Countries with Highest Per-capita Military

By  Vince J , views , updated
Categories: World General
Dataset contains 172 data items (see table below).

Overview

Which country has the largest total military force per capita?
The country with the largest total military force per capita is North Korea at 306.1 per 1000 in population. At second and third, are South Korea at 130.5 per capita and Cuba at 110.9 per capita.
Globally, the average military force per capita is around 13.4 per 1000.

 Compare North Korea with Afghanistan

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Active Military Force Per Capita. North Korea has the highest active military per capita at 50.4 per 1000 in population - the highest in the world. The average active military force per capita for countries is around 4.1 per 1000 in population.


These are the countries with the total military force per capita:

North Korea.

North Korea's military among world's largest (credit: Youtube/CNN)

North Korea has the largest military force in the world. North Korea has a military that is composed of 1,280,000 active personnel (third-largest in Asia), 600,000 in reserve and 5,889,000 from paramilitary forces, totalling 7,769,000 or 306.1 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its per-capita military is the highest in the world.

North Korea's battle tank force is the second-largest in the world. On land, North Korea has a mobile force of 10,375 tanks. For aerial defence, North Korea has an air force of 576 military aircrafts and 100 attack helicopters.

North Korea's naval fleet is the third-largest in Asia. North Korea has a naval fleet of 73 vessels, including 70 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare North Korea with Kazakhstan

 Compare North Korea with Thailand


South Korea.

South Korea shows off military hardware in Armed Forces Day ceremony... with one eye on North Korea (ARIRANG NEWS)

The defence budget of South Korea is estimated at US$43,891M at around 2.70% of its GDP.

South Korea has the second-largest military force in the world. South Korea has a military of 6,712,500 personnel, with 599,000 active, 3,100,000 in reserve and 3,013,500 from paramilitary forces, making up 130.5 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its per-capita military is the second-highest in the world.

On land, South Korea has a mobile force of 2,514 tanks. For aerial defence, South Korea has an air force of 587 military aircrafts and 273 attack helicopters.

South Korea's naval fleet is the second-largest in Asia. South Korea has a naval fleet of 86 vessels, including 23 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet of warships also include 14 frigates, 12 destroyers and 36 corvettes.

 

 Compare South Korea with Japan

 Compare South Korea with Thailand


Vietnam.

Vietnam Armed forces 2020 (Credit: Manconst Channel)

Vietnam's military force is the third-largest in the world. Vietnam has a military of 5,522,000 personnel, with 482,000 active and 5,040,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 108.4 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its per-capita military is the third-highest in Asia.

On land, Vietnam has a mobile force of 1,800 tanks. For aerial defence, Vietnam has an air force of 97 military aircrafts and 47 attack helicopters.

Vietnam has a naval fleet of 14 vessels, including 6 non-nuclear submarines. Other offensive warships in the naval arsenal include 2 frigates and 6 corvettes.

 

 Compare Vietnam with China


Taiwan.

Could China Take Taiwan By Force? (Credit: Youtube/CNA Insider)

Taiwan's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$10,420M (1.70% of its GDP).

With a 1,831,800-strong military, Taiwan has a per-capita ratio of 77.8 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 163,000 active personnel, 1,657,000 reserve personnel and 11,800 from paramilitary forces.

On land, Taiwan has a mobile force of 566 tanks. For aerial defence, Taiwan has an air force of 485 military aircrafts and 154 attack helicopters.

Taiwan has a naval fleet of 31 vessels, including 4 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet of warships also include 22 frigates and 4 destroyers.

 

 Compare Taiwan with Azerbaijan

 Compare Taiwan with Philippines


Israel.

How Do IDF Special Forces Train? (Credit: Youtube/Israel Defense Forces)

The country with the second-highest defence budget in Middle East is Israel. The defence budget of Israel is estimated at US$20,465M at around 5.30% of its GDP.

Israel has the second-largest military force in Middle East. With a 642,500-strong military, Israel has a per-capita ratio of 76.3 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 169,500 active personnel, 465,000 reserve personnel and 8,000 from paramilitary forces. Its per-capita military is the highest in Middle East.

Israel's battle tank force is the second-largest in Middle East. On land, Israel has a mobile force of 1,560 tanks. For aerial defence, Israel has an air force of 440 military aircrafts and 84 attack helicopters.

Israel has a naval fleet of 6 vessels, including 3 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare Israel with Jordan

 Compare Israel with Iraq


Singapore.

Singapore Defence Strategy: The country spends more than $11 billion a year (Credit: TRT World)

Singapore allocates about 3.20% of its GDP (estimated at US$11,211M) for its defence budget. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the third-highest in Asia.

Singapore has a military of 310,900 personnel, with 51,000 active, 252,500 in reserve and 7,400 from paramilitary forces, making up 51.9 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Singapore has a mobile force of 96 tanks. For aerial defence, Singapore has an air force of 126 military aircrafts and 25 attack helicopters.

Singapore has a naval fleet of 22 vessels, including 6 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet of warships also include 6 frigates and 6 corvettes.

 

 Compare Singapore with Sri Lanka

 Compare Singapore with South Korea


Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan special forces 》 xüsusi təyinatlı qüvvələri (Credit: Youtube/Azerbaijan Armed Forces)

Azerbaijan allocates about 4% of its GDP (estimated at US$1,854M) for its defence budget. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the highest in Asia.

Azerbaijan has a military of 471,950 personnel, with 126,950 active, 330,000 in reserve and 15,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 47 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Azerbaijan has a mobile force of 433 tanks. For aerial defence, Azerbaijan has an air force of 44 military aircrafts and 50 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Azerbaijan with Singapore

 Compare Azerbaijan with India


Belarus.

SPETSNAZ BELARUS (Credit: Youtube/Military Forces XXI Century)

Belarus allocates about 1.20% of its GDP (estimated at US$780M) for its defence budget.

With a 444,850-strong military, Belarus has a per-capita ratio of 46.7 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 45,350 active personnel, 289,500 reserve personnel and 110,000 from paramilitary forces. Its per-capita military is the third-highest in Europe.

On land, Belarus has a mobile force of 515 tanks. For aerial defence, Belarus has an air force of 72 military aircrafts and 49 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Belarus with North Macedonia

 Compare Belarus with Albania


Finland.

Conscript - Finnish Defence Forces (English subtitles) by Puolustusvoimat - Försvarsmakten - The Finnish Defence Forces

The defence budget of Finland is estimated at US$3,971M at around 1.50% of its GDP.

Finland has a military that is composed of 23,800 active personnel, 216,000 in reserve and 14,200 from paramilitary forces, totalling 254,000 or 45.9 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Finland has a mobile force of 100 tanks. For aerial defence, Finland has an air force of 107 military aircrafts and 12 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Finland with Sweden

 Compare Finland with Netherlands


Check out these military rankings by region and force type:

Gap Analysis  - Ukraine vs Russia | NATO vs Russia

Largest Militaries Worldwide  - by total force | by active force | by force per capita

Largest Militaries (region) - Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

NATO Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines

G20 Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines | Nuclear

ASEAN Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy

Northeast Asia Nations - Defense Spending | Air Force | Military | Tanks | Navy | Submarines

Gap Analysis - NATO & Russia | Ukraine & Russia | China & Taiwan

Highest Military Budgets - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Largest Navy - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Most Submarines - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Largest Air Force - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Most Battle Tanks - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East

Attributions