10 Most Powerful Militaries in The World

Which country has the strongest army in the world? The folks at Global Firepower ranks the most powerful militaries in the world. Ranking based on multiple factors, including each country’s military budget, number of aircraft carriers, available manpower and labor force.

The Global Firepower ranked the world’s most powerful countries in term of army strength. They examined the defense forces of 106 countries in order to compile the rankings, taking into account manpower, land systems, air power, naval power, resources, logistics, finances and geography covered.

They measure 50 different stats about a country – including each country’s military budget, number of aircraft carriers, available manpower and labor force, to produce a Power Index, in which lower numbers equal more firepower. The index doesn’t take into account Nuclear capabilities; They are not included in the calculation. Also, it doesn’t penalize landlocked nations for lack of a standing navy.
Below are the top 10 most powerful militaries in the world according to the 2017 rankings (click country names to see military assets data).

Top 10 Most Powerful Militaries in The World

Egypt

2017 Egypt Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.2676
Defense Budget: $4,400,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 454,250
Labor Force: 31,960,000
Total Aircraft: 1,132
Total Naval Strength: 319

Current military capabilities and available firepower for the second most powerful Muslim nation of Egypt.

Germany

2017 Germany Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.2609
Defense Budget: $39,200,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 180,000
Labor Force: 45,300,000
Total Aircraft: 698
Total Naval Strength: 81

Current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of Germany.

Turkey

2017 Turkey Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.2491
Defense Budget: $8,208,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 382,850
Labor Force: 30,240,000
Total Aircraft: 1,018
Total Naval Strength: 194

Turkey, the most powerful Muslim country in the world has the 8th most powerful military. Current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of Turkey.

Japan

2017 Japan Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.2137
Defense Budget: $43,800,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 248,575
Labor Force: 65,930,000
Total Aircraft: 1,594
Total Naval Strength: 131

Current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of Japan.

The United Kingdom
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2017 United Kingdom Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.2131
Defense Budget: $45,700,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 151,175
Labor Force: 33,170,000
Total Aircraft: 856
Total Naval Strength: 76
Current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of United Kingdom.
France

2017 France Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.1914
Defense Budget: $35,000,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 204,000
Labor Force: 30,480,000
Total Aircraft:1,305
Total Naval Strength: 118

Strongest army in the world, see the current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of France.

India

2017 India Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.1593
Defense Budget: $51,000,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 1,362,500
Labor Force: 513,700,000
Total Aircraft: 2,102
Total Naval Strength: 295

Current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of India.

China

2017 China Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.0945
Defense Budget: $161,700,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 2,260,000
Labor Force: 805,900,000
Total Aircraft: 2,955
Total Naval Strength: 714

The strongest army in the world. Checkout the current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of China.

Russia

2017 Russia Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.0929
Defense Budget: $44,600,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 798,527
Labor Force: 77,410,000
Total Aircraft: 3,794
Total Naval Strength: 352

The best trained army in the world. Checkout the current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of Russia.

United States

2017 United States Military Strength:
Power Index: 0.0857
Defense Budget: $587,800,000,000
Active Military Personnel: 1,373,650
Labor Force: 158,600,000
Total Aircraft: 13,762
Total Naval Strength: 415

Check out the current military capabilities and available firepower for the nation of United States. The most powerful military in the world.

Nuclear capabilities are not included in this calculation. “As the inclusion of such weapons would defeat the purpose of such comparisons”. The placings are based strictly on each nation’s potential conventional war-making capabilities across land, sea and air.