Small but Mighty Armies of WWII, Every Country Ranked by Size

In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and began the largest and deadliest conflict in history. For over six years, more than 70 countries engaged in what would be called the Second World War, or WWII. By the time it ended on September 2, 1945, with the surrender of Japan following the atomic bomb drop in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were an estimated 35 to 60 million casualties. The majority of the casualties were civilians.

The war was also one of the most destructive in history due to the use of heavy artillery. Tanks, aircraft, and more left much of Europe, Japan, parts of Africa, and many other Pacific islands in ruin. Cities and towns were razed, bridges and railroads were demolished, and many landscapes that saw battle were burned.

Using data compiled by Statista, 24/7 Wall St. identified the country with the smallest army in World War II. Countries are ranked by the total estimated number of troops mobilized during the war. We only considered the 22 countries with available data that mobilized over 200,000 troops. 

The war had been raging on for two years when Japan attacked the US in Pearl Harbor and ushered the United States into joining the fray. America wasted no time in ramping up its efforts, putting its industrial might into mass weapons and material production. The country mobilized 16.4 million troops, more than almost all of the other countries involved except Germany and Russia. Germany sent 18.1 million and Russia sent 34.7 million troops into the war effort.

In the European Theater, one of two main combat areas, fighting between Germany and Russia on the Eastern Front was especially devastating. The attempted German invasion of Russia, known as Operation Barbarossa, resulted in some of the deadliest battles and sieges in history.

As a result, during the war, no country suffered more deaths – both civilian and military deaths – than Russia. More than 23 million Russians are estimated to have been killed in WWII. For context, American deaths are estimated to have totaled less than half a million.

Why Are We Talking About World War II?

World War II spanned the globe and created lasting impacts on all involved. Having a good grasp of history helps us better understand our present situations. Understanding the history of this war and those that followed may give us the insight needed to avoid such conflict now and in the future if we heed the warnings they provide.

These are the nations that mobilized the most troops during WWII.

22. New Zealand

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 204,000 (12.4% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 11,671 military (0.7% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 1,641,600
• Date entered war: Sept. 3, 1939

21. South Africa

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 330,000 (3.2% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 11,900 military (0.1% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 10,160,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 4, 1939

20. Netherlands

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 400,000 (4.6% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 7,900 military; 198,000 civilian (2.4% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 8,729,000
• Date entered war: May 10, 1940

19. Bulgaria

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 450,000 (7.0% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 22,000 military; 3,000 civilian (0.4% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis and later the Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 6,458,000
• Date entered war: April 20, 1941

18. Greece

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 540,000 (7.5% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 20,000 military; 400,000 civilian (5.8% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 7,222,000
• Date entered war: Oct. 28, 1940

17. Hungary

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 600,000 (6.6% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 300,000 military; 680,000 civilian (10.7% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis
• National population in 1939: Approx. 9,129,000
• Date entered war: June 27, 1941

16. Belgium

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 600,000 (7.2% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 12,100 military; 76,000 civilian (1.1% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 8,387,000
• Date entered war: May 10, 1940

15. Finland

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 650,000 (17.6% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 95,000 military; 2,000 civilian (2.6% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Possessed by Axis powers, ultimately declared war on Germany
• National population in 1939: Approx. 3,700,000
• Date entered war: Nov. 30, 1939

14. Australia

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 1,000,000 (14.4% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 39,366 military; 735 civilian (0.6% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 6,936,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 3, 1939

13. Canada

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 1,100,000 (9.8% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 45,300 military (0.4% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 11,267,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 10, 1939

12. Yugoslavia

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 1,500,000 (9.7% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 446,000 military; 581,000 civilian (6.7% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis, eventually invaded by Germany
• National population in 1939: Approx. 15,400,000
• Date entered war: April 6, 1941

11. Romania

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 2,000,000 (10.0% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 370,000 military; 533,000 civilian (4.5% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis and later the Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 19,934,000
• Date entered war: June 22, 1941

10. Poland

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 2,000,000 (5.8% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 400,000 military; 5,200,000 civilian (16.1% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 34,775,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 1, 1939

9. India

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 2,581,000 (0.7% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 87,000 military; 1,500,000 civilian (0.4% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 378,000,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 3, 1939

8. France

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 5,000,000 (12.0% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 212,000 military; 260,000 civilian (1.1% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies (the puppet state of Vichy France was an Axis power)
• National population in 1939: Approx. 41,700,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 3, 1939

7. United Kingdom

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 5,896,000 (12.3% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 382,600 military; 67,800 civilian (0.9% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 47,760,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 3, 1939

6. Japan

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 9,100,000 (12.7% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 2,000,000 military; 600,000 civilian (3.6% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis
• National population in 1939: Approx. 71,380,000
• Date entered war: July 7, 1937 (beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War)

5. Italy

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 9,100,000 (20.5% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 306,400 military; 153,100 civilian (1.0% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis
• National population in 1939: Approx. 44,394,000
• Date entered war: June 10, 1940

4. China

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 14,000,000 (2.7% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 4,000,000 military; 16,000,000 civilian (3.9% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 517,568,000
• Date entered war: July 7, 1937 (beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War)

3. United States

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 16,354,000 (12.5% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 407,318 military; 11,200 civilian (0.3% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 131,028,000
• Date entered war: Dec. 7, 1941

2. Germany

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 18,100,000 (22.7% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 5,500,000 military; 2,000,000 civilian (9.4% of pop.)
• Side of conflict: Axis
• National population in 1939: Approx. 79,800,000
• Date entered war: Sept. 1, 1939

1. Soviet Union

• Total troops mobilized: Approx. 34,746,000 (31.8% of pop.)
• War deaths: Approx. 10,700,000 military; 12,500,000 civilian (21.2% of Russian pop.)
• Side of conflict: Allies
• National population in 1939: Approx. 109,300,000 (Russia)
• Date entered war: Sept. 17, 1939

Methodology

24/7 Wall St. used data compiled by Statista to identify the country that had the smallest army in WWII. Countries are ranked by the total estimated number of troops mobilized during the war. We only considered the 22 countries with available data that mobilized over 200,000 troops. Supplemental data on military and civilians killed and population totals in 1939 are estimates from the World War II Database, an online compilation of historical facts about the war. 

Troop totals are estimates only and, in some cases, represent troops who fought for both the Allied and Axis powers. Though the war began in Europe in 1939, for this story, the war is considered to have begun in 1937 for both China and Japan with the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Troop mobilization estimates for Italy vary considerably, depending on the source, and may include Libyan and East African troops. Estimates for Japan may also include Thai troops as well as troops from Japanese colonies like Korea and Taiwan. Troop estimates for Romania may overlap with troop counts from Yugoslavia and Croatia.

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