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Countries with the Most Military Troops

Try to name the countries that have the greatest number of active military troops.
As of 22 August 2025, according to Wikipedia
Color-coded by continent
Quiz by
Quizmaster
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Last updated: August 22, 2025
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First submittedMay 6, 2012
Times taken289,980
Average score75.0%
Rating4.95
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Troops
Country
2,035,000
China
1,475,750
India
1,315,600
United States
1,280,000
North Korea
1,134,000
Russia
730,000
Ukraine
660,000
Pakistan
610,000
Iran
503,000
Ethiopia
500,000
South Korea
450,000
Vietnam
438,500
Egypt
404,500
Indonesia
374,500
Brazil
360,850
Thailand
355,200
Turkey
301,750
Eritrea
287,000
Mexico
269,000
Colombia
262,500
Sri Lanka
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100 Recent Comments
Majic
+8
Level 42
Jan 28, 2018
missed on sri lanka
kalbahamut
+6
Level 79
Mar 3, 2018
Took me a while to get that one, too.
Fishbone
+5
Level 48
Jun 9, 2020
Sri Lanka is a somewhat surprising one for me as well, not immediately intuative.
starfast
+3
Level 57
Mar 3, 2018
Only missed two. I was going to guess Sri Lanka, but then second guessed myself and didn't think it would be on here. I don't know why I didn't think to guess Syria though.
gamingblox
+3
Level 35
Mar 4, 2018
wow sri lanka?~
Findlay
+1
Level 80
Mar 15, 2018
Surprised Taiwan misses out. Also amazing how small European militaries have become - once this list would have been completely dominated by Europe.
joeythelemur
+15
Level 80
Feb 27, 2020
Also subsidized by US force projection in Germany and elsewhere. Much less need to maintain their own troops.
Malbaby
+4
Level 71
Apr 11, 2018
China has 0.227 soldiers per square Km. USA has 0.137 S per Km2, Russia 0.06 S per Km2, North Korea 9.87 soldiers per Km2.... interesting yes?
g4ndalf
+13
Level 78
Dec 26, 2020
Well obviously North Korea is much smaller than those countries.

Monaco has 121 soldiers per km2, even though they only have 255 soldiers...

EvanAviator
+6
Level 61
Nov 10, 2021
well im also guessing the soldiers arent evenly dispersed throughout the land
tmaster52
+1
Level 62
Apr 26, 2018
See if the Countries with the most troops are also on the list of the 50 Most Powerful Military Nations
IXON009
+2
Level 37
Apr 29, 2018
I've lost a point because of Srí Lanka. Danke schön!
Charliezard
+8
Level 67
Jan 11, 2022
I doubt you lost one...Probably actually gained four.
Gassu
+1
Level 69
Sep 9, 2018
Can someone explain why Japan can have 250,000 soldiers when the 9th article of the Japanese Constitution forbids it? Also, is China such a big threat to Japan that they need so many soldiers?
grantdon
+15
Level 74
Oct 8, 2018
As far as I understand it, their army is purely for defence and that is allowed. The military may be used in law and order, disaster response and as a form of welfare giving youth some training and discipline...

