Switzerland
The Swiss Armed Forces may not participate in conflicts in other countries, but they are still not ones to mess with. Since Switzerland is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Partnership for Peace program, the armed forces stay neutral and participate in international peacekeeping missions.
The system remains virile even if it involves only a small number of regular soldiers, the rest being volunteers aged 19 to 34. Since military service is compulsory for men and requires them to keep a weapon, Switzerland has some of the highest rates of gun ownership globally. In 2022, it was ranked 32nd in military power among 142 nations by Global Firepower.
Norway
With five branches, including the Norwegian Army and the Royal Norwegian Navy, and several joint departments, it is no surprise that the Norwegian Armed Forces is one of the strongest in the world. It also has the highest per capita expenditure of all European North Atlantic Treaty Organization members.
Although the personnel capacity of the force in peacetime stands at about 17,185, in full mobilization, it grows to around 70,000 with the current military personnel, conscripts, and the Norwegian Home Guard. The force is so powerful that it is ranked 33rd out of 142 countries by Global Firepower.
Australia
Our number one piece of advice is that you should never upset the Australian Defense Force. It is well equipped to defend the commonwealth of Australia and its national interests with the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, and "tri-service" units, not to mention that it has over 85,000 personnel.
Although the force is relatively small compared to Asian military organizations, it is the largest military in Oceania, with 60,330 full-time active-duty personnel and 29,560 active reservists. If you’re still not convinced of this force's enormous power, it’s good to remember that in 2022, it was ranked 17 of 142 countries by Global Firepower.
Thailand
The kingdom of Thailand may not be the largest out there, but it has solid military backing. The Thai Armed Forces are led by the King of Thailand, who also serves as their commander. However, they are officially under the control of the Ministry of Defense of Thailand, which is overseen by the defense minister and led by the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.
Like Thailand itself, the force has a rich history that is commemorated on January 18 to mark King Naresuan the Great's victory over the Viceroy of Burma in a fight that happened in 1593. The force is ranked 29th globally out of 142 nations.
Mexico
Mexico is famous for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine, but it also has one of the world's most powerful militaries. It consists of the autonomous entities of the Mexican Army and the Mexican Navy, which separate government departments control. It has an active personnel count of over 277,000 and a reserve personnel count of 81,500.
The Mexican armed forces rank 43rd out of 142 nations worldwide, with the largest navy in Latin America. This ranking is hardly unexpected, given the continuous military spending in Mexico. To modernize, Mexico has invested more than US$3 billion in equipment purchases since 2012.
Peru
For many reasons, the Peruvian armed forces stand out on the list of the world’s strongest forces. It comprises an independent army, navy, and air force. Unlike in some other countries, the National Police of Peru is often classified as a part of the armed forces. However, it has a different organization and civil mission.
The Peruvian army has a strength of 90,000 troops, the navy has 25,988 troops; the Air Force has 17,969 troops; and the police have 140,000 personnel. All these factors combined make it a powerful force that is ranked 50th out of 142 nations worldwide.
The Netherlands
The armed forces of the kingdom of Netherlands have four service branches including the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force, and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, which are supported by several joint organizations. To augment these, there are local conscript forces on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curaçao.
Despite the fact that military personnel pledges allegiance to the Dutch monarch, he or she is not the main commander. As a result, the Cabinet makes major decisions, with the Minister of Defense holding political authority over the Ministry. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has over 66,000 personnel, which contributes to its rank as 37th of 142 countries worldwide.
Taiwan
Taiwan is protected by the Republic of China Armed Forces. That should be enough to tell you it’s not a territory you want to mess with. The force includes an army, navy, air force, and military police force, of which the army is the most powerful. Its rich history of once controlling mainland China has made the army the most important of the military forces.
Although it was founded in 1924, the force has a huge reserve of over 1.5 million and an active personnel of 165,000. It is considered the 21st out of 142 countries reviewed annually by Global Firepower.
Argentina
Argentina may be famous for being the home of one of the world’s best football players, Lionel Messi, but there’s a lot more it has to offer, including a very tightly run military. Controlled by the Commander-in-Chief and a civilian Minister of Defense, the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic is ranked 40th out of 142 countries.
Its navy and air forces were established as far back as 1810. As of 2022, the force has 108,000 active personnel and is dedicated to supporting the nation's ongoing presence in Antarctica, humanitarian relief during emergencies, and international peacekeeping under United Nations missions.
Malaysia
Malaysia maintains a substantial armed force. The Royal Malaysian Air Force, the Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Malaysian Army are all part of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
The King of Malaysia is the head of Malaysia's Armed Forces. The demand for military unity grew in the first half of the twentieth century, prompting the creation of the forces. That was during British colonial rule in Singapore and Malaya.
