This is a list of the largest armies in the world right now. Paratroopers and reserve personnel have been excluded and only active troops are shown. Military equipment, budget by country and power ranking are also set aside to provide you the reader with the cold hard facts. A standard army is usually made up of corps, divisions, infantry, cavalry, brigades, regiments and battalions offering a commanding general a wide range of options when planning strategic manoeuvres on the battle filed.
Usually the best armies come from countries with an abundant military budget and monstrously high GDP but there are a few surprises that make this list due to them having a large population.
MYANMAR: 406,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
The Tatmadaw is the national army of Myanmar which has a total population of 53 million people. At this moment there is no military draft in the country so every last soldier is a theoretical volunteer. Since it's independence from England in 1948 Myanmar's Tatmadaw has garnered a controversial reputation and has often been accused of ethnic cleansing, sexual assault, torture and the murder of many innocent civilians.
EGYPT: 438,500 ACTIVE TROOPS
Next we have an army from one of the oldest known civilisations in the world that has been involved in a number of conflicts through the years. From the War of Attrition in 1967 to the ongoing War on Terror Egypt's armed forces have kept very busy indeed. The Egyptian army's armament is sourced from both the West and the East.
VIETNAM: 482,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
A country most famous for it's epic 20th century punch up with the United States, Vietnam has a large population of over 95 million people. It's army is called the VPA or the Vietnamese People's Army
SOUTH KOREA: 599,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
When you have one of the world's biggest communist strongholds sitting directly above you with suspected nuclear weapons you're going to need an army, a big one! South Korea's ROK Armed Forces carry a powerful punch with a total of 3.7 million active and reserve personnel. Founded by the South Korean government in 1948 after the country's liberation from the empire of Japan the ROK Armed Forces has one of the highest military budgets in the world along with being regarded as the 6th most powerful army in the world.
PAKISTAN: 653,800 ACTIVE TROOPS
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Pakistan's army seems to be built around keeping one giant enemy at bay. India. Both these old foes went at it hard in 1965 but despite India's superior strength they were unable to gain a conclusive victory. Both sides to this day strongly assert they were unanimously
victorious!
RUSSIA: 900,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
The Red Army is one of the most feared fighting machines on the planet with a long and colourful tradition of draining the blood of it's enemies. Never poke the Russian Bear. Unfortunately the mighty Wehrmacht did precisely this in WW2 leading to the biggest single military engagement ever which resulted in a humiliating Nazi collapse.
NORTH KOREA : 1,280,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
Despite having a rather small population of 25 million people compared to some other countries on this list North Korea has the world's largest collective military of 7,769,000 active, non active and paramilitary personnel. Leader Kim Jong-un's refusal to succumb to the Western way of life has ensured permanent enemies in the of the shape of the United States and neighbours South Korea.
UNITED STATES: 1,359,450 ACTIVE TROOPS
The United States spends $600 billion on it's armed forces every year which is considerably more than any other country on this list. Deemed to be one of the most technologically advanced war machines on the face of the planet where they are no stranger to world conflicts. From the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War the US military has never stood down from a challenge. They are currently considered the world's strongest military.
INDIA: 1,455,550 ACTIVE TROOPS
India, a potential world superpower, has enormous man power at it's disposal with a current population of over 1.3 billion people. Close enemies include colonial England and it's feisty neighbour Pakistan. India now has a nuclear deterrent and a strong relationship with fellow military powerhouse Russia. An untamed thoroughbred if ever there was one.
CHINA: 2,035,000 ACTIVE TROOPS
China, the world's economic workhorse, it quietly makes the world. A history stretching back thousands of years China's military is now ranked the 3rd strongest in the world and second for military expenditure. With limitless manpower available this is not a country you want to trifle with...
