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List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel

This is a list of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel. It includes any government-sponsored soldiers used to further the domestic and foreign policies of their respective government. The term "country" is used in its most common use, in the sense of state which exercises sovereignty or has limited recognition.

Tables

According to International Institute for Strategic Studies · List by the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Country
Afghanistan
Active military
172,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
172,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Albania
Albania
Country
Albania
Active military
7,500
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
7,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Algeria
Algeria
Country
Algeria
Active military
139,000
Reserve military
150,000
Paramilitary
187,200
Total
476,200
Per 1,000 capita (total)
10
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Angola
Angola
Country
Angola
Active military
107,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
10,000
Total
117,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
Country
Antigua and Barbuda
Active military
200
Reserve military
80
Paramilitary
0
Total
280
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Argentina
Argentina
Country
Argentina
Active military
83,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
31,250
Total
114,250
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Armenia
Armenia
Country
Armenia
Active military
42,900
Reserve military
210,000
Paramilitary
4,300
Total
257,200
Per 1,000 capita (total)
86
Per 1,000 capita (active)
14
Australia
Australia
Country
Australia
Active military
58,540
Reserve military
21,450
Paramilitary
0
Total
79,990
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Austria
Austria
Country
Austria
Active military
22,200
Reserve military
109,200
Paramilitary
0
Total
131,400
Per 1,000 capita (total)
14
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Country
Azerbaijan
Active military
68,200
Reserve military
300,000
Paramilitary
15,000
Total
383,200
Per 1,000 capita (total)
35
Per 1,000 capita (active)
6
Bahamas
Bahamas
Country
Bahamas
Active military
1,500
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
1,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
Bahrain
Bahrain
Country
Bahrain
Active military
8,200
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
11,260
Total
19,460
Per 1,000 capita (total)
12
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Country
Bangladesh
Active military
171,250
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
63,900
Total
235,150
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Barbados
Barbados
Country
Barbados
Active military
610
Reserve military
430
Paramilitary
0
Total
1,040
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Belarus
Belarus
Country
Belarus
Active military
48,600
Reserve military
289,500
Paramilitary
110,000
Total
448,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
47
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Belgium
Belgium
Country
Belgium
Active military
23,500
Reserve military
5,900
Paramilitary
0
Total
29,400
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Belize
Belize
Country
Belize
Active military
2,000
Reserve military
850
Paramilitary
630
Total
3,480
Per 1,000 capita (total)
9
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Benin
Benin
Country
Benin
Active military
12,300
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
4,800
Total
17,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Bhutan
Bhutan
Country
Bhutan
Active military
16,000
Reserve military
60,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
76,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
104
Per 1,000 capita (active)
22
Bolivia
Bolivia
Country
Bolivia
Active military
34,100
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
37,100
Total
71,200
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Active military
10,650
Reserve military
6,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
16,650
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Botswana
Botswana
Country
Botswana
Active military
9,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
9,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
Brazil
Brazil
Country
Brazil
Active military
374,500
Reserve military
124,600
Paramilitary
395,000
Total
894,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Brunei
Brunei
Country
Brunei
Active military
7,200
Reserve military
700
Paramilitary
450
Total
8,350
Per 1,000 capita (total)
17
Per 1,000 capita (active)
14
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Country
Bulgaria
Active military
36,950
Reserve military
3,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
39,950
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Country
Burkina Faso
Active military
7,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
4,450
Total
11,450
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Burundi
Burundi
Country
Burundi
Active military
30,050
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
1,000
Total
31,050
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Cambodia
Cambodia
Country
Cambodia
Active military
124,300
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
67,000
Total
191,300
Per 1,000 capita (total)
11
Per 1,000 capita (active)
7
Cameroon
Cameroon
Country
Cameroon
Active military
25,400
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
9,000
Total
34,400
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Canada
Canada
Country
Canada
Active military
62,300
Reserve military
29,100
Paramilitary
0
Total
91,400
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Cape Verde
Cape Verde
Country
Cape Verde
Active military
1,200
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
1,200
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Country
