This Military Force Could Populate a Small Nation

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• With 1,220,000 military personnel, the top country on our list has over double the military forces of the country at #2.
• Africa has one of the top growing economies globally, positioning it for future military growth and increased capabilities.
• At just 4,750 military personnel, Benin ranks at #38 on our list — even though it’s total population far outranks the country that made #5 on our list.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

Over the past five years, military takeovers have been increasingly common throughout Africa. The Wilson Center, a nonpartisan policy forum, shares that in the first six months of 2024 alone, security forces and armed groups clashed more than 474 times in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, leading to over 1,000 deaths. Leaders of military coups argue that democratic governance was not leading their countries in the right direction, necessitating intervention. But not everyone agrees. Given the military authorities’ tactics of intimidation and incarceration, many view the countries as leaning into autocracy. This situation highlights the rapidly changing military roles and geopolitical landscape within the African continent. (For African countries with growing military capabilities, see the African nations with the most military aircraft.)

While Africa may not have the resources to become a world power, Africa does have one of the top growing economies in the world. As the continent decides where to promote growth, and what resources to prioritize, Africa may have more of a stronghold on power in the future. The military plays a huge part in this. Not only does the military allow countries to project power, but it allows for stronger defense capabilities against enemies. (Here are the African countries with the biggest tank armies, ranked.)

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is evaluating which African nations have the most military manpower. To identify the African countries with the most military personnel, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Countries were ranked on the total number of military personnel. When countries were tied with the same amount of military personnel, rank was chosen by which country had the higher level of active military personnel.

We also included supplemental information regarding active personnel, reserves, total population, fit-for-service, and overall military strength score. The ideal military strength score of 0.0000 is unachievable. That being said, the closer a number is to 0.000, the stronger that country’s military. It’s worth noting that countries fill out their ranks of military personnel through voluntary or selective service, and some through mandatory service. Other countries even turn to paramilitary forces should the need become drastic.

Here is a look at the African countries with the most military manpower:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the military dynamics of Africa is important due to the continent’s strategic geopolitical significance. The continent is known for some instability, and military power is one way of ensuring both political and economic stability. Many African nations, including the ones on this list, are growing rapidly. The continued stability of this region is crucial.

38. Benin

• Total military personnel: 4,750
• Active personnel: 4,750
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 14,219,908
• Fit-for-service: 3,085,720
• Military strength score: 3.8912 – #141 out of 145

37. Liberia

• Total military personnel: 7,000
• Active personnel: 1,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,358,483
• Fit-for-service: 1,938,211
• Military strength score: 3.7262 – #140 out of 145

36. Gabon

• Total military personnel: 7,300
• Active personnel: 4,800
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,397,368
• Fit-for-service: 520,229
• Military strength score: 2.9517 – #132 out of 145

35. Republic of the Congo

• Total military personnel: 11,000
• Active personnel: 8,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,677,493
• Fit-for-service: 1,260,403
• Military strength score: 2.7282 – #122 out of 145

34. Central African Republic

• Total military personnel: 11,000
• Active personnel: 10,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,552,228
• Fit-for-service: 1,232,595
• Military strength score: 3.5316 – #137 out of 145

33. Sierra Leone

• Total military personnel: 13,000
• Active personnel: 13,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 8,908,040
• Fit-for-service: 1,175,861
• Military strength score: 3.5433 – #138 out of 145

32. Mozambique

• Total military personnel: 14,200
• Active personnel: 11,200
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 32,513,805
• Fit-for-service: 7,575,717
• Military strength score: 1.8377 – #92 out of 145

31. Ghana

• Total military personnel: 15,500
• Active personnel: 15,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 33,846,114
• Fit-for-service: 9,747,681
• Military strength score: 2.2358 – #113 out of 145

30. Zambia

• Total military personnel: 16,350
• Active personnel: 15,150
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 20,216,029
• Fit-for-service: 4,022,990
• Military strength score: 1.9851 – #97 out of 145

29. Burkina Faso

• Total military personnel: 16,500
• Active personnel: 12,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 22,489,126
• Fit-for-service: 5,914,640
• Military strength score: 2.8501 – #127 out of 145

28. Senegal

• Total military personnel: 17,000
• Active personnel: 17,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 18,384,660
• Fit-for-service: 3,989,471
• Military strength score: 2.9117 – #130 out of 145

27. Somalia

• Total military personnel: 17,000
• Active personnel: 15,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 12,693,796
• Fit-for-service: 1,751,744
• Military strength score: 3.9006 – #142 out of 145

26. Namibia

• Total military personnel: 18,000
• Active personnel: 13,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,777,232
• Fit-for-service: 397,144
• Military strength score: 2.7652 – #124 out of 145

25. Botswana

• Total military personnel: 21,000
• Active personnel: 21,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,417,596
• Fit-for-service: 609,234
• Military strength score: 2.8353 – #126 out of 145

