In this article, we look at the five largest armed forces in the world by manpower. You can read about trends in the defense industry by heading over to the 20 Largest Armed Forces in the World Ranked by Active Military Personnel, where we have also discussed how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent shockwaves across Europe, forcing several regional countries to increase the sizes of their military and reserve forces.
5. North Korea
Active Military Personnel: 1,320,000
We begin the list with North Korea, which has about 1.32 million active military personnel who account for 5% of the country’s overall population. Pyongyang has been actively seeking to further build up its arsenal of nuclear weapons and modernize its already huge conventional military force.
4. Russia
Active Military Personnel: 1,320,000
According to a report, more than 45,000 Russian soldiers have died since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Despite the heavy losses suffered, the country ranks among the largest and most battle-hardened armed forces in the world. In addition to the 1.32 million active troops, Russia also has about 2 million reserve personnel as per the Global Firepower Index.
3. United States
Active Military Personnel: 1,328,000
The United States has the most powerful military in the world, and the third largest ranked by active military personnel. The US Armed Forces comprise six branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and the Coast Guard. The influence of the American military stretches far beyond its borders, enabled by over 750 military bases across 80 countries of the world. The US also has about 800,000 of reserve personnel, in addition to the 1.33 million active troops.
2. India
Active Military Personnel: 1,455,550
India has the second largest standing military in the world, with an active manpower of close to 1.5 million troops. The country also boasts a large force of reserve personnel, estimated to be close to 1.15 million by the Global Firepower Index. The Indian Armed Forces have engaged in several light-scale conflicts over the last few years, most notably with Pakistan in 2019, and since 2020 with China along the border between the two countries. The insurgency in the Kashmir region has also kept Indian forces engaged and battle-hardened.
1. China
Active Military Personnel: 2,035,000
China has the largest armed forces in the world by active military personnel, with a manpower of over 2 million troops. This formidable force is primarily represented by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which consists of the Ground Force, Air Force, Navy, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force. The Chinese military has a massive defense budget – only next to the United States – and is equipped with some of the most advanced and sophisticated weapons in the world.
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