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Around the world, many nations are known for their governments, vacation spots, or cultures. However, how much do you know about their militaries? Some of these countries are stronger and more powerful than expected, thanks to military involvement. Which ones surprised you?
Australia
The Australian military is one of the strongest military forces in the world, though you might not expect it. With nearly 58,000 active soldiers protecting the massive continent, no one would dare to mess with this nation. They also boast 52 ships, 59 tanks, and over 408 planes/ helicopters to help keep things in line.
Thailand
The Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command or RTA requires 2 years of service for all men of a certain age but can be reduced to one year if a man is enrolled in higher education. With 360,850 active-duty troops and 200,000 reserves, this is one of the world's more powerful forces.
Mexico
The Mexican army should not be messed with, especially after you hear their stats. Boasting an impressive amount of active military members, about 183,562 in total, this military is pretty powerful. There are also 110,000 reserve members waiting in the wings should something ever go awry.
Peru
You might not think of Peru when it comes to a strong and united military, but they're doing pretty well for themselves. In total, they have about 76,228 troops who are then divided between four military regions. These regions have unique headquarters in cities such as Piura, Lima, Arequipa, and Iquitos.
Canada
Some people believe Canada has no army, but that's not true. The Canadian army might have less happening than its southern neighbors though. With a population the size of 10% of the USA, there are fewer people to protect. Despite its massive size, Canada has a military population of only 79,000 active members and is ranked as one of the world's most powerful armies.
Netherlands
The Netherlands army doesn't see a whole lot of action these days, but that doesn't mean they're unprepared should danger strike. An impressive amount of $12.6 billion is spent on military funding every year, higher than most nations considering the number of troops at their disposal. Still, that money is spent for protection.
Taiwan
Taiwan needs to have a pretty substantial backing because of its affiliation with China. As of 2020, there were 300,000 active members of the military as well as 1.6 million reserves in case of an emergency. The Chinese Army is based mainly here, though the remainder resides in Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Dongsha, and Taiping Islands.
Switzerland
Did you know Switzerland has a pretty impressive military defense force? For a neutral country, that doesn't mean they're open to intruders. With a total population closer to 8.4 million citizens, there are only about 21,000 active soldiers in their force. This beautiful nation doesn't need to worry about a navy, a perk of being landlocked!
Norway
Norway, just like more populated countries, needs a defense in place just in case. The population of Norway is relatively low. Due to that, their military population is also pretty low, with only 6,500 active members in the military at any given time. There are 46,000 reserved though, just in case they're needed.
Argentina
The senior military service of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic is not to be messed with, especially since they had a budget of $5.6 million. Their divisions are relatively small, with only about 75,000 active military members. The army's motto is "Born with the Fatherland in May 1810."
China
China is believed to be the strongest military force in the world thanks to the humongous population, modernized weaponry, forward-thinking strategies, and larger than life budget at $166 billion dollars every year. With 1.2 million on reserve, it's easy to understand why China is putting its best foot forward on the battlefield...
Malaysia
The personnel strength of the Malaysian Army is surprising to anyone who doesn't know a lot about the nation. With approximately 80,000 troops already serving in the active army, 50,000 in the reserves, and over 200 tanks, this country is well prepared. Their motto is "Strong and Loyal."
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic doesn't have as much to boast as other military forces. The Czech Republic famously ended conscription in 1990, meaning the citizens of legal age no longer need to sign up for the army. As a result, only about 30,000 people are currently troops in the defense.
Myanmar
Add Myanmar to your radar, because this nation is not messing around when it comes to government protection. They currently have 406,000 soldiers on active duty, 10 attack helicopters, and an impressive amount of fighter jets totaling 128! In Myanmar, the army is actually called the Tatmadaw.
Ukraine
Sitting right beside Russia, Ukraine needs to have a pretty powerful defense in place to be able to rest easy. Thankfully, this nation delivers. They currently own and operate 3,784 combat tanks, a much higher amount than most countries have. They have 255,000 actives and 900,000 in their reserves.
Sweden
Don't mess with Sweden and Sweden won't mess with you. Another fairly neutral country, Sweden prefers to keep their military numbers low. At any given time, they keep about 21,000 active soldiers working for the defense. In terms of equipment, they have 160 combat tanks, 138 fighter jets, and 5 submarines.
United States of America
Famously, the United States of America spends more money on military funding than any other country. Specifically, they spend around $682 billion every year. As far as troops go, they're pretty well prepared. There are 1.4 million actives and 1.1 million in the reserves. This is a lot of room to work with!
Israel
The Israeli army has been in combat with Pakistan for decades, and the nation has adjusted its army over the years in order to win. Since everyone, men and women alike, are required to join the army at a certain point, the troop numbers can reach up to 8.7 million. Annually, they spend about $18 billion on their military...
Greece
Though this nation is economically in turmoil, they're not allowing themselves to be intruded on either. Known as the Hellenic Army, Greece protects its shores with 413,000 military personnel and 11 submarines. Their motto translates to the phrase "Freedom Stems from Valour."
