The most powerful armies in the world

Power in the modern era is a method to maintain peace between countries that may otherwise vie for one another's resources — hence the paradox of 'mutually assured destruction' as a deterrent. Both conventional and nuclear capabilities have been factored into ranking the most powerful armies in the world. Factors considered include total troop counts, quality of available equipment, resources, geographical location, and funding; however, military engagements are always context-dependent. Currently, the most powerful military in the world is the United States. In second place is Russia, and in third is China.

The Top 10 Most Powerful Militaries:

Rank Country Active Military Personnel
1 United States 1,328,000
2 Russia 1,320,000
3 China 2,035,000
4 India 1,455,550
5 United Kingdom 184,860
6 Turkey 355,200
7 Pakistan 654,000
8 Italy 165,500
9 France 208,750
10 North Korea 1,280,000

1. United States - Total Active Troops: 1,328,000