More than 310,000 members are in reserve at this time, with 110,000 of them currently active. Combat tanks and rocket launchers are at the forefront of the discussion.
the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is famous for its rich history and culture, as well as its medieval castles. The country does a lot to keep it that way, including having a strong military to protect its territory. The force responsible for this is the Army of the Czech Republic, which is also called the Czech Army.
It consists of the General Staff, the Land Forces, the Air Force, and support units. Although it has a small capacity of only 27,000 active personnel and 4,000 reserves, which doesn’t hold a candle to that of other countries, the force is still ranked 41 out of 142 countries.
Myanmar
Myanmar has quite a history, as do its armed forces. Officially known as Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar are administered by the Ministry of Defense. It comprises an Army, Navy, and Air Force, with auxiliary services that include the People's Militia Units, the Myanmar Police Force, the Myanmar Coast Guard, and the Border Guard Forces.
The Tatmadaw includes 375,000 army, 16,000 navy, and 15,000 air force personnel, making a total of 406,000 active personnel, along with almost 19,000 reserve personnel, which undoubtedly helps in increasing its strength. No wonder it is ranked 39th out of 142 countries in the world.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian armed forces have been kept on their toes for years now due to hostilities with Russia. It comprises the Ukrainian Ground Forces, the Air Force, the Navy, the Air Assault Forces, and the Special Operations Forces, all of which are under the command of the president and subject to oversight by a permanent Verkhovna Rada parliamentary commission.
In 2014, Ukraine increased the size of its armed forces to 204,000 soldiers, 46,000 civil servants, and over 100,000 additional forces. By 2021, the armed forces were the second largest in their region. The country is ranked 22nd out of 142 countries globally.
Sweden
It’s easy to get swayed by Sweden’s stunning views and breathtaking winters and forget that it has one of the strongest militaries in the world. Its armed forces consist of an army, an air force, and a navy, as well as a military reserve force, the Home Guard. All these branches are under a single unified government agency, which is headed by the Supreme Commander.
Although Sweden has not participated in an officially declared war since the 1814 Swedish–Norwegian War, as of 2022, the Swedish armed forces can boast of a robust personnel capacity of 23,600 active personnel. It is ranked 25 out of 142 countries.
Greece
Greece is a popular destination for many people worldwide for its beautiful culture and tasty cuisine. Its strong military also makes it a good spot to visit. The Hellenic Armed Forces, which protects the territory of Greece, has an army, air force, and navy. All males aged 18 and above must serve in the military for a period of nine to 12 months.
However, women can choose to serve but cannot be conscripted. There are over 140,000 active personnel in the military and 221,350 reserves, making it a solid force. It currently stands at 27th out of 142 countries considered globally.
Spain
Since the Kingdom of Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1982, it has maintained an essential position in the organization. One of the reasons it has been able to achieve this is its strong military. The Spanish Armed Forces are one of the strongest in the European Union.
It consists of the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force, the Military Emergencies Unit, the Common Corps, and the Royal Guard. The force is so rich in history that it has the oldest Marine Infantry in the world and the most senior permanent military units worldwide. In 2021, it had over 133,000 active personnel.
Canada
If you are looking for stunning scenery or the best maple syrup ever, then you should be well on your way to Canada. However, one thing many people don’t know about Canada is its military strength. The Canadian Armed Forces comprise the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Navy.
The armed forces are so large that they have about 68,000 active personnel and 27,000 reserve personnel, as well as a small sub-component of around 5,000 Canadian Rangers. This undoubtedly contributes to Canada’s rank as 23 out of 142 countries considered for the annual Global Firepower review.
Algeria
The Algerian People's National Army may not have had any hostilities against foreign powers since 1976, but they have certainly maintained their strength. The armed forces are so well-trained that they are acknowledged as one of the best-trained militaries in Africa and the Arab world, despite their lack of experience fighting other nations.
The armed forces were the direct successors of the National Liberation Army, which fought French colonial rule during the Algerian War of Independence. It encompasses the Algerian Air Force, the Navy, the Algerian Air Defense Force, and the Algerian Land Forces. It is ranked 31 out of 142 countries globally.
Saudi Arabia
The Royal Saudi Arabian Armed Forces are not the kind you want to ever mess with. With eight military forces, including the Saudi Arabian Land Forces, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Saudi Arabian Border Guards, the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, the Royal Saudi Air Force, the National Guard, the Saudi Royal Guard Regiment, and the Royal Saudi Air Defense, the armed forces are one of the strongest worldwide.
Their strength is thoroughly maintained with the massive budget at their disposal, as the Royal Saudi Armed Forces have the world's sixth-largest defense budget. They also have a high number of operating forces, which is up to 480,000 personnel.