Spain
Spain boasts one of the world's oldest and most well-establish armies. They know their way around a military strategy, especially when they have 124,000 active soldiers to work with on it. Since the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the Spanish army has been a constant in this small European nation.
Algeria
Algeria, in comparison to Canada, has 10 times the amount of active military members. There, the number comes closer to 800,000 actives in order to help counter foreign and domestic threats to the population's wellbeing. However, they allocate little funding to air combat and instead focus mainly on the ground.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has invested lots of funding into the aircraft of its military. With only about 75,000 active members, this number is relatively low considering the massive population of the nation. As far as impact goes, these guys are a pretty big deal. The nation has repeatedly been ranked as the 11th most powerful country in the world.
North Korea
It should come as no surprise that the super-secretive country of North Korea is serious about its military. That being said, not much is known about the status of their power. It is estimated that the budget for military spending comes close to $1.6 billion. Who knows what's going on in there...
Iran
In terms of active troops, the Iranian Armed Forces are the largest in the Middle East. About 610,000 active-duty personnel plus 350,000 reserves are ready to serve their country at any moment. They also have several thousand trained personnel that can be mobilized when needed, totaling their power to about 960,000 personnel overall. Talk about a numbers game...
Poland
Though you may not be aware, Poland has a very strong defense presence. The nation is ranked 23rd out of 140 countries considered as the most powerful militaries in the world. The Polish Armed Forces have some pretty substantial numbers when it comes to troops. Currently, they have 114,050 active duty personnel on their roster.
Brazil
After the United States, the Brazilian Armed Forces are the second-largest military group in the Americas. Thanks to the impressive and expensive military equipment the country is the largest Latin American armed force. They currently have 334,500 active-duty soldiers and are looking to expand their presence under the Calha Norte program.
Vietnam
What this country might lack in some areas, they make up for in their astronomical reserve numbers. It's estimated that over 5 million people are ready to serve their country at any time, alongside helpful combat tools such as the 1,829 combat tanks, 189 jets, 8 submarines, and 5 warships in the nation's possession.
Indonesia
The 476,00 active soldiers and additional 400,000 reserves are all dedicated to the Indonesian Armed Forces. With numbers like these, it's easy to see why they are so feared. The nation has been known for its impressive military capability since the colonial era, and they've only continued to grow every year.
Pakistan
Pakistan and Israel have been at war for centuries. In terms of active military troops, this nation comes in sixth for size. It was also ranked to be the 15th most powerful military in the world. The translation of this military force is "Pākistān Fãuj" or "Pakistan Army."
South Korea
The neighbors to ominous North Korea, South Korea is impressive in its own right. All Korean men over the age of 18 have to serve in the military for at least 18 months unless specially exempt. Even the KPOP boyband known as BTS, despite being major international celebrities, will enlist in the service.
Italy
Despite the population of this major first-world nation, its actual military size is relatively impressive. The country is ranked as the 12th most powerful military in the world. The advanced economy of Italy makes their military very strong, as does the various manufacturing industries based there.
Egypt
The Egyptian Armed Forces are 340,000 strong and ready to show their skills. The nation established armed forces during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1803. Now, centuries later, the army has 4624 tanks, 1133 planes, and 245 naval vessels in its possession. Talk about a come-up!
Germany
During the height of World War II, Germany had over 3.5 million active troops fighting for the nation, but the numbers have drastically decreased every year since losing. Today, only about 60,000 active troops and 325,000 reserves are willing to fight for Germany. They are ranked 4th worldwide for military strength.
Turkey
The Turkish Armed Forces are pretty well-armed, as they are the second-largest standing NATO military force. In 2015, the nation had 639,551 military, civilian, and paramilitary personnel helping to keep everything afloat. The country is ranked 11th overall for military strength in comparison to other nations.
Japan
Technically, this military is not military at all. They're referred to as a "self-defense force" because Japan is prevented from having an army due to the outcome of World War II. This renaming loophole allows the country to at least have a defense set up, should they ever need it. Sneaky...
The United Kingdom
This kingdom certainly has to be pretty united in order to protect its citizens. The country has a massive budget, especially in comparison to other smaller nations--$62 billion dollars! In the possession of the country is also 879 aircraft, 407 army tanks, and 66 naval sea vessels.
India
The Indian Army is one of the strongest armed forces in the entire world thanks to the nation's high population and the massive amount of volunteer soldiers. The current amount of active soldiers is estimated to be close to 1,237,117 as well as about 960,000 in the reserves. Don't mess with these forces...
Russia
Russia, as the largest country in the world, also has one of the largest militaries. In addition to large numbers, they also boast a collection of 15,000 tanks and 350 naval vessels. Not only that, but this nation spends more cash on cyber technology, whereas some countries spend nothing. Things are definitely done differently in Russia...
France
Ranked seventh for military power worldwide, France has a pretty forceful army. With about 270,000 active personnel, this is not a nation that puts a lot of the budget into defense. Their aircraft strength is 1057, and they also have 432 helicopters in possession. This nation is certainly flying high!
South Africa
South Africa is ranked 32 in terms of military strength compared to other nations. With 66,500 actives and 15,000 reserve personnel, this is a nation with less of a military population than most might expect. With 3 submarines and 31 patrol vessels, these guys have more luck on sea than on land.
