The 10 Largest Military Powers in the World 2025

🇺🇸 United States

• Defense budget: US$ 877 billion (approximately 3.5% of GDP)
• Largest global military power with advanced technological superiority
• Nuclear arsenal: around 5,500 warheads, including 1,770 operational
• Featured equipment: F-35 Lightning II fighters, 11 Nimitz/Ford-class supercarriers, THAAD missile defense system

🇷🇺 Russia

• Largest nuclear arsenal in the world: approximately 6,257 nuclear warheads
• Ground forces: over 12,420 tanks and 30,000 armored vehicles
• Military budget: about $77 billion (, 1.4% of GDP)
• Operational capability tested in recent conflicts with systems such as Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

🇨🇳 China

• Active military personnel: 2.19 million soldiers (the largest in the world)
• Defense budget: US$ 292 billion (estimate 2023), constant annual growth
• Navy with 350 ships (larger than that of the USA in number)
• Advanced programs in hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare

🇮🇳 India

• Active military personnel: 1.45 million soldiers
• Defense budget: approximately $72.9 billion
• Nuclear power with an estimated arsenal of 160 warheads
• Development of domestic equipment such as the Tejas fighter and the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

🇫🇷 France

• Main military force of the European Union
• Independent nuclear arsenal with about 290 warheads
• Navy with nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and Barracuda-class submarines
• Broad capacity for force projection in international operations, especially in Africa

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

• Defense budget: US$ 71.6 billion (2.3% of GDP)
• Advanced air force: Typhoon and F-35B Lightning II squadrons
• Global projection capability with two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers
• Nuclear submarines armed with Trident II D5 missiles

🇯🇵 Japan

• Technologically superior self-defense forces despite constitutional restrictions
• Military budget: US$ 54 billion (increasing in recent years)
• Advanced navy with Aegis destroyers and Soryu-class submarines
• Integrated missile defense systems with American technology

🇹🇷 Turkey

• Second largest NATO force: 355,000 active military personnel
• Expanding autonomous defense industry (drones Bayraktar TB2, Altay tank)
• Strategic geographical position controlling access to the Black Sea
• Capacity for independent cross-border military operations

🇩🇪 Germany

• Defense budget: US$ 56 billion ( with plans for significant increase )
• High-tech equipment: Leopard 2 tanks, class 212A submarines
• Air force with Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and access to the F-35
• Growing leadership role in European security

🇮🇷 Iran

• Military personnel: approximately 610,000 ( including Revolutionary Guard )
• Asymmetric military strategy focused on close combat
• Advanced ballistic missile and combat drone program
• Extensive network of regional allies expanding its influence in the Middle East