While you might think any military conflict would be won solely by numbers, history has shown this isn’t always the case. Instead, there is a definite argument to be made that if you truly want to defend your borders and interests worldwide, you need a sizable active military capable of deploying on a moment’s notice anywhere your leadership calls.
23. Angola
- Armed forces personnel: 107,000
- Active military aircraft: 300
- Defense expenditure: $1.62 billion
22. Malaysia
- Armed forces personnel: 113,000
- Active military aircraft: 125
- Defense expenditure: $4.8 billion
21. Poland
- Armed forces personnel: 114,500
- Active military aircraft: 459
- Defense expenditure: $31.6 billion
20. Italy
- Armed forces personnel: 165,500
- Active military aircraft: 850
- Defense expenditure: $35.5 billion
19. Israel
- Armed forces personnel: 169,500
- Active military aircraft: 601
- Defense expenditure: $27.5 billion
18. United Kingdom
- Armed forces personnel: 196,453
- Active military aircraft: 663
- Defense expenditure: $74.9 billion
17. France
- Armed forces personnel: 208,750
- Active military aircraft: 1,004
- Defense expenditure: $61.3 billion
16. Mexico
- Armed forces personnel: 216,000
- Active military aircraft: 468
- Defense expenditure: $11.8 billion
15. Japan
- Armed forces personnel: 247,000
- Active military aircraft: 1,451
- Defense expenditure: $50.2 billion
14. Turkey
- Armed forces personnel: 355,200
- Active military aircraft: 1,065
- Defense expenditure: $15.8 billion
13. Brazil
- Armed forces personnel: 366,500
- Active military aircraft: 665
- Defense expenditure: $22.9 billion
12. Indonesia
- Armed forces personnel: 404,500
- Active military aircraft: 466
- Defense expenditure: $9.5 billion
11. Egypt
- Armed forces personnel: 438,500
- Active military aircraft: 1,069
- Defense expenditure: $4.4 billion
10. Vietnam
- Armed forces personnel: 450,000
- Active military aircraft: 223
- Defense expenditure: N/A
9. South Korea
- Armed forces personnel: 500,000
- Active military aircraft: 1,602
- Defense expenditure: $47.9 billion
8. Iran
- Armed forces personnel: 610,000
- Active military aircraft: 541
- Defense expenditure: $10.3 billion
7. Pakistan
- Armed forces personnel: 660,000
- Active military aircraft: 1,413
- Defense expenditure: $8.5 billion
6. Russia
- Armed forces personnel: 1.1 million
- Active military aircraft: 4,182
- Defense expenditure: $109 billion
5. Ukraine
- Armed forces personnel: 1.25 million
- Active military aircraft: 312
- Defense expenditure: $64.8 billion
4. North Korea
- Armed forces personnel: 1.28 million
- Active military aircraft: 570
- Defense expenditure: N/A
3. United States
- Armed forces personnel: 1.32 million
- Active military aircraft: 13,300
- Defense expenditure: $916 billion
2. India
- Armed forces personnel: 1.47 million
- Active military aircraft: 2,210
- Defense expenditure: $83.6 billion
1. China
- Armed forces personnel: 2.035 million
- Active military aircraft: 3,166
- Defense expenditure: $296.0 billion
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