And yes, China is threatening the stability of east Asia

FadKrashmor
+1
Level 70
Mar 18, 2020
This has been an interesting subject to me; it is rather misleading to discount paramilitary forces. Japan for example has quite small paramilitary forces, so presumably the military takes on tasks which in other countries it might not. Italy on the other hand has military forces that are not small by European standards but also has a large paramilitary force (Carabinieri) which in the eventuality might well be deployed to a war zone in a way that another country's paramilitary would not (but then perhaps Italy's 'civilian' police forces are correspondingly smaller). Having said that, both these countries attempt to avoid doing any such thing, and sometimes it is hard to argue that they are wrong.
Sifhraven
+4
Level 76
Jan 17, 2019
This quiz would be nice per capita! (Or countries with the leadt military troops
Eliotbliss
+2
Level 73
Feb 2, 2019
This quiz says it was updated January 2018 but it appears that Sudan's listed active military is still combining Sudan and South Sudan's military numbers. South Sudan has 185,000 active while Sudan only has 104,300.
lazydaisee
+6
Level 43
Sep 30, 2019
sad sad world
SpartanLlama
+3
Level 79
Sep 30, 2019
Only missed Sudan and Sri Lanka. Honestly wouldn't have ever guessed the latter.
NauruPalau
+2
Level 48
Feb 21, 2020
Wow I got Sudan somehow but missed Sri Lanka. Don’t understand those two at all
jayhiatt
+1
Level 72
Feb 25, 2020
Just created a similar quiz looking at the countries with the most active military troops per capita (https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/108298/countries-with-the-most-military-troops-per-capita). Makes for a much different list, though with a couple countries that cross over.
22jacksh
+1
Level 22
Feb 25, 2020
15/20 first try good quiz
Iluvbread123
+5
Level 79
Mar 22, 2020
Im sry, little sri lanka
StealthyNinja
+2
Level 32
Apr 6, 2020
Good one
Beppe0
+1
Level 36
Apr 5, 2020
Felice che l'Italia non ci sia
Geab
+3
Level 25
Apr 5, 2020
Didn't expect Sri Lanka here tbh it was the one that i was missing
Edy4gaona
+4
Level 28
Apr 15, 2020
Why does Sri Lanka have so many troops?
kalbahamut
+2
Level 79
May 26, 2020
you gotta fight for your right to படி
mizu
+8
Level 59
Aug 14, 2020
The sri lankian govt has been fightning the tamil tigers for decades. they also are close to several massive military nations with indonesia, burma, india, pakistan and iran.
Newtgotbetter
+8
Level 52
Aug 6, 2021
Because Sri Lanka had an active war zone against the LTTE Terrorists in the northern part of the island for over 30 years, which ended in 2007. This meant that military recruitment was over the roof to account for the losses in active duty and to overpower the terrorist strongholds. To their credit it worked, and by the time the leader of the LTTE was killed in 2007 the LTTE cause was pretty much finished.

Only by the time the war was won by the government forces the military was such a juggernaut and the public propoganda was so effective that the army never stopped growing in size. Now thirteen years after the war has ended the military is still getting stronger and larger every year.

Nickelz
+1
Level 69
Sep 7, 2023
pull up in the sri lanka
mapgeek
+4
Level 63
Jul 30, 2020
I never knew Sri Lanka had that many troops
Xenobiologista
+4
Level 59
Nov 13, 2020
So the lesson is: Laos is screwed?
TheBerryLegend
+1
Level 51
Dec 5, 2020
Cool Quiz!

In the thumbnail you can see a picture of

Mao Tse Tung who is former chairman of china indicating China as one of the answers most likely

KoolKid
+4
Level 30
Dec 8, 2020
Wholeheartedly surprised that Palau isn't on this list. What happens when the strong Tuvalu military comes and attacks them. The Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands should be afraid!
parkave
+1
Level 56
Jan 15, 2021
Would have thought Taiwan would have made the list
syudim7
+1
Level 50
Aug 11, 2021
Im suprised Columbia and Sri Lanka was on this list
EvanAviator
+7
Level 61
Nov 10, 2021
colombia
Naiad
+1
Level 67
Nov 10, 2021
Sri Lanka!?
Tregog
+2
Level 36
Nov 10, 2021
Sri lanka? Really? That's a surprise.
Uniperuna
+1
Level 53
Nov 10, 2021
Sri Lanka on last second!
ARD7
+2
Level 56
Nov 10, 2021
I understand Sri Lanka just surprised it beat out Taiwan
Jonty84
+2
Level 63
Dec 2, 2021
I considered Sri Lanka but instantly dismissed it. Also fancied Taiwan as a dark horse here.
UNDERCOVER
+1
Level 21
Nov 10, 2021
nice quiz
loganite
+4
Level 94
Sep 8, 2023
pssst...If you're undercover, you probably shouldn't announce it! ;)
MudracFuidji
+1
Level 24
Nov 11, 2021
I missed Sri Lanka and Colombia.
GeoGuessr2
+2
Level 28
Dec 29, 2021
You have the wrong name for number one it is actually west taiwan....
loni
+4
Level 68
Jul 28, 2022
You're wrong, the correct name is Mainland Taiwan.
FlyingG
+3
Level 68
Sep 8, 2023
It's actually Eastern Colombia.
FloodedHouse
+5
Level 49
Jan 14, 2022
since when does sri lanka have more troops than japan, saudi arabia, and mexico?
boltos
+3
Level 77
Feb 13, 2022
Fun quiz. I had always thought DPRK was top, maybe that was percentage of population perhaps. Had to really think about some of these so was a nice challenge. Thank you.
SpartanLlama
+4
Level 79
Mar 4, 2022
Wow Sri Lanka's an unexpected one, you'd think something like Bangladesh would be higher
ShamimBANGLADESH
+4
Level 36
May 6, 2022
Well, No one can easily attack Bangladesh except India,and Bangladesh can't match Indian army Even spending 100% of Their GDP.Also India is friendly toward Bangladesh. So Bangladesh Govt. is not so focused on their military.
idontkn1
+1
Level 94
Oct 8, 2025
India does most of the heavy lifting for Bangladesh. For a small background...

