In this article we will present the 5 most powerful Islamic countries in the world in 2024. You can read our detailed discussion and a more comprehensive list by visiting the 15 Most Powerful Islamic Countries in the World in 2024.
5. Iran
Economic Strength Rank: 7
Military Strength Rank: 14
Weighted Average Rank: 9.1
Iran is one of the top 10 powerful Muslim countries in the world by military. We say this because as of 2024, the Iranian Armed Forces are the second largest in the Middle East, following the Egyptian Armed Forces, in terms of active troops. Iran’s military consists of approximately 425,000 active-duty personnel and an additional 100,000 reserve and trained personnel available for mobilization when needed, bringing the total military manpower to around 525,000.
4. Pakistan
Economic Strength Rank: 9
Military Strength Rank: 9
Weighted Average Rank: 9
The Pakistan Armed Forces comprise the military forces of Pakistan and are the world’s sixth-largest in terms of active military personnel. The armed forces include three main branches: the Army, Navy, and Air Force, supported by several paramilitary units such as Rangers.
A critical element of the armed forces’ structure is the Strategic Plans Division Force, which is tasked with maintaining and securing Pakistan’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile and related assets.
3. Saudi Arabia
Economic Strength Rank: 3
Military Strength Rank: 23
Weighted Average Rank: 9
The Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are among the world’s best-funded and have the sixth-largest defense budget globally. This stable financial backing ensures they maintain advanced military capabilities across their five branches: the Royal Saudi Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, and Strategic Missile Force. The King of Saudi Arabia serves as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and oversees military policy in coordination with the Ministries of Defense and Interior.
2. Indonesia
Economic Strength Rank: 1
Military Strength Rank: 13
Weighted Average Rank: 4.6
Indonesia’s economy is projected to grow steadily at an average rate of 5.1% per year from 2024 to 2026 which will be supported by increased public spending, rising business investments, and strong consumer demand, according to the World Bank.
1. Turkey
Economic Strength Rank: 2
Military Strength Rank: 8
Weighted Average Rank: 3.8
With a weighted average rank of 5.2, Turkey is the most powerful Islamic country in the world in 2024. Turkey’s defense industry has seen incredible growth, which truly began after the 1974 Cyprus intervention and led to embargoes from the US and other allies. These restrictions spurred Turkey to invest heavily in domestic defense production. From 1996 to 2021, Turkiye had a change of defense spending as a percentage of GDP of 2.1%, which translated to major achievements like the Altay tank in 2008, the T129 helicopter in 2014, and the renowned Bayraktar TB-2 drone in 2011. It is also worth highlighting that Turkey’s defense exports nearly tripled from 2014 to 2023. The country’s defense industry now ranks 11th globally in exports, just outside the top 10.
On the economic end, in the first quarter of 2024, Turkey’s GDP grew by 5.7% year-on-year, driven by strong domestic demand and net exports. Private consumption, though at its lowest since the pandemic, grew by 7.2% YoY. Investment increased by 10.3% YoY, adding 2.6 ppt, while public consumption rose 3.9% YoY, contributing 0.5 ppt. Despite inventory build-up reducing growth by 4.4 ppt, net exports improved GDP by 1.6 ppt.
To learn about other top powerful Islamic countries, you can check out our detailed report 15 Most Powerful Islamic Countries in the World in 2024. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from powerful economies to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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