North Korea
There is hardly anyone who does not know how much of a bad idea it would be to become an enemy of the Korean People’s Army. The army has five branches, including the Special Operations Force, the Naval Force, the Air and Anti-Air Force, Ground Force, and the Strategic Rocket Forces.
Due to the country’s service compulsion, 29.9% of the North Korean population are in the armed forces under different roles, whether active or reserve or even in a paramilitary role, making it the second largest in the world. In 2022, it was ranked 30th out of 142 countries.
Iran
With approximately 610,000 active-duty personnel, the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces has the most significant active troops in the Middle East. In addition to this, the armed forces have 350,000 reserve personnel. This has undoubtedly contributed to making them one of the strongest militaries in the world.
The armed forces include the Law Enforcement Force, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Since the country's military arms are domestically manufactured, and Iran is an exporter of arms, their weapons are undoubtedly frightening to even think about. Iran is ranked 14th out of 142 countries in the world.
Poland
From the Baltic Sea to its tasteful pierogi, Poland is a tourist’s dream. It seems its military has managed to be on par with the high standards of the beautiful country. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland have under it the Land Forces, Navy, Air Forces, and Special and Territorial Defence Force.
Throughout the years, Poland has kept their military expenditure above 2% of the annual Gross Domestic Product, which is why it’s ranked 20th in terms of military spending worldwide. The active personnel of the armed forces as of 2022 stood at over 150,000, and there are plans to double it by the end of 2023.
Brazil
The Brazilian Armed Forces are the largest in Latin America and the second largest after the United States in the Americas by the level of military equipment. This should tell you that it is one of the most formidable forces in the world. However, if that’s not enough to convince you, it’s important to note that the armed forces have 334,500 active-duty personnel and over one million reserve personnel.
It comprises three service branches, which are the Brazilian Army, the Brazilian Navy, and the Brazilian Air Force. Under these branches, some departments contribute to the military. It is ranked 10th out of 142 countries.
Vietnam
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has the People's Army of Vietnam to thank for the protection of its territory. Under the armed forces, there are five components which include the Navy, Ground Force, Border Guard, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The armed forces have as many as 482,000 active personnel and five million reserve personnel, putting it on the list of countries with large military personnel. In 2014, Vietnam put in a request to be part of the United Nations peacekeeping force and as of 2022, Vietnam was ranked 28 of 142 out of the countries considered annually for the Global Firepower review.
Indonesia
The Indonesian National Armed Forces may have undergone name changes at different points but they have maintained their spot as one of the strongest militaries in the world. It originally went by the name the People's Security Army before the name was later changed to the Republic of Indonesia Army and finally what it is known as today.
It consists of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the President of Indonesia as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. It has 400,000 active military personnel and the same number of reserve personnel, not to mention over 3,500 delayed personnel.
Pakistan
Pakistan's military forces, which were established shortly after the country's independence from the British Empire in 1947, are a force to be reckoned with. Given their tremendous accomplishments as the sixth greatest donor to United Nations’ peacekeeping efforts, it is natural that they account for nearly 20 percent of the nation's expenditure and yearly budget.
The military's aviation section is the only force in the world that owns four of the top six assault helicopters. So far, they've utilized it well, as they also hold the record for shooting down Israel's fighter jet while also bringing down five enemy planes in less than a minute.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea not only has a brilliant track record in the entertainment business, but also a stellar reputation as a military powerhouse, which has only grown in prominence in recent years. Aside from having a formidable standing force, the nation's armed forces had a reported manpower strength of around 3,305,000 as of 2020.
Since its inception in 1948, they have used a unique enlistment system in which all able-bodied men are expected to serve in the military by the age of 28 for a period of 18 to 21 months. Those that are exempt are expected to labor twice as long in the country's jail system.
Italy
The Italian armed forces are well worth their place of #11 out of 142 nations on the GlobalFirePower evaluation, with over 340,885 active personnel as of 2021 and approximately 7,000 armored vehicles to its calvary. Aside from the conventional divisions of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, there is a fourth division known as the Carabinieri Guardia di Finanza.
The Carabinieri were established in 1848, over two decades before the formation of the nation's formal military in 1861. They've sworn in far over 110,000 officers so far, with their primary goal being to serve as military police on both local and international levels.
Egypt
The Egyptian armed forces are rated #12 in the Global Firepower ranking in 2022, trailing only the Italian military. Although carefully controlled, Egypt's military procedures and enlistment system are comparable to those of the Republic of Korea. In this instance, all men between the ages of 18 and 30 are required to serve in the military for three years and then join the military reserve for around seven years.
