As every year, the Global Firepower has published its ranking of the most powerful countries from a military point of view. A total of 140 nations were analyzed. Which states are in the top 10?
The top 4 will remain in 2023. However, the rest of the ranking has changed somewhat since 2022. Unfavorable changes for France, which dropped two places, and favorable for Italy, which joined the top 10.
To determine this ranking, no less than 50 parameters were analyzed and listed by Global Firepower.
These criteria include armaments, the state budget allocated to the armed forces, but also natural resources, mobilized equipment or the land, air and sea forces of each country.
All of this enables the determination of a score, the PowerIndex. Thus, the closer a nation’s index is to 0, the stronger its military power. Here are the ten countries with the largest armed forces in 2023.
United States
In 2023, the United States has a PowerIndex of 0.0712. Uncle Sam’s country has 1.4 million active soldiers for 440,000 reservists. With a defense budget of $770 billion, or around €688.8 billion, the United States is the world’s number one military power.
They officially have nuclear weapons. And according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), they have 5,550 warheads.
Russia
Russia has a PowerIndex of 0.0714. With 850,000 soldiers and 250,000 reservists, the association is in second place. Its defense budget is $154 billion.
SIPRI estimates that Russia has 6,255 nuclear bombs.
China
China has a PowerIndex of 0.0722. The third largest military power in the world has the largest army in the world with 2 million soldiers and 510,000 reservists. China spends $250.2 billion (€227.4 billion) on its defense.
According to SIPRI, China has 350 nuclear bombs.
India
India has a PowerIndex of 0.1025. This Asian country has 1.45 million soldiers and 1.15 million reservists. Its defense budget is $49.6 billion.
India is one of four countries that unofficially possess nuclear weapons. According to SIPRI, it has 156 warheads.
The UK
Great Britain has a PowerIndex of 0.1435. With 194,000 soldiers and 37,000 reservists, our British neighbors are the fifth largest military power in the world. The UK has a defense budget of $38 billion, around €34.4 billion.
Britain officially has 225 nuclear bombs, according to SIPRI.
South Korea
South Korea has a PoweIndex of 0.1505. South Korea borders North Korea and has an army of 555,000 soldiers and 500,000 reservists. Its defense budget is $46.3 billion.
South Korea has no nuclear weapons.
Pakistan
The PowerIndex of Pakistan is 0.1694. This country, which borders China and India, has an army of 640,000 soldiers and 500,000 reservists. Its defense budget is $7.7 billion.
Pakistan unofficially holds the nuclear weapon with 165 warheads, according to SIPRI.
Japan
Japan has a PowerIndex of 0.1711. The archipelago has 240,000 troops and 55,000 reservists for a $47.5 billion defense budget.
Japan has no nuclear weapons.
France
The PowerIndex of France is 0.1848. France is the ninth largest military power in the world. His army has 200,000 soldiers for 35,000 reservists. In 2022, its defense budget will be $40.9 billion, or around €36.6 billion.
According to SIPRI, France officially has nuclear weapons with 290 warheads.
Italy
Italy enters the rankings. With a PowerIndex of 0.1973, the country has risen to tenth place among the militarily strongest nations. Italy has 170,000 soldiers and 20,000 reservists. By 2028, the country aims to increase its military spending to 2% of its GDP. The annual budget is expected to be around 12 billion euros.