10 Countries With the Biggest Armies, America Ranks Relatively Low
Many people believe that the American military is the best in the world. And there’s good reason for that; the U.S. has made immense technological advancements in warfare thanks to military funding over the decades.
However, other countries have amassed large—and, in many cases, larger—militaries. While some believe the U.S. has enough funding and troops to keep our country safe, it doesn’t have the biggest army in the world.
Don’t believe us? Turn to Visual Capitalist, for they measured military forces worldwide to see which countries have the biggest armies. You’ll be among many if you’re shocked to learn where the U.S. falls on this list.
Measuring the Largest Armies
Visual Capitalist ranked the top 10 countries with the largest military personnel according to results that are up to date as of 2024. The results include active, reserve, and paramilitary personnel based on data from Global Firepower.
Here are the countries with the largest armies, starting with the largest army of them all.
1. Vietnam
Approximate total military personnel: 5.8 million
2. India
Approximate total military personnel: 5.1 million
3. South Korea
Approximate total military personnel: 3.8 million
4. Russia
Approximate total military personnel: 3.6 million
5. China
Approximate total military personnel: 3.2 million
6. Ukraine
Approximate total military personnel: 2.2 million
7. United States
Approximate total military personnel: 2.1 million
8. North Korea
Approximate total military personnel: 2.0 million
9. Pakistan
Approximate total military personnel: 1.7 million
10. Iran
Approximate total military personnel: 1.2 million
Vietnam’s Compulsory Military Service
Vietnam has the largest military in the world, much of which is due to the country’s compulsory enlistment. Since the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of young Vietnamese men have joined the army yearly, serving for two years. Women can join the Vietnamese army by volunteering.
It’s easy to be fooled by numbers, though. As Visual Capitalist points out, China currently has the biggest standing army, with more than two million active personnel. Vietnam’s over five million army reserve is what ranks it as the biggest military in the world.
Over 1.5 million Vietnamese men reach military age each year. Many wealthy families in the country pay bribes to have their children avoid enlistment, leading to stricter laws. As of 2020, the Vietnamese army has submarines, strike fighters, anti-aircraft missiles, radar systems, and tanks.
American Military Readiness Concerns
The U.S. military ranks seventh among the world’s biggest armies and has been growing over the last few decades. But its readiness is in doubt, experts say. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, the American military as a whole ranked 9 out of 16 for resource readiness and 5 out of 17 for mission capacity.
As Americans well know, the Army is only one piece of our military puzzle. There appears to be weakness in other branches as well.
For example, the Navy reportedly has a nearly $2 billion maintenance backlog, with fatigue and crew shortages affecting personnel numbers. The future of military combat is also in doubt, for some experts note that the U.S. military’s space readiness is unclear after the creation of the U.S. Space Force.
Show Me the Money
The United States spends more on its military than any other country. As of 2022, the U.S. spent approximately $877 billion in one year on military spending.
China, Russia, and India are behind the U.S., with China spending about $292 billion and Russia and India spending close to $85 billion each.
Qatar’s Rapid Military Growth
Military forces are ever-changing worldwide, with some countries developing quicker than others. According to a 2023 report, Qatar is the fastest growing military in the world with its defense spending taking up nearly 4% of its GDP. Serbia and Singapore are the second and third fastest-growing military forces, respectively.
Smallest Army
The smallest army in the world belongs to Haiti. As of 2024, Haiti has only 150 troops. It’s also one of the poorest countries in the world with a gross domestic product of about $1,700 per capita.
50 Weirdest Laws in Each State
Most Americans are clear on treating thy neighbor as they’d want to be treated to reduce the chance of fines and jail time. But did you know you could be breaking the law by carrying an ice cream cone in your pocket? These are the weirdest laws in each state, most of which courts (thankfully!) no longer enforce.
50 Weirdest Laws in Each State That’ll Make You Chuckle
14 Things Americans Realize as They Get Older
Some people fear aging, but at least one good thing often comes with it: The wisdom not to do things that sound like a good idea but aren’t. These are some of the valuable lessons many Americans have learned once they have several decades under their belts.