Central African Republic
Active military
9,150
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
1,000
Total
10,150
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Chad
Chad
Country
Chad
Active military
33,250
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
11,900
Total
45,150
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Chile
Chile
Country
Chile
Active military
68,500
Reserve military
19,100
Paramilitary
44,700
Total
132,300
Per 1,000 capita (total)
7
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
China
China
Country
China
Active military
2,035,000
Reserve military
510,000
Paramilitary
500,000
Total
3,045,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Colombia
Colombia
Country
Colombia
Active military
285,000
Reserve military
34,950
Paramilitary
165,050
Total
485,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
9
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Comoros
Comoros
Country
Comoros
Active military
1,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
1,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Country
Costa Rica
Active military
0
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
9,950
Total
9,950
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
Country
Côte d'Ivoire
Active military
27,400
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
27,400
Per 1,000 capita (total)
0
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Croatia
Croatia
Country
Croatia
Active military
16,800
Reserve military
2,100
Paramilitary
0
Total
18,900
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Cuba
Cuba
Country
Cuba
Active military
49,000
Reserve military
39,000
Paramilitary
26,500
Total
114,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
10
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Cyprus
Cyprus
Country
Cyprus
Active military
12,000
Reserve military
60,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
72,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
55
Per 1,000 capita (active)
9
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Country
Czech Republic
Active military
26,600
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
26,600
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Active military
128,350
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
128,350
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Denmark
Denmark
Country
Denmark
Active military
13,100
Reserve military
44,200
Paramilitary
0
Total
57,300
Per 1,000 capita (total)
9
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Djibouti
Djibouti
Country
Djibouti
Active military
8,450
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
4,650
Total
13,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
13
Per 1,000 capita (active)
8
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
Country
Dominican Republic
Active military
56,800
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
15,000
Total
71,800
Per 1,000 capita (total)
6
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Ecuador
Ecuador
Country
Ecuador
Active military
39,600
Reserve military
118,000
Paramilitary
500
Total
158,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
8
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Egypt
Egypt
Country
Egypt
Active military
438,500
Reserve military
479,000
Paramilitary
397,000
Total
1,314,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
11
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
El Salvador
El Salvador
Country
El Salvador
Active military
2,600
Reserve military
9,900
Paramilitary
2,600
Total
15,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Country
Equatorial Guinea
Active military
1,750
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
1,750
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Eritrea
Eritrea
Country
Eritrea
Active military
301,750
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
301,750
Per 1,000 capita (total)
47
Per 1,000 capita (active)
47
Estonia
Estonia
Country
Estonia
Active military
7,100
Reserve military
41,200
Paramilitary
21,200
Total
69,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
58
Per 1,000 capita (active)
5
Eswatini
Eswatini
Country
Eswatini
Active military
3,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
3,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Country
Ethiopia
Active military
503,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
503,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
4
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Fiji
Fiji
Country
Fiji
Active military
4,040
Reserve military
6,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
10,040
Per 1,000 capita (total)
10
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Finland
Finland
Country
Finland
Active military
23,850
Reserve military
233,000
Paramilitary
14,900
Total
271,750
Per 1,000 capita (total)
49
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
France
France
Country
France
Active military
203,900
Reserve military
38,100
Paramilitary
126,600
Total
368,600
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
Gabon
Gabon
Country
Gabon
Active military
4,700
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
2,000
Total
6,700
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Gambia
Gambia
Country
Gambia
Active military
4,100
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
4,100
Per 1,000 capita (total)
1
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Georgia
Georgia
Country
Georgia
Active military
20,650
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
5,400
Total
26,050
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Germany
Germany
Country
Germany
Active military
179,850
Reserve military
34,100
Paramilitary
0
Total
213,950
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Ghana
Ghana
Country
Ghana
Active military
19,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
19,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
0
