Who Has the World’s Largest Military?

Military sizes are only part of the equation when we look at the very nature of warfare. Size is one determining factor in the success of operations, but that pales compared to logistics, fire superiority, and other mitigating factors. Today, we're looking at who has the world's largest military.

That's entirely dependent on the size and economy of a nation. Obviously, a larger, well-equipped military is going to be a better bet than a smaller one. However, that isn't always going to be the case for some countries.

Size is only one part of the equation when looking at a modern military. The United States doesn't have the largest military, for example, but makes up for this by having some of the most cutting-edge equipment on the battlefield. Size is one thing, but having better weapons platforms can overcome size.

• Armed forces personnel: 58,600
• Active military aircraft: 353
• Defense expenditure: $32.3 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 114,500
• Active military aircraft: 459
• Defense expenditure: $31.6 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 165,500
• Active military aircraft: 850
• Defense expenditure: $35.5 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 169,500
• Active military aircraft: 601
• Defense expenditure: $27.5 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 196,453
• Active military aircraft: 663
• Defense expenditure: $74.9 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 208,750
• Active military aircraft: 1,004
• Defense expenditure: $61.3 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 216,000
• Active military aircraft: 468
• Defense expenditure: $11.8 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 247,000
• Active military aircraft: 1,451
• Defense expenditure: $50.2 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 355,200
• Active military aircraft: 1,065
• Defense expenditure: $15.8 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 366,500
• Active military aircraft: 665
• Defense expenditure: $22.9 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 404,500
• Active military aircraft: 466
• Defense expenditure: $9.5 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 438,500
• Active military aircraft: 1,069
• Defense expenditure: $4.4 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 450,000
• Active military aircraft: 223
• Defense expenditure: N/A

• Armed forces personnel: 500,000
• Active military aircraft: 1,602
• Defense expenditure: $47.9 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 610,000
• Active military aircraft: 541
• Defense expenditure: $10.3 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 660,000 million
• Active military aircraft: 1,413
• Defense expenditure: $8.5 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 1.1 million
• Active military aircraft: 4,182
• Defense expenditure: $109 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 1.25
• Active military aircraft: 312
• Defense expenditure: $64.8 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 1.28 million
• Active military aircraft: 570
• Defense expenditure: N/A

• Armed forces personnel: 1.32 million
• Active military aircraft: 13,300
• Defense expenditure: $916 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 1.47 million
• Active military aircraft: 2,210
• Defense expenditure: $83.6 billion

• Armed forces personnel: 2.035 million
• Active military aircraft: 3,166
• Defense expenditure: $296.0 billion