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Military and economic experts regularly determine the global index of military power - the Global Firepower Index. This is one of the most objective ratings; it takes into account more than 50 different indicators. This year, experts analyzed the armed forces of 127 states.

When compiling the Global Firepower (GFP) Index, not only a scrupulous count of tanks, aircraft and warships is carried out, but also the number of personnel of the army and its reserve, the level of financing of the military sphere, the country's transport infrastructure, oil production, the size of public debt and even the length of the coastal lines - in a word, all factors that can affect the combat effectiveness of the national army.

The presence of a nuclear arsenal is not taken into account, but states with nuclear weapons receive a “bonus”. The top three - the USA, Russia and China - have remained unchanged for three years. This is what the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world looked like in 2015.

America has long been ahead of everyone else in military spending. China has also been in second place in terms of military budget for many years. Russia is in third. The Chinese army is the largest in the world. Russia is the first in the world in the number of tanks.

1. USA

Photo website army.mil.

Defense budget - $587,800,000,000 (almost $588 billion)

5,884 tanks

19 aircraft carriers

13762 aircraft

The total number of naval vessels is 415

Army size - 1,400,000

2. Russia

Defense budget - $44.6 billion

20,215 tanks

1 aircraft carrier

3,794 aircraft

Army strength - 766,055

3. China

Defense budget - $161.7 billion

6,457 tanks

1 aircraft carrier

2,955 aircraft

Army size - 2,335,000

4. India

Defense budget - $51 billion

4,426 tanks

3 aircraft carriers

2,102 aircraft

Army size - 1,325,000

5. France

Photo: page French Armed Forces on Facebook.

Defense budget - $35 billion

406 tanks

4 aircraft carriers

1,305 aircraft

Army size: 205,000

6. UK

Prince Harry during his military service. Royal Navy Marine Instagram photo.

Defense budget - $45.7 billion

249 tanks

1 helicopter carrier

856 aircraft

Army size - 150,000

7. Japan

Defense budget - $43.8 billion

700 tanks

4 helicopter carriers

1,594 aircraft

Army size: 250,000

8. Türkiye

Defense budget - $8.2 billion

2445 tanks

Aircraft carriers - 0

1,018 aircraft

Army size - 410,500

9. Germany

Defense budget - $39.2 billion

543 tanks

Aircraft carriers - 0

698 aircraft

Army size - 180,000

10. Italy

Photo from flickr.com

Defense budget - $34 billion

200 tanks

Aircraft carriers - 2

822 aircraft

Army size - 320,000

11. South Korea

Defense budget - $43.8 billion

2,654 tanks

1 aircraft carrier

1,477 aircraft

Army size - 625,000

It is worth noting that the most important criterion for evaluating an army is combat operations. And the Global Firepower Index does not take this parameter into account. Russia and the United States also have a clear advantage here, for example, over China. Russia fought with Georgia and, how can I put it, probably with Ukraine. Plus he is conducting a military operation in Syria. And the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is also participating in operations in Syria.

A powerful and combat-ready army is the key to a country’s significant weight in the international arena. Moreover, in connection with the well-known events in Syria and Ukraine, the closest attention is increasingly being paid to the military power of different countries. Many people ask the question: “Who will win the world war?”

Today we present an annually updated, official ranking of the world's armies, a list that includes the most powerful armies in the world in 2017.

When compiling the rating, the following are compared:
- the number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
- weapons (airplanes, helicopters, tanks, navy, artillery, other equipment)
- military budget, resource availability, geographical location, logistics.

Nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, but recognized nuclear powers receive an advantage in ranking.

By the way, San Marino has the weakest army in the world in 2017 – only 80 people.

10 South Korea

The Korean army is the third largest in Asia - 630 thousand troops. The country has a very high number of military personnel per thousand inhabitants - 14.2 people. Korea's defense budget is $33.7 billion.

9 Germany

The country's military budget is $45 billion. The number of German armed forces is 186,500 people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.

8 Türkiye

The Turkish army is the best in the Middle East. The number of the country's armed forces is 510,000 people. Turkey's military budget is $18 billion. There are just over 7 military personnel per thousand residents of the country.

7 Japan

The Japanese army is seventh in the list of the best. The combat-ready part of the army numbers 247 thousand military personnel. With such a large armed force, the country has a simply huge defense budget - $49 billion.

6 UK

The country's military budget is $53 billion. The size of the British armed forces is 188,000 military personnel - this is the smallest army in the ranking. But the Royal Navy of Britain is the second in the world in terms of tonnage.

