Here in the UK, we would like to think we have a pretty substantial army, but when it comes down to active military personnel numbers we are not even in the top 30! But this lot are the top 10 and some of them are in the millions…
Egyptian Army
10 – Egypt (Active Military: 438,500)
Wiki Info: The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces, and is the largest army in Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world. The Egyptian army is currently ranked as the 10th largest army in the world.
People’s Army of Vietnam
9 – Vietnam (Active Military: 482,000)
Wiki Info: The People’s Army of Vietnam, also known as the Vietnamese People’s Army, is the military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The PAVN is a part of Vietnam People’s Armed Forces and includes: Ground Force (including Strategic Rear Forces), Navy, Air Force, Border Defence Force, and Coast Guard.
Islamic Republic of Iran Army
8 – Iran (Active Military: 523,000)
Wiki Info: The Islamic Republic of Iran Army, simply known as the Iranian Army or Artesh, is the “conventional military of Iran” and part of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Republic of Korea Armed Forces
7 – South Korea (Active Military: 630,000)
Wiki Info: The Republic of Korea Armed Forces are also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the armed forces of South Korea. Created in 1948, following the division of Korea, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces is one of the largest standing armed forces in the world.
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Pakistan Army
6 – Pakistan (Active Military: 653,800)
Wiki Info: Pakistan Army is the land-based service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It came into the existence from the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India that resulted in the independence of Pakistan on 14 August 1947.
Russian Armed Forces
5 – Russia (Active Military: 831,000)
Wiki Info: The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military service of the Russian Federation, established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On 7 May 1992, Boris Yeltsin signed a presidential decree establishing the Russian Ministry of Defence and placing all Soviet Armed Forces troops on the territory of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic under Russian control.
Korean People’s Army
4 – North Korea (Active Military: 1,190,000)
Wiki Info: The Korean People’s Army constitutes the military force of North Korea and, under the Songun policy, the central institution of North Korean society. Kim Jong-un is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army and Chairman of the Central Military Commission
United States Army
3 – United States (Active Military: 1,347,300)
Wiki Info: The United States Army (USA) is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. The United States Army considers itself descended from the Continental Army, and dates its institutional inception from the origin of that armed force in 1775.
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Indian Army
2 – India (Active Military: 1,395,100)
Wiki Info: The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army and it is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff, who is a four-star general.
People’s Liberation Army
1 – China (Active Military: 2,183,000)
Wiki Info: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Communist Party of China (CPC). The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.