Overview
Europe is arguably the most brutally embattled region in the history of human civilization, with a long list of recorded conflicts dating as far back to 5000 BCE.
Which country has the largest military force in Europe?
The country with the largest military force in Europe is Russia with a force strength of 3,568,000 personnel. At second and third, are Ukraine with a 1,211,000-strong military and Turkey with a military force of 890,700 personnel.
In comparison, the average size of the military forces in Europe is around 232,220.2 military personnel.
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Today, while there are several organs of peace in place, soft tensions still persist between neighboring nations as well as between blocs in Europe. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), signed in 1990, has reduced the number of heavy conventional weapon systems and indirectly, the size of the military forces. Thus, compared to the size of military forces in Asia, countries in Europe have maintained much leaner military forces.
[Special] Check out our gap analysis of Ukraine's military compared to Russia's
Our gap analysis of Russia's military versus NATO's
DEFENSE SPENDING
Defense Budget. Russia has the highest military budget in Europe at US$65,103M . Average size of defense budgets among countries in Europe stand at US$8,519.9M.
Percentage of GDP on Defense. Armenia's defence budget makes up 4.90% of its GDP - the highest in Europe. On average, countries in Europe spend %1.6 of their GDPs on defense.
FORCE STRUCTURE
Active Forces. Russia has the largest active military in Europe, with 1,014,000 personnel. Average size of active military forces among countries in Europe stand at 75,237.7 personnel.
Reserve Forces. Russia has the largest reserve military in Europe, with 2,000,000 personnel. On average, countries in Europe maintain a reserve strength of 121,118.9 personnel.
Paramilitary Forces. Russia has the largest paramilitary force in Europe, with 554,000 personnel. The average paramilitary force size in Europe is 35,863.6 personnel.
Total Military Force Per Capita. Armenia has the highest total military per capita at 85.3 per 1000 in population - the highest in Europe. The average total military force per capita for countries in Europe is around 14.3 per 1000 in population.
BATTLE EQUIPMENT
Naval Fleet. Russia has the largest naval fleet in Europe, with 220 vessels. Average size of naval fleet among countries in Europe stand at 12.1 vessels.
Submarines. Russia has the most submarines in Europe at 59 subs. Average size of submarine fleet among countries in Europe stand at 3.2 subs.
Air Force. Russia has the largest air force at 3,212 planes in Europe. Average size of air force among countries in Europe stand at 152.7 planes.
Battle Tanks. Russia has most number of battle tanks in Europe at 22,710 tanks. Average number of tanks among countries in Europe stand at 754.1 tanks.
These are the countries in Europe with the largest military forces:
Russia's defence budget is the highest in Europe. The defence budget of Russia is estimated at US$65,103M at around 3.90% of its GDP. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the second-highest in Europe.
Russia has the largest military force in Europe. With a 3,568,000-strong military, Russia has a per-capita ratio of 25.1 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 1,014,000 active personnel (largest in Europe), 2,000,000 reserve personnel and 554,000 from paramilitary forces.
Russia's battle tank force is the largest in the world. On land, Russia has a mobile force of 22,710 tanks. For aerial defence, Russia has an air force of 3,212 military aircrafts and 1,438 attack helicopters.
Russia's naval fleet is the third-largest in the world. Russia has a naval fleet of 220 vessels, including 1 aircraft carriers and 59 nuclear submarines. The naval fleet of warships also include 6 frigates, 18 destroyers and 78 corvettes.
The defence budget of Ukraine is estimated at US$5,229M at around 3.40% of its GDP. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the third-highest in Europe.
Ukraine has the second-largest military force in Europe. Ukraine has a military of 1,211,000 personnel, with 209,000 active (third-largest in Europe), 900,000 in reserve and 102,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 27.6 military personnel per 1000 in population.
On land, Ukraine has a mobile force of 700 tanks. For aerial defence, Ukraine has an air force of 203 military aircrafts and 137 attack helicopters.
The naval fleet also possesses numerous warships, including 1 frigates and 1 corvettes.
Turkey allocates about 2.70% of its GDP (estimated at US$20,448M) for its defence budget.
Turkey's military force is the third-largest in Europe. With a 890,700-strong military, Turkey has a per-capita ratio of 11 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 355,200 active personnel (second-largest in Europe), 378,700 reserve personnel and 156,800 from paramilitary forces.
Turkey's battle tank force is the second-largest in Europe. On land, Turkey has a mobile force of 2,504 tanks. For aerial defence, Turkey has an air force of 335 military aircrafts and 339 attack helicopters.
Turkey's naval fleet is the second-largest in Europe. Turkey has a naval fleet of 38 vessels, including 14 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet of warships also include 18 frigates and 6 corvettes.
Belarus allocates about 1.20% of its GDP (estimated at US$780M) for its defence budget.
Belarus has a military that is composed of 45,350 active personnel, 289,500 in reserve and 110,000 from paramilitary forces, totalling 444,850 or 46.7 military personnel per 1000 in population. 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.
The country with the second-highest defence budget in Europe is France. France allocates about 1.90% of its GDP (estimated at US$50,119M) for its defence budget.
France has a military of 375,100 personnel, with 203,250 active, 41,050 in reserve and 130,800 from paramilitary forces, making up 5.6 military personnel per 1000 in population.
On land, France has a mobile force of 200 tanks. For aerial defence, France has an air force of 395 military aircrafts and 293 attack helicopters.
France's naval fleet is the third-largest in Europe. France has a naval fleet of 36 vessels, including 1 aircraft carriers and 10 nuclear submarines. Rounding up the fleet of warships are 11 frigates and 11 destroyers.
The defence budget of Greece is estimated at US$5,472M at around 2.60% of its GDP.
With a 368,050-strong military, Greece has a per-capita ratio of 34.2 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 142,700 active personnel, 221,350 reserve personnel and 4,000 from paramilitary forces.
Greece has the third-largest battle tank force in Europe. On land, Greece has a mobile force of 1,354 tanks. For aerial defence, Greece has an air force of 244 military aircrafts and 48 attack helicopters.
Greece has a naval fleet of 25 vessels, including 8 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet also possesses numerous warships, including 13 frigates and 4 corvettes.
Italy's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$26,790M (1.40% of its GDP).
Italy has a military that is composed of 165,500 active personnel, 18,300 in reserve and 175,750 from paramilitary forces, totalling 359,550 or 5.8 military personnel per 1000 in population.
On land, Italy has a mobile force of 200 tanks. For aerial defence, Italy has an air force of 258 military aircrafts and 211 attack helicopters.
Italy has a naval fleet of 30 vessels, including 2 aircraft carriers and 6 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet also possesses numerous warships, including 10 frigates, 4 destroyers and 5 corvettes.
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