5 France

Opens a list of the 5 most powerful armies in the world. The country's military budget is $43 billion. The number of French armed forces is 222,000 people. The key to the combat effectiveness of this army is the presence in it of a full range of weapons of its own production, from warships to helicopters and small arms.

4 India

The country's military budget is $46 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,346,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.

3 China

The largest army in the world ranking is the Chinese army, numbering 2,333,000 troops. Wikipedia shows that there are 1.71 military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. China's military budget is $126 billion.

2 Russia

The Russian armed forces are superior to almost all armies of the world in terms of weapons power in all branches of the military - air, ground and sea. The size of the Russian army for 2017 is 798,000 people. Military budget - $76 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high rate of the number of military personnel per 1000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

1 USA

The most powerful army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, is American. By the way, it is not the largest in terms of numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons, including nuclear potential, which is not taken into account by experts. The US Army has a strength of 1,492,200 people and a defense budget of $612 billion.

Since ancient times, the armed forces have been the main and fundamental guarantor of the independence of any country and the security of its citizens. Diplomacy and interstate treaties are also important factors of international stability, but as practice shows, when it comes to military conflict, they often do not work. Events in Ukraine are obvious proof of this. Indeed, who wants to shed the blood of their soldiers for the interests of others? Today we will try to answer the question - whose army is the strongest in the world, whose military power is unrivaled?

As Russian Emperor Alexander III once said: “Russia has only two reliable allies - its army and navy.” And he is one hundred percent right. Naturally, this statement is true not only for Russia, but also for any other state.

Today in the world there are more than 160 armies of varying sizes, weapons and military doctrines.

One of the greatest commanders in history, the French Emperor Napoleon I believed that “the big battalions are always right,” but in our time the situation has changed somewhat.

It should be understood that the strength of a modern army is determined not only by its numbers; it largely depends on the effectiveness of its weapons, the training of its fighters, and their motivation. The time of mass conscription armies is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Modern armed forces are a very expensive pleasure. The cost of the latest tank or fighter is tens of millions of dollars, and only very rich countries can afford a large and strong army.

There is another factor that arose after the end of World War II - nuclear weapons. Its power is so terrifying that it still keeps the world from starting another global conflict. Today, two states have the largest nuclear arsenals - Russia and the United States. A conflict between them is guaranteed to lead to the end of our civilization.

Disputes often flare up on the Internet about which is the strongest army in the world. This question is somewhat incorrect, since only a full-scale war can compare armies. There are too many factors that determine the strength or weakness of certain armed forces. When compiling our rating, we took into account the size of the armed forces, their technical equipment, the development of the military-industrial complex, army traditions, as well as the level of funding.

When compiling the top 10 most powerful armies in the world, the factor of the existence of nuclear weapons was not taken into account.

So, meet the strongest armies in the world.

10. Germany. Our ranking of the top 10 most powerful armies on the planet opens with the Bundeswehr – the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists of the ground forces, navy, aviation, medical service and logistics service.

The armed forces of the Bundeswehr number 186 thousand people, the German army is completely professional. The country's military budget is $45 billion. Despite its rather modest size (compared to other participants in our rating), the German army is very highly trained, equipped with the latest types of weapons, and Germany’s military traditions can only be envied. It should be noted the highest level of development of the country's military-industrial complex - German tanks, aircraft, and small arms are deservedly considered among the best in the world.

Germany could count on a higher place in the top 10, but the foreign policy of this country is peaceful. Apparently, the Germans have fought enough in the last century, so they are no longer drawn to military adventures. In addition, Germany has been a member of NATO for many years, so in the event of any military threats, it can count on the help of the United States and other allies.

9. France. In ninth place in our ranking is France, a country with rich military traditions, a very advanced military-industrial complex and significant armed forces. Their number is 222 thousand people. The country's military budget is $43 billion. France's military-industrial complex allows it to provide its army with almost all the necessary weapons - from small arms to tanks, aircraft and reconnaissance satellites.

However, it should be noted that the French, like the Germans, do not seek to resolve foreign policy issues by military means. France has no disputed territories with its neighbors, nor any frozen conflicts.

8. Great Britain. In eighth place in our ranking is Great Britain, a country that managed to create a world empire on which the sun never set. But that's in the past. Today the number of British armed forces is 188 thousand people. The country's military budget is $53 billion. The British have a very decent military-industrial complex, which is able to produce tanks, airplanes, warships, small arms and other types of weapons.