Romania
Romania is ranked at the 41st position of most powerful military forces. Though they spend quite a bit on artillery and mine warfare, this is still not a nation defined by its military involvement. They have 70,000 actives and 50,000 reserves to help protect them if need be.
Bangladesh
There are 204,000 people active in the Bangladesh military right now, but there are exactly zero reserves. Highly ranked in terms of its parliamentary forces, manpower, frigates, and more, this is certainly a fascinating exploration of military involvement. Bangladesh is a surprising force!
Chile
Though lesser in status than Peru and Brazil, the Chilean Armed Forces have managed to make a name for themselves in Latin America. Thanks to unforeseen technology advancements as well as progressive adjustments, Chile has been moving up the international ranks. Currently, it sits at the 49th most powerful military.
Belarus
Belarus might not be a very well-known nation across the globe, but they have a well-known military. As a landlocked area, the force has no need to spend part of the budget and manpower on a navy. Instead, the focus is fully on land power and air power. For a small spot, they have quite a big impact!
Uzbekistan
This nation is not as impressive as you might expect. With only 48,000 active members of the military and 20,000 paramilitary members, their numbers are on the lower end of the spectrum. Even with a single conscription requirement, it seems their numbers just never go upward...
Portugal
With only 6,599 active personnel but 74 aircraft in possession, it's clear that this nation puts more of its efforts into equipment rather than manpower. Ranked as the 52nd most powerful military, certainly, they've got to be doing something right. Just look to the skies to see this country making its mark...
Morocco
A beloved vacation destination, this tropical spot has more to offer than just a rich culture and beautiful views. There is 310,000 active personnel in the military of this nation, as well as 150,000 reserves and an additional 50,000 parliamentary troops. They are ranked 53rd against all other military-backed nations.
Denmark
Denmark is not to be forgotten when discussing powerful militaries. The Royal Danish Army has 48,700 military troops active and 63,000 reserves. They also have a fair share of weaponry to work with, including 363 tracked and 257 wheeled armored vehicles. Don't mess with Denmark!
Hungary
With somewhere around 22,700 active personnel and a budget of $1.904 billion, you could say that this nation is pretty hungry for success on and off the battlefield. There are also 30 active tanks that the nation possesses, so staying prepared is clearly the goal for this area.
Finland
The Finnish are not yet finished with their military involvement. Because people here can sign up as young as 17, the number of troops is close to 280,000 active personnel. Every Finnish citizen is obligated to serve for at least a year (347 days to be exact) in order to avoid penalty.
Slovakia
About 18,531 uniformed personnel and 4,208 civilians call themselves actives in the Solvokian military. With a budget of $1.67 billion, this is something very important to the nation. Surprisingly, the army is relatively young, having only been instated in the year 1993.
Austria
Ranked the 59th most powerful armed forces, the Austrian army is pretty impactful. There are 22,500 active-duty personnel in the Austrian military as well as 945,000 reservists. The military budget is €2.85 billion, which also includes pensions for military personnel. Conscription only lasts for 6 months.
Ethiopia
The Ethiopian National Defense Force has only 162,000 personnel working for it. What they lack in actives, they make up for in airpower with 86 aircraft. There is also a requirement for people turning 18 to volunteer for the military, though it is not compulsory. Ethiopia has no navy, which allows for spending in other areas.
Serbia
There are 28,150 actives in the Serbian military, but less than 400 are deployed. Generally, Serbia is a very safe nation, but the defense force is in place to keep citizens protected. The army is incredibly young in comparison to most armies around the world, as it was founded in 2007!
Kazakhstan
This nation has 108,740 actives and a reserve personnel amount totaling 132,000 (as of 2019). They also possess 300 tanks for combat. Known as the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, this army is equipped with lots of peacekeeping strategies, more so than other countries.
Croatia
Croatia is a beautiful spot to vacation, but what about serving in the military? There are 15,200 active personnel and 18,350 reserve personnel. The Republic of Croatia Armed Forces is a longtime ally of the United States of America. This began once Croatia gained independence SFR Yugoslavia.
Azerbaijan
In 1991, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan were re-established. With a budget of $2.267 billion, active personnel totaling 126,000, and reserve personnel totaling 330,000, this is a growing force. Currently, they are ranked 64th strongest military in the world.
Angola
Known as either the Angolan Armed Forces or FAA, the Angolan army has a budget of $7 billion to help fund their military. They also work with a navy and air force for defense. However, these branches both have less active members. The last count of actives was in 2013 with 107,000 counted.
Bulgaria
The Bulgarian military has 27,000 troops. These members are broken up by branches, which include 14,310 in the land forces, 6,750 in the air force, and 3,510 in the navy. During World War II, Bulgaria managed to use about 450,000 men in the effort.
Belgium
The Belgian Defense Forces are the military of the country of Belgium. With a modest budget of $5.173 billion, 25,111 active members, and 1,757 reserve personnel. Belgium is one of the few nations that allows any European to join their army, regardless of their born nationality.