Ranking of armies of the world 2023 according to Global Firepower
Contents:
• For 18 years, the Global Firepower website has been closely following the armies of 145 countries around the world. To answer the question of which army is the strongest in the world, the site's experts use more than 50 criteria, ranging from funding to logistics and geographical features.
• Moreover, according to GF experts, thanks to their unique formula (and refusal to take into account nuclear weapons), the armies of even small states are able to compete in the rating in terms of combat readiness with giants like Russia, India and China.
• The world army rating 2023 is formed according to the principle "the smaller PwrIndx (power index), the stronger the country." So far, no one has reached the maximum indicator of military power of 0.0000.
World army ranking 2023, complete list of Global Firepower
| Place | Country | Strength index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. | 0.0712 |
| 2 | Russian Federation | 0.0714 |
| 3 | China | 0.0722 |
| 4 | India | 0.1025 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 0.1435 |
| 6 | South Korea | 0.1505 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 0.1694 |
| 8 | Japan | 0.1711 |
| 9 | France | 0.1848 |
| 10 | Italy | 0.1973 |
| 11 | Turkey | 0.2016 |
| 12 | Brazil | 0.2151 |
| 13 | Indonesia | 0.2221 |
| 14 | Egypt | 0.2224 |
| 15 | Ukraine | 0.2516 |
| 16 | Australia | 0.2567 |
| 17 | Iran | 0.2712 |
| 18 | Israel | 0.2757 |
| 19 | Vietnam | 0.2855 |
| 20 | Poland | 0.3406 |
| 21 | Spain | 0.3556 |
| 22 | Saudi Arabia | 0.3626 |
| 23 | Taiwan | 0.3639 |
| 24 | Thailand | 0.3738 |
| 25 | Germany | 0.3881 |
| 26 | Algeria | 0.3911 |
| 27 | Canada | 0.3956 |
| 28 | Argentina | 0.4243 |
| 29 | Singapore | 0.4613 |
| 30 | Greece | 0.4621 |
| 31 | Mexico | 0.4687 |
| 32 | Philippines | 0.4811 |
| 33 | South Africa | 0.4885 |
| 34 | North Korea | 0.5118 |
| 35 | Norway | 0.5289 |
| 36 | Nigeria | 0.5587 |
| 37 | Sweden | 0.5679 |
| 38 | Myanmar | 0.5768 |
| 39 | Netherlands | 0.5801 |
| 40 | Bangladesh | 0.5871 |
| 41 | Portugal | 0.6116 |
| 42 | Malaysia | 0.6189 |
| 43 | Colombia | 0.7011 |
| 44 | Switzerland | 0.7191 |
| 45 | Iraq | 0.7365 |
| 46 | Chile | 0.7712 |
| 47 | Romania | 0.7735 |
| 48 | Czech Republic | 0.7849 |
| 49 | Ethiopia | 0.7979 |
| 50 | Denmark | 0.8011 |
| 51 | Finland | 0.8099 |
| 52 | Venezuela | 0.8228 |
| 53 | Peru | 0.8466 |
| 54 | Hungary | 0.8643 |
| 55 | Angola | 0.8732 |
| 56 | United Arab Emirates | 0.8978 |
| 57 | Azerbaijan | 0.9391 |
| 58 | Serbia | 0.9571 |
| 59 | Bulgaria | 0.9757 |
| 60 | Belarus | 1.0485 |
| 61 | Morocco | 1.0524 |
| 62 | Uzbekistan | 1.0692 |
| 63 | Kazakhstan | 1.0873 |
| 64 | Syria | 1.1095 |
| 65 | Qatar | 1.1296 |
| 66 | Cuba | 1.1523 |
| 67 | Slovakia | 1.1789 |
| 68 | Belgium | 1.1836 |
| 69 | Croatia | 1.2141 |
| 70 | Ecuador | 1.2181 |
| 71 | Sri Lanka | 1.2478 |
| 72 | Dem. Republic of the Congo | 1.3055 |
| 73 | Tunisia | 1.3243 |
| 74 | Yemen | 1.3985 |
| 75 | Sudan | 1.4079 |
| 76 | Oman | 1.4081 |
| 77 | Bolivia | 1.4339 |
| 78 | Kuwait | 1.4441 |
| 79 | Bahrain | 1.4511 |
| 80 | Libya | 1.4718 |
| 81 | Jordan | 1.5098 |
| 82 | Turkmenistan | 1.5986 |
| 83 | Uganda | 1.6264 |
| 84 | Austria | 1.6543 |
| 85 | Georgia | 1.7181 |
| 86 | Slovenia | 1.7261 |
| 87 | Kenya | 1.7701 |
| 88 | Paraguay | 1.7863 |
| 89 | Zambia | 1.7896 |