England has the second largest navy (after the USA) in terms of tonnage. It includes nuclear submarines, and two light aircraft carriers are being built for the country's Navy.

British special operations forces are considered one of the best in the world.

Great Britain participates in almost all military conflicts where the United States is present (the first and second conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan). So the experience of the British army is not lacking.

7. Türkiye. The army of this country is considered the strongest among the Muslim armies of the Middle East. The descendants of the warlike Janissaries managed to create very combat-ready armed forces, which in the region are second in power only to the Israeli army. That is why Türkiye is in seventh place in our ranking.

6. Japan. In sixth place in our top 10 ranking is Japan, which formally does not have an army at all; its functions are performed by the so-called “self-defense forces.” However, don’t let this name fool you: the country’s armed forces number 247 thousand people and are the fourth largest in the Pacific region.

The main rivals that the Japanese fear are China and North Korea. In addition, the Japanese still have not concluded a peace treaty with Russia.

Japan has a significant air force, ground forces and an impressive navy, which is considered one of the strongest in the world. Japan has more than 1,600 combat aircraft, 678 tanks, 16 submarines, and 4 helicopter carriers.

This country has the third largest economy in the world, so it is not difficult for Japan to allocate serious money for the maintenance and development of its army. Japan's military budget is $47 billion, which is quite good for a military of its size.

Separately, it should be noted the high level of development of the country's military-industrial complex - in terms of its technical equipment, the Japanese armed forces are considered one of the best in the world. Today in Japan they are creating a fifth-generation fighter, and it will probably be ready in the coming years.

In addition, Japan is one of the United States' closest allies in the region. There are American bases on the country's territory; the United States supplies Japan with the latest types of weapons. However, despite this, Japan plans to further increase its defense spending. Well, the descendants of samurai are not short of experience and fighting spirit.

5. South Korea. Fifth place in our top 10 ranking is occupied by another Southeast Asian state – South Korea. This country has an impressive armed forces with a total strength of 630 thousand people. It is in third place in the region, second only to China and the DPRK. South Korea has been at war for more than sixty years—peace has never been concluded between Pyongyang and Seoul. The armed forces of the DPRK number almost 1.2 million people; the North Koreans consider their southern neighbors to be their main enemy and constantly threaten them with war.

It is clear that in such a situation, South Korea has to pay a lot of attention to the development of its own army. $33.7 billion is allocated annually for defense needs. The South Korean army is considered one of the best equipped not only in its region, but also in the world. South Korea is one of the closest and most loyal allies of the United States in the region, so the Americans supply Seoul with the latest weapons; there are US bases in the country. Therefore, if a conflict between the DPRK and South Korea does begin, it is not a fact that the northerners (despite their numerical superiority) will emerge victorious.

4. India. In fourth place in our top 10 ranking are the Indian Armed Forces. This huge, populous country with a booming economy has a military of 1.325 million and spends approximately $50 billion on defense.

In addition to the fact that India is the owner of nuclear weapons, its armed forces are the third largest in the world. And there is a simple explanation for this: the country is in a state of permanent conflict with its neighbors: China and Pakistan. In the recent history of India, there have been three bloody wars with Pakistan and a huge number of border incidents. There are also unresolved territorial disputes with a strong China.

India has a serious navy, which includes three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines.

Every year the Indian government spends significant sums on the purchase of new weapons. And if earlier Indians mainly purchased weapons made in the USSR or Russia, now they increasingly prefer higher-quality Western models.

In addition, recently the country's leadership has been paying a lot of attention to the development of its own military-industrial complex. A few years ago, a new strategy for the development of the defense industry was adopted, which goes under the motto “Make in India”. Now, when purchasing weapons, Indians give preference to those suppliers who are ready to open production facilities in the country and share the latest technologies.

3. China. In third place in our ranking of the top 10 strongest armies is the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA). This is the largest armed force on the planet - its number is 2.333 million people. China's military budget is the second largest in the world, second only to the United States. It amounts to $126 billion.

China is striving to become the second superpower after the United States, and it is impossible to do this without powerful armed forces; it certainly cannot do without the largest army in the world.

Today the Chinese are armed with 9,150 tanks, 2,860 aircraft, 67 submarines, a large number of combat aircraft and multiple launch rocket systems. There has been debate for quite some time about how many warheads the PRC has in stock: the official figure is several hundred, but some experts believe that the Chinese have an order of magnitude larger number.

