5 Weakest Militaries in Asia

2. Maldives

GDP (2023): $6.98 billion

Defense Spending (2023): $108 million 

Active Manpower: 4,000

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 23

Military Aircraft: 4

Naval Assets: 19

Overall Score: 1.5

Maldives has the smallest military in Asia, with an active manpower of only 4,000 troops and a negligible inventory of military equipment. Most of the Maldivian naval assets are patrol boats, and its four military aircraft comprise two special mission aircraft and two combat helicopters. The country has no tanks and only 23 armored fighting vehicles that it received from India and Bangladesh.