These Developing Countries Are Giving Western Armies a Run for Their Money

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Africa’s strongest military has 440,000 active-duty military personnel.
Although Somalia is known as a hotspot for conflict and combat, it is not comparable with the top country on our list, as Somalia has only 15,000 active military personnel — and no military aircraft.
African military growth has been spurred, in part, by investments from foreign nations.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping recently offered $1 billion yuan (approximately $140.5 million) in military aid to the African continent. The offer comprises not only the aid, but training for 6,000 military personnel and up to 1,000 police officers. At this time, the countries which would receive the aid are not yet known. Jinping’s mission seems to be to expand China’s sphere of influence, gain allies in Africa, and compete with the United States as a leading global power on the world stage. China has already had its hands in Africa, running counterterrorism drills and exporting weaponry. (Here are China’s 5 biggest military advantages.)

Throughout history, Africa has been in frequent conflict and combat as various countries attempt to establish power and autonomy, and greater governments and powers seek to establish strongholds. While some parts of Africa remain in conflict, some of the more prominent nations have ensured stable rule through military power. Accordingly, countries like Egypt have reduced conflict within their own borders by having a sizable military force. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at African militaries to see which one is the most powerful.

To determine the countries with the strongest military might in Africa, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. We also included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power.

Compared to the rest of the world only a few African nations are in the top echelon of global military powers. Much of this is due to the fact that many of these countries have underdeveloped air forces. However, they make up for this with troops on the ground and military vehicles. (Here are the African countries with the biggest tank armies, ranked.)

Why We’re Covering This

African military power is reshaping our understanding of geopolitics and global security. Although Africa’s military power has fluctuated throughout history, we’re now seeing much stronger armed forces and military capabilities emerge across the continent. This shift comes from changes in technology, economy, and political advances. Understanding how Africa’s military is changing, and where these changes are most pronounced, gives a stronger look at Africa’s impact on international affairs.

Here are the strongest militaries in Africa:

38. Somalia

Military strength score: 3.9006
Active military personnel: 15,000
Total military aircraft: 0
Total military vehicles: 1,856
Total navy ships and submarines: 11

37. Benin

Military strength score: 3.8912
Active military personnel: 4,750
Total military aircraft: 3
Total military vehicles: 150
Total navy ships and submarines: 7

36. Liberia

Military strength score: 3.7262
Active military personnel: 1,500
Total military aircraft: 0
Total military vehicles: 325
Total navy ships and submarines: 6

35. Sierra Leone

Military strength score: 3.5433
Active military personnel: 13,000
Total military aircraft: 4
Total military vehicles: 100
Total navy ships and submarines: 10

34. Central African Republic

Military strength score: 3.5316
Active military personnel: 10,000
Total military aircraft: 6
Total military vehicles: 228
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

33. Madagascar

Madagascar+military | Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march.

Military strength score: 3.0655
Active military personnel: 13,500
Total military aircraft: 5
Total military vehicles: 232
Total navy ships and submarines: 8

32. Gabon

Military strength score: 2.9517
Active military personnel: 4,800
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 848
Total navy ships and submarines: 5

31. Mauritania

Military strength score: 2.9277
Active military personnel: 31,540
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 1,000
Total navy ships and submarines: 5

30. Senegal

Military strength score: 2.9117
Active military personnel: 17,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total military vehicles: 1,104
Total navy ships and submarines: 4

29. Burkina Faso

Military strength score: 2.8501
Active military personnel: 12,000
Total military aircraft: 21
Total military vehicles: 1,112
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

28. Botswana

Military strength score: 2.8353
Active military personnel: 21,000
Total military aircraft: 46
Total military vehicles: 587
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

27. Namibia

Military strength score: 2.7652
Active military personnel: 13,000
Total military aircraft: 32
Total military vehicles: 2,674
Total navy ships and submarines: 8

26. Republic of the Congo

Military strength score: 2.7282
Active military personnel: 8,500
Total military aircraft: 14
Total military vehicles: 519
Total navy ships and submarines: 6

25. Niger

Military strength score: 2.5988
Active military personnel: 25,000
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 912
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

