Top countries with the largest armies in the world. Where is the United States, the country with the largest military budget in the world
Military technology is advancing rapidly, but manpower remains an essential component of military power. The number of active troops is one of the main indicators of a state's defense capability and influence. Here are the top countries by size of active armed forces and defense budgets for the year 2024.
Manpower remains an essential component of military power. PHOTO: Shutterstock
Using data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies' (IISS) Military Balance 2025 report, Business Insider ranked countries by size of active armed forces and defense budgets for 2024.
Active duty forces include active duty military, pilots, sailors, special operators and members of the Navy. Armies, in particular, rely on size to win and occupy territories. The military can also be used for internal control.
Experts point out that the number of active military personnel is only one element of military power, which can be supplemented by recruiting and mobilizing reservists. Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, points out that “numbers matter, but there are many more aspects that define military capability.”
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) analyzes active forces, reservists and paramilitaries separately to provide a complete picture of each country's human resources.
For example, Vietnam has the most reservists in the world, estimated at 5 million, but experts warn that their experience may be outdated, so their military usefulness is limited. Paramilitaries are also effective for internal security, but “as a military force their value is practically nil”, aadds Mark Cancian.
Comparing global active forces does, however, provide insight into countries' military power priorities. Other elements that define a state's power include equipment, readiness, technologies, air and naval fleets, amphibious capabilities to land assault forces, command and control systems, or nuclear forces. Romania is not in the top 25 countries according to the size of the active armed forces.
Ranking of countries with the most active forces:
1. China – 2,035,000 active military, defense budget: $235 billion
2. India – 1,476,000 active military, defense budget: $74.4 billion
3. United States – 1,316,000 active military, defense budget: $968 billion
4. North Korea – 1,280,000 active military, defense budget: unspecified
5. Russia – 1,134,000 active military, defense budget: $120.3 billion
6. Ukraine – 730,000 active military, defense budget: $28.4 billion
7. Pakistan
8. Iran
9. Ethiopia
10. South Korea
11. Vietnam
12. Egypt
13. Indonesia
14. Brazil
15. Thailand
16. Turkey
17. Eritrea (country in the Horn of Africa)
18. Mexico
19. Colombia
20. Sri Lanka
21. Saudi Arabia
22. Japan
23. France
24. Morocco
25. Iraq
