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Numbers may not be everything, but being able to overwhelm an enemy with sheer size does lend a certain advantage. There are a lot of other factors to consider when you’re trying to determine the strongest military on the planet (like firepower, technology, training and more), but if you’re curious about the largest armies in the world in terms of active personnel, read ahead.
Keep in mind that these figures are combined totals, incorporating not only army personnel, but also navy, air force, special operations, marines, and other branches.
1. People’s Republic of China – 2,285,000
Marine’s of the People’s Liberation Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It shouldn’t come as any shock that the largest army in the world belongs to the People’s Republic of China, also the most populous country on the planet. China has a population of 1,354,040,000 according to an official estimate at the end of last December. In theory, all Chinese men are required to serve a term of military service if called upon in the People’s Liberation Army, but there are enough volunteers that there has never been a need to call on conscripts.
2. United States of America – 1,429,995
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The U.S. has the second-largest army on the planet, and as you can see, it has substantially fewer active members than that of the world’s largest army. Interestingly enough, however, there are actually more reserve personnel in the U.S. military than there are in the Chinese military. There are also more military personnel per capita in the U.S. than in China.
3. India – 1,325,000
Madras Regiment of the Indian Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You may not think about India when thinking of the largest army in the world, but it does come in at number 3 as far as active military personnel are concerned. This isn’t surprising in light of it being a hugely populous nation. There are almost twice as many reserve military members as active members in India.
4. North Korea – 1,106,000North Korean Soldier standing guard
North Korean soldier standing guard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Not far behind India comes North Korea. North Korea is a small country which literally cannot afford its sizeable military. North Korea already has a tiny budget, but chooses to allocate around one quarter of its financial resources toward its military. In a country where a lot of people can’t even eat, many agree this is pretty pitiful. Incredibly enough, North Korea has a reserve military force of more than 8 million personnel. It may not have the biggest active military on the planet, but it does have the largest reserve military on earth.
5. Russia – 1,027,000
Russian soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The current incarnation of the Russian Federation’s army originated with the Russian Federation itself in 1992 after the Soviet Union’s breakup. Along with the million or so personnel in the active military, Russia has over 2 million personnel in reserve forces.
6. South Korea – 687,000
South Korean soldiers commemorating the 62nd anniversay of the Korean War (Photo credit: USAG-Humphreys)
The South Korean military is much smaller than the North Korean military, but being as South Korea has long received assistance from the United States, this makes a lot of sense. Naturally South Korea’s budget is a lot more balanced than its belligerent neighbor to the north. South Korea is preparing to come into its own over the next couple of years and assume independent control of its military forces. As such, it is directing more of its budget toward its weapons systems and technological upgrades.
7. Pakistan – 617,000
Pakistani soldier on watch in Swat valley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pakistan has long has bellicose relationships with its neighboring countries, particularly India. Pakistan imports many of its weapons from the United States and China and continues to work closely with the two largest armies in the world to develop new technology and maintain the security of its borders.
8. Iraq – 578,269
The Iraqi Army 9th Mechanized Division (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Iraqi military forces have collapsed and been rebuilt a number of times over the years. The most recent crisis in Iraq was the invasion in 2003, which overturned the rule of Saddam Hussein. After Hussein’s downfall, the U.S. assisted the Iraqi government with the rebuilding of its forces into the current incarnation of the Iraqi military. Currently, the military in Iraq is overseen by the Iraqi Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior. Iraq has 0 military reserve personnel.
Keep in mind that these figures are combined totals, incorporating not only army personnel, but also navy, air force, special operations, marines, and other branches.
1. People’s Republic of China – 2,285,000
Marine’s of the People’s Liberation Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It shouldn’t come as any shock that the largest army in the world belongs to the People’s Republic of China, also the most populous country on the planet. China has a population of 1,354,040,000 according to an official estimate at the end of last December. In theory, all Chinese men are required to serve a term of military service if called upon in the People’s Liberation Army, but there are enough volunteers that there has never been a need to call on conscripts.
2. United States of America – 1,429,995
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The U.S. has the second-largest army on the planet, and as you can see, it has substantially fewer active members than that of the world’s largest army. Interestingly enough, however, there are actually more reserve personnel in the U.S. military than there are in the Chinese military. There are also more military personnel per capita in the U.S. than in China.
3. India – 1,325,000
Madras Regiment of the Indian Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You may not think about India when thinking of the largest army in the world, but it does come in at number 3 as far as active military personnel are concerned. This isn’t surprising in light of it being a hugely populous nation. There are almost twice as many reserve military members as active members in India.
4. North Korea – 1,106,000North Korean Soldier standing guard
North Korean soldier standing guard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Not far behind India comes North Korea. North Korea is a small country which literally cannot afford its sizeable military. North Korea already has a tiny budget, but chooses to allocate around one quarter of its financial resources toward its military. In a country where a lot of people can’t even eat, many agree this is pretty pitiful. Incredibly enough, North Korea has a reserve military force of more than 8 million personnel. It may not have the biggest active military on the planet, but it does have the largest reserve military on earth.
5. Russia – 1,027,000
Russian soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The current incarnation of the Russian Federation’s army originated with the Russian Federation itself in 1992 after the Soviet Union’s breakup. Along with the million or so personnel in the active military, Russia has over 2 million personnel in reserve forces.
6. South Korea – 687,000
South Korean soldiers commemorating the 62nd anniversay of the Korean War (Photo credit: USAG-Humphreys)
The South Korean military is much smaller than the North Korean military, but being as South Korea has long received assistance from the United States, this makes a lot of sense. Naturally South Korea’s budget is a lot more balanced than its belligerent neighbor to the north. South Korea is preparing to come into its own over the next couple of years and assume independent control of its military forces. As such, it is directing more of its budget toward its weapons systems and technological upgrades.
7. Pakistan – 617,000
Pakistani soldier on watch in Swat valley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pakistan has long has bellicose relationships with its neighboring countries, particularly India. Pakistan imports many of its weapons from the United States and China and continues to work closely with the two largest armies in the world to develop new technology and maintain the security of its borders.
8. Iraq – 578,269
The Iraqi Army 9th Mechanized Division (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Iraqi military forces have collapsed and been rebuilt a number of times over the years. The most recent crisis in Iraq was the invasion in 2003, which overturned the rule of Saddam Hussein. After Hussein’s downfall, the U.S. assisted the Iraqi government with the rebuilding of its forces into the current incarnation of the Iraqi military. Currently, the military in Iraq is overseen by the Iraqi Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior. Iraq has 0 military reserve personnel.