| 90 | Ireland | 1.8161 |
| 91 | Albania | 1.8466 |
| 92 | Honduras | 1.8851 |
| 93 | Lithuania | 1.9026 |
| 94 | Armenia | 1.9137 |
| 95 | Latvia | 1.9161 |
| 96 | Uruguay | 1.9269 |
| 97 | Chad | 1.9751 |
| 98 | Zimbabwe | 1.9787 |
| 99 | Mongolia | 2.0263 |
| 100 | Cameroon | 2.0296 |
| 101 | Tanzania | 2.0387 |
| 102 | Guatemala | 2.0419 |
| 103 | New Zealand | 2.0617 |
| 104 | Estonia | 2.0686 |
| 105 | Ivory Coast | 2.0881 |
| 106 | Cambodia | 2.1321 |
| 107 | Kyrgyzstan | 2.1703 |
| 108 | North Macedonia | 2.1717 |
| 109 | Ghana | 2.1741 |
| 110 | Mali | 2.1992 |
| 111 | Lebanon | 2.2381 |
| 112 | Mozambique | 2.2895 |
| 113 | Eritrea | 2.2956 |
| 114 | Afghanistan | 2.3118 |
| 115 | Laos | 2.3168 |
| 116 | Southern Sudan | 2.5261 |
| 117 | Nicaragua | 2.5685 |
| 118 | The Dominican Republic | 2.5742 |
| 119 | Niger | 2.6327 |
| 120 | Tajikistan | 2.6403 |
| 121 | Burkina Faso | 2.6607 |
| 122 | Republic of the Congo | 2.6648 |
| 123 | Namibia | 2.7081 |
| 124 | Botswana | 2.7851 |
| 125 | Senegal | 2.7961 |
| 126 | Luxembourg | 2.8202 |
| 127 | Salvador | 2.8583 |
| 128 | Montenegro | 2.8704 |
| 129 | Nepal | 2.8728 |
| 130 | Madagascar | 2.9078 |
| 131 | Gabon | 2.9235 |
| 132 | Mauritania | 3.0398 |
| 133 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.0788 |
| 134 | Kosovo | 3.2863 |
| 135 | Panama | 3.2877 |
| 136 | CAR | 3.2931 |
| 137 | Iceland | 3.4845 |
| 138 | Sierra Leone | 3.5241 |
| 139 | Belize | 3.7178 |
| 140 | Surinam | 4.0003 |
| 141 | Liberia | 4.0006 |
| 142 | Somalia | 4.0196 |
| 143 | Moldova | 4.0861 |
| 144 | Benin | 4.1269 |
| 145 | Butane | 6.2017 |
Top 10 armies in the world 2023: the strongest
10. Italy
PwrIndx: 0.1848
• According to experts, the reason why Italy appeared in the top ten of the strongest armies in the world in 2023 is a large military budget – $ 37 billion. The events in Ukraine gave an acceleration to the military spending of NATO countries, including Italy. However, in December last year, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview with La Stampa, said that there was no need to increase the country's military budget above 2% of GDP.
• In terms of technology, Italy's results are average: 850 aircraft (13th), 404 helicopters (9th), 197 tanks (62nd overall) and 313 ships (7th).
9. France
PwrIndx: 0,1848
• France does not have as many ships (23rd, 126 units), aircraft (10th, 1004 units) and tanks (58th, 222 units) compared to the rest of the states, however, those that are, modern and very effective.
• Mirage and Rafale aircraft, Tiger helicopters, LeClerc tanks and the only aircraft carrier after the United States with its own nuclear installation – all this is part of the main forces of the French army.
• France is also quite capable of providing itself with machinery and equipment, which, if necessary, will help to conduct protracted hostilities.
8 Japan
PwrIndx: 0,1711
• Although the Japanese army has only 240 thousand people, which is only a small part of the number of dangerous neighbor North Korea (an impressive 1,2 million troops), the Land of the Rising Sun makes up for the difference with the most modern weapons.
• The Japanese have 1 special-purpose aircraft, more than most other armies in the world, and a very impressive fleet of 451 destroyers (third after the US and China). Keeping all this wealth afloat is serious budget allocations (36th place, $11 billion).
