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List of countries by size of armed forces Here is a list of armed forces ranked by active troop strength. This list is indicative only, as strict comparisons cannot accurately be made. For example, "troop strength" in some forces might include administative or paramilitary functions that in another country might be civilian roles and therefore excluded from the below figures.
Rank Country Active troop Strength (thousands) Reserve troop strength (thousands) Defense expend. as of 2002 (US$ billions) # of Tank s # of Aircraft Carrier s/Cruiser s/ Frigate s/ Destroyer s 1. People's Republic of China 2,255 800 48.4 7,180 0AC/0C/ 42F/ 25D 2. India 2,414 535 19.6 4,300 1AC/0C/ 16F/ 8D 3. United States 1,421 1,259 329.6 7,620 10AC/27C/ 30F/ 49D 4. Russia 1,260 2,400 48 21,870 1AC/ 7C/ 10F/ 14D 5. North Korea 1,082 4,700 4.7 3,500 0C/ 3F/ 0D 6. Pakistan 1,000 513 2.5 2,368 0C/ 8F/ 0D 7. South Korea 686 4,500 12.6 2,200 0C/ 9F/ 6D 8. Iran 520 350 4.9 2,200 0C/ 3F/ 0D 9. Turkey 515 378 8.7 4,205 0C/ 19F/ 0D 10. Vietnam 484 3000 2.3 1,315 0C/ 6F/ 0D 11. Myanmar 444 - 2.8 100 - 12. Egypt 443 254 3.1 4,395 0C/ 10F/ 1D 13. Taiwan 370 1,657 7.5 926+ 0C/ 21F/ 11D 14. Syria 319 354 1.8 4,500 0C/ 2F/ 0D 15. Thailand 306 200 1.7 333 1AC/0C/ 12F/ 0D 16. Ukraine 302 1,000 4.7 3,784 1C/ 12F/ 0D 17. Indonesia 297 400 6.2 - 0C/ 17F/ 1D 18. Germany 296 390 31.5 2,398 0C/ 12F/ 1D 19. Brazil 288 1,115 9.7 178 1AC/0C/ 14F/ 0D 20. France 260 100 38 614 1AC/0C/ 20F/ 12D 21. Ethiopia 253 - 0.4 270+ - 22. Japan 240 47 37.1 1,020 0AC/0C/ 9F/ 45D 23. Italy 217 65 24.2 1,183 1C/ 12F/ 4D 24. United Kingdom 210 57 35.2 543 2AC/0C/ 20F/ 11D 25. Saudi Arabia 199 - 21 1,055 0AC/0C/ 7F/ 0D 26. Israel 197 425 9.4 3,950 - 27. Morocco 196 150 1.3 744 0AC/0C/ 2F/ 0D 28. Mexico 193 300 5.3 - 0AC/0C/ 8F/ 3D 29. Spain 178 329 8.3 552 1AC/0C/ 16F/ 0D 30. Greece 178 6.1 6.2 1,723 0AC/0C/ 12F/ 2D
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India & Pakistan: The Military Build-Up *
PRC official website *
Indian Ministry of Defence *
List of countries by number of active troops *
List of countries by military expenditures