24. Madagascar

• Total military personnel: 21,600
• Active personnel: 13,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 28,812,195
• Fit-for-service: 7,779,293
• Military strength score: 3.0655 – #133 out of 145

23. Ivory Coast

• Total military personnel: 27,500
• Active personnel: 22,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 29,344,847
• Fit-for-service: 7,688,350
• Military strength score: 1.9869 – #98 out of 145

22. Niger

• Total military personnel: 30,000
• Active personnel: 25,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 25,396,840
• Fit-for-service: 5,104,765
• Military strength score: 2.5988 – #121 out of 145

21. Chad

• Total military personnel: 38,250
• Active personnel: 33,250
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 18,523,165
• Fit-for-service: 3,741,679
• Military strength score: 1.8607 – #93 out of 145

20. Mali

• Total military personnel: 44,800
• Active personnel: 40,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 21,359,722
• Fit-for-service: 4,165,146
• Military strength score: 2.1115 – #106 out of 145

19. Zimbabwe

• Total military personnel: 50,800
• Active personnel: 29,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 15,418,674
• Fit-for-service: 3,345,852
• Military strength score: 2.0352 – #101 out of 145

18. Cameroon

• Total military personnel: 52,500
• Active personnel: 40,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 30,135,732
• Fit-for-service: 6,057,282
• Military strength score: 2.0599 – #104 out of 145

17. Uganda

• Total military personnel: 55,000
• Active personnel: 45,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 47,729,952
• Fit-for-service: 9,593,720
• Military strength score: 2.2405 – #114 out of 145

16. Kenya

• Total military personnel: 75,000
• Active personnel: 50,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 57,052,004
• Fit-for-service: 13,749,533
• Military strength score: 1.7629 – #89 out of 145

15. Tunisia

• Total military personnel: 101,800
• Active personnel: 89,800
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 11,976,182
• Fit-for-service: 5,149,758
• Military strength score: 1.2881 – #74 out of 145

14. Mauritania

• Total military personnel: 102,540
• Active personnel: 31,540
• Reserves: 66,000
• Total population: 4,244,878
• Fit-for-service: 1,158,852
• Military strength score: 2.9277 – #131 out of 145

13. Tanzania

• Total military personnel: 113,500
• Active personnel: 27,000
• Reserves: 80,000
• Total population: 65,642,682
• Fit-for-service: 6,498,626
• Military strength score: 2.0587 – #103 out of 145

12. Angola

• Total military personnel: 117,000
• Active personnel: 107,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 35,981,281
• Fit-for-service: 3,598,128
• Military strength score: 0.8702 – #55 out of 145

11. Libya

• Total military personnel: 132,000
• Active personnel: 32,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 7,252,573
• Fit-for-service: 3,241,900
• Military strength score: 1.4449 – #79 out of 145

10. South Africa

• Total military personnel: 150,585
• Active personnel: 71,235
• Reserves: 29,350
• Total population: 58,048,332
• Fit-for-service: 14,395,986
• Military strength score: 0.4632 – #33 out of 145

9. Ethiopia

• Total military personnel: 162,000
• Active personnel: 162,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 116,462,712
• Fit-for-service: 34,705,888
• Military strength score: 0.7938 – #49 out of 145

8. South Sudan

• Total military personnel: 185,000
• Active personnel: 185,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 12,118,379
• Fit-for-service: 3,877,881
• Military strength score: 2.4376 – #119 out of 145

7. Sudan

• Total military personnel: 194,500
• Active personnel: 92,000
• Reserves: 85,000
• Total population: 49,197,555
• Fit-for-service: 16,677,971
• Military strength score: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145

6. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Total military personnel: 207,580
• Active personnel: 166,580
• Reserves: 31,000
• Total population: 111,859,928
• Fit-for-service: 30,425,900
• Military strength score: 1.2491 – #73 out of 145

5. Eritrea

• Total military personnel: 250,000
• Active personnel: 120,000
• Reserves: 130,000
• Total population: 6,274,796
• Fit-for-service: 1,581,249
• Military strength score: 2.4152 – #117 out of 145

4. Nigeria

• Total military personnel: 280,000
• Active personnel: 230,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 230,842,743
• Fit-for-service: 88,181,928
• Military strength score: 0.5619 – #39 out of 145

3. Morocco

• Total military personnel: 395,800
• Active personnel: 195,800
• Reserves: 150,000
• Total population: 37,067,420
• Fit-for-service: 15,123,507
• Military strength score: 1.0081 – #61 out of 145

2. Algeria

• Total military personnel: 610,000
• Active personnel: 325,000
• Reserves: 135,000
• Total population: 44,758,398
• Fit-for-service: 18,261,426
• Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

1. Egypt

• Total military personnel: 1,220,000
• Active personnel: 440,000
• Reserves: 480,000
• Total population: 109,546,720
• Fit-for-service: 37,684,072
• Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145

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