In the original partition of India, the Muslim majority areas (current day Pakistan and Bangladesh) were made on single country Pakistan. There was vary little in common between the Bengali partition and the rest of Pakistan and the political and military power was concentrated in current day Pakistan. By the late 60s a genocide had broken out in current Bangladesh. Bengali guerilla groups backed by India started fighting back against the Pakistani military. Pakistan fearing Indian involvement preemptively struck targets in Northern India which brought India into the conflict on East Pakistan's side. With the aid of the Indian military Pakistani forces surrendered in 1971 and Bangladesh was given it's independence. Since their independence, there has been little need for military presence due to their common relationship with India and the lack of treat from Burma (it's only other neighbor).

os
+1
Level 56
May 10, 2022
Took me a while to get Sri Lanka. Was not expecting it on here
MojoSlow
+4
Level 49
Aug 31, 2022
I was really surprised to see Canada, Togo, Chile, Czechia, Bhutan, and Fiji on this list!
Atzuul
+3
Level 46
Jan 29, 2023
france, uk, germany, canada, and the penguin empire has left the chat
Nickelz
+1
Level 69
Apr 24, 2023
Near misses: Ukraine, France, Eritrea.
GrammarBeane1
+2
Level 83
Sep 7, 2023
Ukraine is there now!
Gotterhammer
+1
Level 66
Sep 8, 2023
yes, but there are significantly more active soldiers in Ukraine at the moment
soprano
+1
Level 20
Sep 10, 2023
oh, i only forgot myanmar. nice test
GlobalCitizen
+2
Level 65
Sep 10, 2023
Only missed Sri Lanka, didn't see that one coming!
KanishkGGo
+1
Level 46
May 26, 2026
How did you know Eritrea would be here
Megrez
+1
Level 52
Sep 10, 2023
Damn it, Sri Lanka. I tried every other country from South Asia and Southeast Asia. I even tried Bhutan for some reason, but somehow forgot Sri Lanka.
jennraven
+1
Level 67
Sep 11, 2023
Got all but Sri Lanka. Like everyone else, apparently.
Aboii3437
+1
Level 48
Sep 11, 2023
I just looked at the comments and got Sri Lanka. It's that easy. 100%.
Tisco
+1
Level 68
Sep 12, 2023
It would be interesting to add a column showing the percentage of the total population for each country.
buck1017
+2
Level 78
Sep 27, 2023
No European countries on here. Even if you summed up ALL of the European nations that are part of NATO, they would still be 3rd on the list. Double the population of the USA and about equal military personnel, with Russia breathing down their necks. Only 5 of these European NATO nations meet their 2% commitment on defense. Maybe it's time to get those numbers up.
APotatoSquasher
+1
Level 54
Oct 6, 2023
Why isn't Monaco on the list?
Pandryf
+1
Level 63
Nov 19, 2023
*sri lanka rage quit*
mansto
+2
Level 71
Dec 27, 2024
Poland's missing, surpassed 200k significantly
Findlay
+2
Level 80
Jun 18, 2025
Poland would now make it on. Also the source is just flat wrong for Ukraine's numbers (and it would have been in 2023), though looking about it is very hard to find confident sources on Russia's and Ukraine's wartime numbers, so it seems most sources just use their pre-war peacetime figures.
ProbablyANerd
+2
Level 46
Aug 21, 2025
WTH IS SRI LANKA DOING HERE
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Aug 22, 2025
They had an active insurgency in the country not that long ago.
AntiMatter8192
+2
Level 79
Aug 23, 2025
Idk, still seems weird. 15 years is plenty of time to disband, and Sudan, which has more people and is in a middle of a pretty brutal civil war, isn't even on here.
Pontiac
+3
Level 62
Aug 22, 2025
can you tell us what the colors mean (colors to continents)
Quizmaster
+3
Level ∞
Aug 22, 2025
No
TheSinnohman
+3
Level 67
Aug 22, 2025
The colour coding for country quizzes like these is consistent across JetPunk. Dark blue is Europe, red is Asia, orange is North America, green is South America, purple is Africa, light blue is Oceania.
Djilas
+4
Level 86
Aug 22, 2025
Yes but why
Pontiac
+3
Level 62
Aug 22, 2025
yeah but it would be nice in the caveats or pinned comment for the continent code colors
AntiMatter8192
+2
Level 79
Aug 23, 2025
I've tried thinking, too exhausting. The spoon is nicer.
quizthelemon
+2
Level 24
Jan 4, 2026
I’m not sure if there is any real meaning behind those colors, but…