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Greece
Greece
Country
Greece
Active military
131,650
Reserve military
264,500
Paramilitary
7,400
Total
403,550
Per 1,000 capita (total)
38
Per 1,000 capita (active)
12
Guatemala
Guatemala
Country
Guatemala
Active military
18,050
Reserve military
63,850
Paramilitary
25,000
Total
106,900
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Guinea
Guinea
Country
Guinea
Active military
9,700
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
2,600
Total
12,300
Per 1,000 capita (total)
0
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
Country
Guinea-Bissau
Active military
4,450
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
0
Total
4,450
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Guyana
Guyana
Country
Guyana
Active military
3,400
Reserve military
670
Paramilitary
0
Total
4,070
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Haiti
Haiti
Country
Haiti
Active military
700
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
9,000
Total
9,700
Per 1,000 capita (total)
0
Per 1,000 capita (active)
0
Honduras
Honduras
Country
Honduras
Active military
14,950
Reserve military
60,000
Paramilitary
8,000
Total
82,950
Per 1,000 capita (total)
8
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Hungary
Hungary
Country
Hungary
Active military
32,150
Reserve military
20,000
Paramilitary
0
Total
52,150
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
3
India
India
Country
India
Active military
1,500,700
Reserve military
1,155,000
Paramilitary
2,532,050
Total
5,187,750
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Indonesia
Indonesia
Country
Indonesia
Active military
433,700
Reserve military
400,000
Paramilitary
63,850
Total
897,550
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Iran
Iran
Country
Iran
Active military
610,000
Reserve military
350,000
Paramilitary
40,000
Total
1,000,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
11
Per 1,000 capita (active)
6
Iraq
Iraq
Country
Iraq
Active military
193,000
Reserve military
0
Paramilitary
266,000
Total
459,000
Per 1,000 capita (total)
10
Per 1,000 capita (active)
4
Ireland
Ireland
Country
Ireland
Active military
9,500
Reserve military
4,050
Paramilitary
0
Total
13,550
Per 1,000 capita (total)
2
Per 1,000 capita (active)
1
Israel
Israel
Country
Israel
Active military
169,500
Reserve military
465,000
Paramilitary
8,000
Total
642,500
Per 1,000 capita (total)
67
Per 1,000 capita (active)
17
Italy
Italy
Country
Italy
Active military
160,400
Reserve military
14,500
Paramilitary
179,250
Total
354,150
Per 1,000 capita (total)
5
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Jamaica
Jamaica
Country
Jamaica
Active military
5,950
Reserve military
2,580
Paramilitary
0
Total
8,530
Per 1,000 capita (total)
3
Per 1,000 capita (active)
2
Country
Active military
Reserve military
Paramilitary
Total
Per 1,000 capita (total)
Per 1,000 capita (active)
Ref
Afghanistan
172,000
0
0
172,000
4
4
Albania
7,500
0
0
7,500
2
2
Algeria
139,000
150,000
187,200
476,200
10
2
Angola
107,000
0
10,000
117,000
3
3
Antigua and Barbuda
200
80
0
280
2
2
Argentina
83,000
0
31,250
114,250
2
1
Armenia
42,900
210,000
4,300
257,200
86
14
Australia
58,540
21,450
0
79,990
3
2
Austria
22,200
109,200
0
131,400
14
2
Azerbaijan
68,200
300,000
15,000
383,200
35
6
Bahamas
1,500
0
0
1,500
3
3
Bahrain
8,200
0
11,260
19,460
12
5
Bangladesh
171,250
0
63,900
235,150
1
1
Barbados
610
430
0
1,040
3
2
Belarus
48,600
289,500
110,000
448,100
47
5
Belgium
23,500
5,900
0
29,400
2
2
Belize
2,000
850
630
3,480
9
5
Benin
12,300
0
4,800
17,100
1
0
Bhutan
16,000
60,000
0
76,000
104
22
Bolivia
34,100
0
37,100
71,200
5
2
Bosnia and Herzegovina
10,650
6,000
0
16,650
4
2
Botswana
9,000
0
0
9,000
3
3
Brazil
374,500
124,600
395,000
894,100
4
1
Brunei
7,200
700
450
8,350
17
14
Bulgaria
36,950
3,000
0
39,950
5
5
Burkina Faso
7,000
0
4,450
11,450
4
2
Burundi
30,050
0
1,000
31,050
2
2
Cambodia
124,300
0
67,000
191,300
11
7
Cameroon
25,400
0
9,000
34,400
1
0
Canada
62,300
29,100
0
91,400
2
1
Cape Verde
1,200
0
0
1,200
2
2
Central African Republic
9,150
0
1,000
10,150
1
1
Chad
33,250
0
11,900
45,150
2
1
Chile
68,500
19,100
44,700
132,300
7
3
China
2,035,000
510,000
500,000
3,045,000
2
1
Colombia
285,000
34,950
165,050
485,000
9
5
Comoros
1,000
0
0
1,000
1
1
Costa Rica
0
0
9,950
9,950
1
0
Côte d'Ivoire
27,400
0
0
27,400
0
0
Croatia
16,800
2,100
0
18,900
4
4
Cuba
49,000
39,000
26,500
114,500
10
4
Cyprus
12,000
60,000
0
72,000
55
9
Czech Republic
26,600
0
0
26,600
2
2
Democratic Republic of the Congo
128,350
0
0
128,350
1
1
Denmark
13,100
44,200
0
57,300
9
2
Djibouti
8,450
0
4,650
13,100
13
8
Dominican Republic
56,800
0
15,000
71,800
6
5
Ecuador
39,600
118,000
500
158,100
8
2
Egypt
438,500
479,000
397,000
1,314,500
11
3

References

  1. The reserve military of Armenia consists mostly of ex-conscripts who have seen service within the last 15 years.
  2. Size of paramilitary is not known.
  3. The reserve paramilitary of Cuba consists of the Youth Labour Army, Civil Defence and Territorial Troops Militia and cou
  4. Size of paramilitary is not known.
  5. Personnel-strength figures for the Eritrean reserve forces are not known.
  6. The Basij, a paramilitary militia with claimed membership of 12 million (including women and children), can after mobili
  7. The paramilitary forces of Italy consists of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza.
  8. The paramilitary forces of Malaysia includes 240,000 reservists from the People's Volunteer Corps.
  9. The Worker-Peasant Red Guards count 5,700,000 units and are used as a reserve paramilitary.
  10. Improving the DoD's Tooth-to-Tail Ratio. Revision
    https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA601876
  11. IISS 2025, p. 231
  12. IISS 2024, p. 71
  13. IISS 2026, p. 338
  14. IISS 2024, p. 471
  15. IISS 2024, p. 408
  16. IISS 2024, p. 409
  17. IISS 2024, p. 178
  18. IISS 2024, p. 246
  19. IISS 2024, p. 72
  20. IISS 2026, p. 177-178
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