The 12 largest armies in the world in 2025

Military & Defense / Date: 04-09-2025

You don't want to go to war with these countries! Calculating a country's military power is very difficult, but there is one factor that can be counted: the number of soldiers. Even with the best resources in the world, an army needs people. According to Global Firepower , these are the armies with the most people in the world in 2025!

1. China - 2,035,000 active soldiers

As the country with the most people in the world, it is only natural that China has the largest army in the world. But China does not only have a lot of soldiers. The country has a huge military budget and is increasingly investing in the development of advanced weapons. According to experts, within a few years, China could threaten the military supremacy of Russia and even the United States of America!

2. India - 1,455,550 active soldiers

Despite having a much smaller budget than some of its rivals, India has a military that commands respect! In addition to having a large number of soldiers, India keeps its powerful neighbors (China, Russia and Pakistan) at bay with its nuclear weapons.

3. United States of America - 1,328,000 active soldiers

The United States is without a doubt the greatest military force in the world! It’s not just numbers that count: the US military has the most powerful and advanced weapons in the world and highly trained soldiers. In addition, the country has many powerful allies, such as NATO countries. However, in recent years, its absolute power has been threatened by Russia and China.

4. North Korea - 1,320,000 active soldiers

North Korea is a country that faces difficulties, but it does not spare military investment. Its long history of resentment against the United States and fighting with South Korea has led to the creation of a very powerful army. Currently, its greatest “trump card” is its nuclear bombs and long-range missiles, which it uses as a threat when it sees its political interests at risk.

5. Russia - 1,320,000 active soldiers

Second only to the United States, Russia is a military force that cannot be ignored. Combining a vast nuclear arsenal with unbeatable ground forces, the Russian military is a constant concern for its Eastern European neighbors. Proof of this is the conflict that began with Ukraine in 2022.

6. Ukraine - 900,000 active soldiers

Since 2022, Ukraine has been actively defending itself against Russian invasion. As a result, several indicators presented by Global Firepower related to the country have increased, including the number of active soldiers in its army.

7. Pakistan - 654,000 active soldiers

This is the largest army of an Islamic country in the world. Allied with China, Pakistan has been developing its military capabilities, keeping India (its rival) at bay. But the army also has a nasty habit of interfering in politics, deposing democratically elected leaders.

8. Iran - 610,000 active soldiers

Iran is no joke! Its military strength is enough to worry the United States and its biggest rival: Iraq. In addition to its strong army, the Iranian government relies on supporting other groups in the countries around it, whose actions divert attention away from its country.

9. South Korea - 600,000 active soldiers

K-pop fans know that South Korea has mandatory military service for all men (and very popular singers are not exempt). The two Koreas never signed a peace treaty after the Korean War, so South Korea maintains a strong military to face the threat from North Korea.

10. Vietnam - 600,000 active soldiers

There are few nations capable of keeping the United States and China in check, but Vietnam is one. The Vietnam War was the United States' greatest military defeat, and since that time, Vietnam has been bolstering its armed forces to secure its sovereignty over the major superpowers. Its reserve forces are big in this nation because, in it, all men have to serve in the military.

11. Egypt - 440,000 active soldiers

With much internal and external violence to deal with, the Egyptian government relies heavily on its army. Egypt is the most powerful military force in Africa, despite facing many divisions within the country. The Egyptian army has already confronted its biggest rival in the region: Israel, on several occasions.

12. Mexico - 412,000 active soldiers

The Mexican military is quite large, but it also has serious problems. The internal war with drug lords is very violent and uses up most of the army's resources. In addition, the military has a lot of crime and internal corruption, making the country's situation worse.