The Chinese army is constantly improving its technical level. If ten to fifteen years ago most types of military equipment in service with the PLA were outdated copies of Soviet models, today the situation has changed dramatically.

Currently, the PRC is working on the creation of a fifth-generation fighter; its latest developments in the field of tank building and missile weapons are not much inferior to models made in Russia or the West. Much attention is paid to the development of naval forces: recently the first aircraft carrier (the former Varyag, purchased from Ukraine) appeared in the Chinese Navy.

Considering the enormous resources (financial, human, technological) that China has, the armed forces of this country will become a formidable rival in the coming years for the countries that occupy the first positions in our ranking.

2. Russia. In second place in our top 10 ranking are the Russian armed forces, which in many respects remain the strongest on the planet.

In terms of the number of personnel, the Russian army ranks only fifth, behind the United States, China, India and the DPRK. Its population is 798 thousand people. The budget of the Russian defense department is $76 billion. However, at the same time, it has one of the most powerful ground forces in the world: more than fifteen thousand tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and combat helicopters.

1. USA. The United States of America is in first place in the top 10. In terms of the number of personnel, the US Army is second only to China (albeit significantly), its strength is 1.381 million people. At the same time, the US military department has a budget that generals of other armies can only dream of - $612 billion, which allows it to be the most powerful country in the world.

The strength of modern armed forces depends largely on their funding. Therefore, the huge American defense budget is one of the main components of its success. It allows Americans to develop and purchase the most modern (and most expensive) weapons systems, supply their army at the highest level, and simultaneously conduct several military campaigns in different parts of the world.

Today, the US Army has 8,848 tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and other military equipment, and 3,892 military aircraft. While during the Cold War, Soviet strategists focused on tanks, the Americans actively developed combat aviation. Currently the US Air Force

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Each state must ensure the protection of its inhabitants and territorial borders. For this purpose, armed forces are created. They react to aggression, fight for the freedom of the country, and protect its population. This rating was selected based on information taken from Wikipedia, as well as a list of military financing compiled by the SIPRI Institute (Stockholm, Sweden). So. Below are the 10 most powerful, powerful armies in the world.

Brazil spends $34 billion annually on its military, which is 1.1% of the country's GDP. Its army is considered the largest in Latin America - about 300 thousand people are in regular service, another 1 million are in reserve. Recruitment to it is actually voluntary. Brazil has one aircraft carrier, approximately 500 tanks, 5 submarines and 750 aircraft.

The Japanese Armed Forces were formed in 1954 from the National Security Forces created two years earlier. The ninth article of the Japanese Constitution limits the military activities of the self-defense forces not related to the defense of the country. Simply put, its main task is the defense of the state and the protection of the freedoms and independence of the country. The budget of the Japanese army is from 43 to 47 billion dollars. The total number of self-defense forces is approximately 250 thousand people, 56 thousand are in reserve.

Türkiye is one of the most peaceful countries. This is achieved thanks to the army. About $20 billion is spent annually on the needs of the armed forces. The Turkish army is designed to protect the freedom, independence and integrity of the state. The ground forces are considered the second most powerful in the NATO bloc, after the American ground forces. The number of Turkish armed forces is 510,600, with 378,700 in reserve.

Bundeswehr (Germany)

The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany were formed on November 12, 1955. The main duty of the Bundeswehr is to prevent conflicts and protect borders. According to statistics, there are 170 thousand people in the service of Germany, 4 million in reserve. Men aged 18 to 45 are considered liable for military service. Every year Germany spends about $45 billion to finance the needs of the army.

For several years now, India has been ranked first in terms of arms imports. The developing country is experiencing political instability, corruption, terrorism and more. Naturally, its army must be very strong, which India has. In 2014, $50 billion (2.4% of GDP) was allocated for India's military needs. There is no compulsory conscription in the country. The main prerogative of a military organization is the defense of the Republic, borders and freedoms of the state. The total number of regular military personnel in India is 1,395,000, reserve 1,155,000.

France is one of the few countries that has almost a full range of modern weapons and military equipment in its stock. There are 355 thousand people in the French service, including reservists. Conscription in the country has been abolished since 1997, but those who wish can join the army from the age of 17. France also has nuclear weapons, namely 4 strategic missile submarines and hundreds of aircraft with nuclear missiles.

Since 1707, the British Armed Forces have combined the armies of Scotland and England. The expenditures of the two governments on the military industry amount to about 60 billion dollars a year. As a multinational force, the British Army is involved in trouble spots around the world, as well as in UN peacekeeping operations around the world.