My best guess is:

-blue 🔵 for the European flag

-red 🔴 for the communist party

-green 🟢 for the Amazon forest

Those I’m not so sure of:

-light blue 🔵 for the color of the sea. When I read Oceania I think about the color turquoise

-yellow/orange 🟡 for gold. Think of the gold rush in the 1800s, especially in California. But then there are many other countries where gold mining was an important aspect of history

For the last one I didn’t have any idea so I had to look it up. Best thing I found is:

-purple 🟣 symbolizes independence, prosperity, healing. But also, I learned that “The Color Purple” is a big movement in the black african community amongst women advocating against abuse, violence, rape etc.

Ainmclarach
+3
Level 71
Aug 22, 2025
According to this data, 8.4% of Eritrea’s population is in the military. Mental.
Djilas
+2
Level 86
Aug 22, 2025
Or 16% of men or even more of adult men
Ainmclarach
+1
Level 71
May 11, 2026
I looked into this more and apparently all 18 year old Eritreans are conscripted into the Army indefinitely and used as forced labour for infrastructure projects, so are basically State owned slaves.
CdMor
+3
Level 70
Aug 22, 2025
Is there any explanation for Eritrea's numbers? It seems rather large.

I think I ran through every country over 20m on Africa and then I just gave up because I figured my brain wasn't working.

Pontiac
+2
Level 62
Aug 22, 2025
Drafting is what I can think of
mike34ism
+2
Level 37
Aug 23, 2025
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Eritrea

Interesting read, I had no idea!

AntiMatter8192
+4
Level 79
Aug 23, 2025
It's kinda insane how Russia, which is in the middle of a war, still has less active troops than North Korea during peacetime, despite having more than 5 times more people.
systrop
+2
Level 57
Aug 25, 2025
russia has around 2m more in reserve they just havent mobilized them

dprk chooses to leave most in active

idontkn1
+2
Level 94
Oct 8, 2025
Russia though not thriving has an economy outside of food production and the military. In North Korea there is nothing besides food production and the military. Might as well put the non farmers in the military because having them loafing around without anything to do probably gets people thinking about how crappy their life and their government is and they don't want any of that.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 79
Aug 23, 2025
Missed the 2 lowest
LeMossE
+1
Level 43
Oct 8, 2025
Little Eritrea really pulling it's weight here, surprised it beats out nations like Afghanistan, Yemen, and Israel.
pieman
+2
Level 58
Oct 8, 2025
what?! sri lanka?! I guess eritrea makes some sense but I wouldve never guessed sri lanka
QuizMerchant
+1
Level 28
Oct 22, 2025
fkning ethiopia who woulda thought smh
Albrik
+2
Level 66
Dec 29, 2025
Ethiopia is one of the most populous in Africa, you should be surprised by Eritrea
AmericanPlayz
+2
Level 46
Feb 7, 2026
How on God's green earth is Eritrea and Sri Lanka on here???
Pontiac
+1
Level 62
Mar 17, 2026
There is such thing as drafting (When the Government tells you that you will become a soldier and you have basically no say)
KanishkGGo
+1
Level 46
May 26, 2026
Didn`t Expect Sri Lanka and Eritrea here
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