15 Countries That Have the Best Military in the World

4. India

GDP (2023): $3.73 trillion

Defense Expenditure (2023): $83.57 billion

Technological Capabilities Rank: 40

Nuclear Weapons: 156

Manpower: 1,455,550

Special Forces Rank: 10

Tanks: 4,614

Artillery: 4,085

Aircraft/Fighter Jets: 1,645

Aircraft Carriers: 2

Submarines: 18

Military Satellites: 9

Overseas Military Bases: 3

Cyber capabilities Rank: 26

Weighted Score: 7.69

With over 1.4 million active troops, India boasts the second-largest standing army in the world after China. The country has been actively leveraging its economic strength to upgrade its military and spent a whopping $83.57 billion on defense expenditure in 2023. India boasts a large arsenal of nuclear weapons and also has a sizable fleet of fighter jets, battle tanks, and artillery units. On the naval front, India has two aircraft carriers, with work underway domestically on the third. Moreover, India, in its bid to counter Beijing, has been expanding its sphere of influence in the region, and now has overseas military bases in three countries – Mauritius, Oman, and Tajikistan.