The People's Republic of China has the largest number of active employees. China has 2.4 million active duty personnel, but could theoretically mobilize around 400 million in wartime. The most powerful military power, according to rough estimates, increased funding from 17 billion dollars to 70 (the difference between 2000 and 2009), and in 2014 spent about 200 billion dollars.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are intended to repel aggression directed against the Russian Federation, protect territorial integrity, and also to carry out military tasks in accordance with international treaties. It is considered one of the strongest in the world, while having expenses of $85 billion (less than China and the USA). Russia has the largest amount of equipment and nuclear weapons in its arsenal. Today, the army employs 1 million 200 thousand people. There are 2 million people in reserve. Russia's potential mobilization resource is estimated at 69 million people. Conscription in Russia is mandatory for all young men from 18 to 27 years old. The service lasts 12 months.

Incredible spending on the military industry puts America in 1st place both among the most powerful and among countries in military spending - $600 billion (3.5% of GDP). There are 700 thousand people in active service in the US Armed Forces, with another 200 thousand in the reserves. Land military operations are the main prerogative of the American Army. The huge budget is mainly spent on overseas operations, technologies that help in combat and equipment. More than 7,000 tanks, 13 thousand units of aircraft, about 7 thousand nuclear bombs (including nuclear missiles), more than 70 submarines and 10 aircraft carriers.

A powerful and combat-ready army is the key to a country’s significant weight in the international arena. Moreover, in connection with the well-known events in Syria and Ukraine, the closest attention is increasingly being paid to the military power of different countries. Many people ask the question: “Who will win the world war?”

Today we present an annually updated, official ranking of the world's armies; the full list includes the most powerful armies in the world in 2018.

Read updated according to Globalfirepower.

The top 10 was compiled according to data from a specialized resource.

• number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
• weapons (airplanes, helicopters, tanks, navy, artillery, other equipment)
• military budget,
• resource availability, geographical location,
• logistics.

Nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, but those recognized receive an advantage in ranking.

In 2018, the rating included136 countries. New to the list are Ireland (116th), Montenegro (121st) and Liberia(135 position).

By the way, San Marino has the weakest army in the world in 2018 - only 84 people.

10. German Army

Germany's military budget increased from 45 to 46 billion dollars. At the same time, the number of military personnel decreased - from186 up to 178 thousand people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.

9. Turkish Armed Forces

In the past, the country of luxurious beaches and beautiful tomatoes ranked eighth in the top armies of the world. The number of its armed forces is 350 thousand people, and its military budget is 10.2 billion dollars.

8. Japan Self-Defense Forces

The Land of the Rising Sun worsened its military performance and dropped one place in the list of the best armies in the world. The military budget decreased from 49 to 44 billion dollars, but the number of military personnel did not change - over 247 thousand people.

7. South Korean Army

Compared to the previous ranking, South Korea “jumped” from 10th to 7th place. There are 625 thousand military personnel serving in the Korean army. The eternal rival, North Korea, has 945 thousand soldiers. And South Korea's defense budget is $40 billion.

6. British Army

Although the country's position on the list has not changed, it has improved its performance in terms of army size (197 thousand people versus 188 thousand people). However, it still remains the smallest army in the ranking.

England's military budget decreased compared to 2017 from 55 to 50 billion dollars.

5. French Army

The French army, which opened the top 5 most powerful armies in the world, is small in number. Currently, 205 thousand people serve in it. At the same time, the country's defense budget is $40 billion.

4. Indian Armed Forces

The country's military budget is $47 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,362,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.

3. Chinese Army

The Celestial Empire has the largest human military force in the ranking of armies in the world. It employs 2,183,000 people. According to Wikipedia, there are 1.71 military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. And China’s military budget is huge, comparable to the army - $151 billion (increased from $126 billion compared to 2017).

2. Russian Army

The Russian armed forces are superior to almost all armies of the world in terms of weapons power in all branches of the military - air, ground and sea. The size of the Russian army for 2018 is 1,013,000 people. The military budget is $47 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high rate of the number of military personnel per 1000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

1. US Army

The most powerful army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, American. By the way, it is not the largest in terms of numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons, including nuclear potential, which is not taken into account by experts. The size of the US Army is 1,281,900 people, and the defense budget is 647 billion.dollars.

Comparison table of armies of the world (Infographics)

No matter how armed the army is, the morale of the soldiers will play an important role in winning a world war. In this regard, it is a big mistake to consider the current distribution of seats to be absolutely correct.