7. Pakistan
PwrIndx: 0.1572
• Relations between India and Pakistan continue to be tense, which makes one look at the numbers with redoubled attention – especially given that both countries have nuclear weapons. The population of Pakistan is 242,9 million people (5th in the world). At the moment, there are 654 people in the army of this Muslim country.
• In terms of the number of air force units, Pakistan is in the top ten (7th, 1413 units). Tank troops are slightly behind (8th, 3742 units), but Pakistan, like its rival neighbor, does not have so many ships (28th place, only 114 units).
6. South Korea
PwrIndx: 0,1505
• Although this East Asian country is relatively small in size, however, in terms of the number of armed forces, the number of aircraft (5th place, 1602 units) and the number of tanks (2331 units, 10th place), it is firmly among the top ten leaders. But the navy is small – 157 ships and 19th place, respectively.
• And all this with a relatively small budget ($42,1 billion, 10th in the world). But what to do, South Korea has to build up its muscles in the eternal rivalry with its northern sister, who also tries to keep up, despite the weakness of her economy.
5. England
PwrIndx: 0,1435
• The number of airships (16th, 663), tanks (57th, 227) and naval vessels (38th, 73 units) of the British is not as impressive as the others in the ranking, not to mention on the number of troops. Why is the United Kingdom firmly established in the top ten winners?
• And all thanks to the impressive military budget (7th place in the world, 50,2 billion dollars), which is not inferior to many larger states. And the point is the advantageous location of the island, which is not so easy to attack.
4. India
PwrIndx: 0,1025
• The high rating of India is largely due to its huge population (1,4 billion people) and, as a result, a large number of military personnel (1,4 million people). India does not lag behind others in terms of the number of aircraft and tanks (fourth and sixth places in the list, respectively).
• But the navy is not as numerous as one would expect from a country washed by the Indian Ocean. In terms of the number of ships, it is inferior to the much less numerous Thailand (292 ships against 295 Indian ships). As they say, the reason is the large consumption of oil and its small production.
• Interestingly, the border troops of India are the only ones in the world that use camels as a means of transportation.
3. China
PwrIndx: 0,0722
• If the United States relied on the air force, and Russia – on tank troops, then the Celestial Empire turned its face to the sea. China's naval forces include 730 pieces of military equipment – the first place in the review. In this, it is not far behind its neighbors – Russia (598 units) and, suddenly, North Korea (519 units and 3rd place).
• China also has the second largest military budget, an impressive number of military aircraft (third place after the United States and Russia, 3284 units), and in terms of the number of military personnel, the PLA easily outstrips all other armies in the world – 2 million people.
• And although special forces and other masters of the cloak and dagger are not included in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world according to Global Firepower, China loudly declared itself when a few years ago Chinese soldiers took 3 out of 4 prizes in the annual international competition held by King Abdullah II in Jordan.
2. Russia
PwrIndx: 0,0714
• As in the past year, Russia, along with the rival country of the United States, is at the top of the militaristic pyramid.
• The second place in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world in 2023, Russia is provided primarily by tank equipment (both heavy and light). The overall indicator of the power of tank troops (12 units) in our country is almost twice the estimate of the next one on the list – and no, this is not the United States, but North Korea (566 units).
• Russia is slightly behind other countries in terms of the number of ships, and the availability of fuel for them guarantees the fact that Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world. In terms of the number of military personnel (830 thousand people), the Russian Federation ranks fifth in the world, but this number is constantly fluctuating due to short-term conscripts.
1. USA
PwrIndx: 0,0712
• For several years in a row, the US Army has been ranked first in terms of combat capability and military capacity. But America is not satisfied with the role of an observer armed to the teeth, it actively interferes in the affairs of other countries and is always ready to test new weapons in action.
• True, not all other states enthusiastically accept this situation – in some states (for example, Iran), the US army forces are even included in the list of terrorist organizations. But the American fighting machine is not going to slow down.
• The maintenance of troops (1,3 million people) costs the US treasury a lot, and the lives of soldiers are valued dearly. Each one is insured for up to $500. However, America is ready to pay such a price – it is not without reason that military spending far exceeds all other countries ($000 billion against China's $761 billion and Russia's $230 billion).
• American soldiers are recruited into the army exclusively on a voluntary basis, and they decided not to be limited to US citizens only. Even residents (citizens of other states who permanently reside in America) can become part of the army. It is also important that military service makes it easier to obtain American citizenship. The set goes from 18 to 42 years.
• But the American army is not content with human resources alone. If Russia is a tank power, then the United States is an aviation power. The total number of aircraft and helicopters from all branches of service is more than three times higher than (13 versus 300), not to mention other states with the most powerful armies.