24. South Sudan

Military strength score: 2.4376
Active military personnel: 185,000
Total military aircraft: 16
Total military vehicles: 1,920
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

23. Eritrea

Military strength score: 2.4152
Active military personnel: 120,000
Total military aircraft: 20
Total military vehicles: 3,512
Total navy ships and submarines: 23

22. Uganda

Military strength score: 2.2405
Active military personnel: 45,000
Total military aircraft: 55
Total military vehicles: 3,162
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

21. Ghana

Military strength score: 2.2358
Active military personnel: 15,500
Total military aircraft: 20
Total military vehicles: 1,656
Total navy ships and submarines: 27

20. Mali

Military strength score: 2.1115
Active military personnel: 40,000
Total military aircraft: 42
Total military vehicles: 647
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

19. Cameroon

Military strength score: 2.0599
Active military personnel: 40,000
Total military aircraft: 35
Total military vehicles: 850
Total navy ships and submarines: 65

18. Tanzania

Military strength score: 2.0587
Active military personnel: 27,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total military vehicles: 712
Total navy ships and submarines: 12

17. Zimbabwe

Military strength score: 2.0352
Active military personnel: 29,000
Total military aircraft: 90
Total military vehicles: 2,412
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

16. Ivory Coast

Military strength score: 1.9869
Active military personnel: 22,000
Total military aircraft: 9
Total military vehicles: 476
Total navy ships and submarines: 7

15. Zambia

Military strength score: 1.9851
Active military personnel: 15,150
Total military aircraft: 99
Total military vehicles: 506
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

14. Chad

Military strength score: 1.8607
Active military personnel: 33,250
Total military aircraft: 41
Total military vehicles: 1,568
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

13. Mozambique

Military strength score: 1.8377
Active military personnel: 11,200
Total military aircraft: 21
Total military vehicles: 872
Total navy ships and submarines: 8

12. Kenya

Military strength score: 1.7629
Active military personnel: 50,000
Total military aircraft: 158
Total military vehicles: 4,856
Total navy ships and submarines: 19

11. Libya

Military strength score: 1.4449
Active military personnel: 32,000
Total military aircraft: 132
Total military vehicles: 2,890
Total navy ships and submarines: 7

10. Sudan

Military strength score: 1.4119
Active military personnel: 92,000
Total military aircraft: 170
Total military vehicles: 3,648
Total navy ships and submarines: 12

9. Tunisia

Tunisia+vehicles | Tunisia-4695 - Be Good or else......

Military strength score: 1.2881
Active military personnel: 89,800
Total military aircraft: 155
Total military vehicles: 6,400
Total navy ships and submarines: 52

8. Democratic Republic of Congo

Military strength score: 1.2491
Active military personnel: 166,580
Total military aircraft: 46
Total military vehicles: 458
Total navy ships and submarines: 16

7. Morocco

Military strength score: 1.0081
Active military personnel: 195,800
Total military aircraft: 255
Total military vehicles: 13,710
Total navy ships and submarines: 121

6. Angola

Military strength score: 0.8702
Active military personnel: 107,000
Total military aircraft: 297
Total military vehicles: 5,500
Total navy ships and submarines: 40

5. Ethiopia

Military strength score: 0.7938
Active military personnel: 162,000
Total military aircraft: 91
Total military vehicles: 10,028
Total navy ships and submarines: 0

4. Nigeria

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Military strength score: 0.5619
Active military personnel: 230,000
Total military aircraft: 147
Total military vehicles: 6,404
Total navy ships and submarines: 133

3. South Africa

Military strength score: 0.4632
Active military personnel: 71,235
Total military aircraft: 194
Total military vehicles: 12,140
Total navy ships and submarines: 47

2. Algeria

Military strength score: 0.3589
Active military personnel: 325,000
Total military aircraft: 605
Total military vehicles: 35,990
Total navy ships and submarines: 213

1. Egypt

Military strength score: 0.2283
Active military personnel: 440,000
Total military aircraft: 1,080
Total military vehicles: 77,596
Total navy ships and submarines: 140

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