Although the institution was supposedly formed between 1803 and 1805 under the reign of Egypt's de facto ruler Muhammad Ali Pasha, 1820 is regarded as its actual establishment date. Egypt retains 397,000 paramilitary forces in addition to its total manpower of 917,500.
Germany
The military forces of the Federal Republic of Germany are known as the Bundeswehr, which translates to federal defense. They have one of the world's most well-funded militaries, with an estimated $56 billion in expenditures.
Aside from being handsomely supported, the military has quite impressive numbers, with well over a million members, making them the second largest in the European Union behind their neighbors on the west, France. Even though the force was created in the mid- '50s, its current shape was chosen in the early '90s in the context of German reunification. The previous mandatory enlistment process for all men was suspended in 2011.
Turkey
Since its establishment in the early '20s, just after the Ottoman Empire's fall, the Turkish Armed Forces have gradually risen to become one of the world's largest. The force is headquartered at Bakanlklar, Ankaya, and Ankara, Turkey, and consists of the General Staff, naval forces, ground troops, and air forces, all of which are led by the Chief of the General Staff.
As of 2022, they are predicted to have 775,000 military and paramilitary troops, placing them second only to the United States of America in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Turkey, in collaboration with the United States, is leading the development of next-generation ballistic missiles.
Japan
Japan's military has gone by numerous titles since its inception in 1954, including the Japanese Armed Forces, the unified de facto armed forces of Japan, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces. With well over 300,000 people, Japan's military functions within the confines of one percent of the country's GDP.
From the time it was revealed in 1976 until 1986, this practice was followed. Since then, the operating window has ranged between one and three percent of the country's GDP. With a famous security council and a well-practiced security policy, the country’s military force will remain a force to be reckoned with.
The United Kingdom
Given their engagement in major conflicts such as the first and second world wars, the Napoleonic war, and the American Revolutionary War, the British armed forces are no strangers to the battlefield. Not only are they armed with a diverse arsenal of ships, aircraft, and armored vehicles, but their manpower strength is also remarkable.
As of 2022, almost 200,000 men and women were serving in the Royal Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and British Army. The British military, often known as His Majesty's armed forces, is entrusted with advancing the United Kingdom's larger interests while also supporting international peacekeeping and humanitarian relief.
India
Since its inception in 1776 under the administration of the East India Company in Kolkata, the Indian army has expanded in size and power. Despite being only branches of the main armed forces, the Navy and Air Force possess some of the most notable records. Along with maintaining peace inside and outside its boundaries, they are known for constructing the Bailey Bridge, which is the highest bridge in the world.
Behind China, Russia, and the United States, India's armed forces are regarded as the world's fourth most powerful. They also control the world's highest battleground, the Siachen glacier, which is 5000 meters above sea level (MSL).
China
Along with having a distinctive name, China's armed force, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), is recognized for its remarkable strength and deeds. They are recognized as the world's number three military power and the fifth-largest military body. Since its inception in 1927, the force has been active under the supervision of the Central Military Commission.
Given their large manpower strength of over two million active soldiers and 510,000 reserves, their predicted 2022 budget of more than $224 billion was well worth it. The PLA has utilized nine distinct military strategy guidelines since the late '40s, with the most prominent being in the early '50s, '80s, and '90s.
Russia
The Russian Federation's Armed Forces began as the Imperial Russian Army in 1721 and have been operational for more than three centuries. The Russian military has around a million active personnel and two million in reserve, thanks to a mix of the Ground Forces, the Navy, and the Aerospace Forces.
They have the world's greatest nuclear arsenal and the world's second-largest fleet of ballistic missile submarines. Even though the overall number of NATO military personnel today exceeds 5.4 million, which is almost four times that of Russia, the Russian armed forces remain a force to be reckoned with.
Israel
The Israel Defense Forces were established in 1948 on the instructions of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. With over seven decades of operation, the Israeli military has built quite the arsenal, including an air defense system, the Merkava, and other weapons, the majority of which were created in-house.
They have received the United States' backing on many occasions since the late '60s. However, the Israeli forces have invested much in upgrading their units, making military service mandatory for citizens over the age of 18. They've been able to establish an active manpower strength of around 169,500 and 465,000 reserves owing to these conscription laws.
The United States of America
The United States of America's status as a world power is undeniable, and it extends to the country's military forces. Since its inception in 1775, the United States military has earned a reputation as one of the world's greatest armed forces.
Apart from being one of the most powerful and largest in terms of people, the United States military is also one of the greatest givers of foreign help and disaster relief. Their Marine Expeditionary Units patrol is constantly looking for signs of danger. Furthermore, the Department of Defense, of which the military is a component, is the world's largest employer, employing around 2.91 million people.