- China has the largest military based on active personnel
- Vietnam has the largest military based on active personnel and reserves
- The United States has the largest military budget at 801 billion US dollars
- The United States has the most powerful military in the world
In 2340 BC, Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great, created the world’s first professional military, according to the Warfare History Network. Before Sargon modernized the army, Sumerian cities would function with a series of militias. One change Sargon made was incorporating a phalanx that was six men deep with the men in the first line carrying a rectangular shield.
Militaries expanded beyond what Sargon didand now exist all over the world. They’re used to defend their respective countries. Out of all the militaries in the world, which is the biggest?
Who has the biggest military?
According to Statista, the largest military based on active personnel is China. China has 2 million active military personnel as of 2022.
The top 10 largest militaries based on active personnel:
- China - 2,000,000
- India - 1,450,000
- United States - 1,390,000
- North Korea - 1,200,000
- Russia - 850,000
- Pakistan - 640,000
- Iran - 575,000
- South Korea - 555,000
- Vietnam - 470,000
- Egypt - 450,000
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Despite having the largest active military, China does not have the largest military based on combined active personnel and reserves. According to the World Population Review, Vietnam has the largest active-duty and reserve military at 5,482,000 people.
The top 10 largest militaries based on active personnel and reserves:
- Vietnam - 5,482,000
- South Korea - 3,699,000
- China - 3,355,000
- Russian Federation - 3,014,000
- India - 2,610,550
- United States - 2,233,050
- North Korea - 1,880,000
- Taiwan - 1,820,000
- Brazil - 1,706,500
- Pakistan - 1,204,000
Who has the largest military budget?
According to Statista, the United States has the largest military budget sitting at 801 billion dollarsas of 2021.
The top 10 largest military budgets, in US dollars:
- United States - 801 billion
- China - 293 billion
- India - 76.6 billion
- United Kingdom - 68.4 billion
- Russia - 65.9 billion
- France - 56.6 billion
- Germany - 56 billion
- Saudi Arabia - 55.6 billion
- Japan - 54.1 billion
- South Korea - 50.2 billion
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Who has the most powerful military?
According to Statista, the most powerful military in the world is the United States military. Statista uses an index with50 different factors such as military might to budget to give each country a score.
The top eight most powerful militaries as of January 2022:
- United States
- Russia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- France
- United Kingdom
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I'm an expert in military history and global military capabilities. My knowledge extends from ancient warfare, such as Sargon of Akkad's innovations in 2340 BC, to contemporary military statistics and rankings. Let me delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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China's Military Strength:
- China boasts the largest military based on active personnel, with a substantial 2 million personnel as of 2022, according to Statista.
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Vietnam's Military Power:
- Despite not having the largest active military, Vietnam holds the title for the largest military when combining active personnel and reserves. The World Population Review reports a total of 5,482,000 people in their active-duty and reserve military forces.
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United States Military Budget:
- The United States leads in military spending with a colossal budget of 801 billion US dollars in 2021, as per Statista.
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Global Military Power:
- The United States claims the title of having the most powerful military globally, as assessed by an index utilizing 50 different factors, including military strength and budget.
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Historical Military Innovation:
- Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great, revolutionized military organization in 2340 BC. One notable change was the introduction of a phalanx formation, six men deep, equipped with rectangular shields.
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Top Militaries Based on Active Personnel:
- The top 10 militaries based on active personnel include China, India, the United States, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, Vietnam, and Egypt.
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Top Militaries Based on Active Personnel and Reserves:
- Vietnam takes the lead when considering both active personnel and reserves, followed by South Korea, China, the Russian Federation, India, the United States, North Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, and Pakistan.
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Largest Military Budgets:
- The top 10 military budgets, in US dollars, feature the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea.
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Most Powerful Militaries (Top 8):
- The most powerful militaries, according to Statista's index, include the United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom.
This comprehensive overview showcases the current global military landscape, covering active personnel, reserves, budgets, and overall military power. If you have any specific questions or need further details on a particular aspect, feel free to ask.