.3 Billion

Indian Armed Forces: The 1.3 million active personnel is one of the largest in the world. The Indian Armed Forces consists of army, navy, air force, and paramilitary forces. India spends $51 billion every year for its defense to be in race with China and Pakistan. The country has large amounts of tanks, fighter jets, navy ships, submarines and missiles in its weapon inventory.


3. China


Total Military Strength = 2.3 Million active personnelTotal Tanks = 9150

Total Aircraft = 2942

Total Naval Force = 714

Annual Defense Budget = $147 Billion

Chinese People’s Liberation Army: The Chinese military is one of the emerging powers in the world in terms of weapon systems, man-power, defense spending and hi-tech machinery. The county is equipped with large numbers of tanks, submarines, aircrafts, ships and missiles.


2. Russia


Total Military Strength = 0.7 Million active personnel

Total tanks = 15398

Total Aircraft = 3547

Total Naval Force = 352

Annual Defense Budget = $84.5 Billion

Russian Armed Forces: Russia is a powerful country in terms of military strength and striking capabilities. The powerful nation’s armed forces is equipped with one of the world’s most powerful weapons, tanks, missiles, fighter planes and marine equipment. Russia spends $84.5 billion every year for its defense needs.


1. USA


Total Military Strength = 0 Million active personnel

Total tanks = 8848

Total Aircraft = 13444

Total Naval Force = 515

Annual Defense Budget = $580.3 Billion

United States Armed Forces: US Armed Forces are the world’s most powerful military forces with a whopping $580.3 billion as its defense budget. US Marine forces are one of the world’s best. US commandos are the world’s superior. USA has the world’s best weapon systems, technology, fighter aircrafts, destroyers, submarines and ships.