For 2024, Bhutan is identified as having the weakest military globally. This assessment is based on comprehensive evaluations of military strength across 145 countries.
Countries with the Weakest Military Powers in 2024
Following Bhutan, Moldova and Suriname are ranked among the nations with the least powerful military forces. These rankings consider a multitude of factors, including manpower, equipment, financial resources, and logistical capabilities.
Here's a closer look at the countries cited as having the weakest militaries:
| Rank (2024) | Country | Brief Context of Military Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhutan | A small, landlocked Himalayan nation known for its focus on peace and gross national happiness, maintaining a very limited defense force primarily for border security. |
| 2 | Moldova | A landlocked Eastern European country with a modest defense budget and a relatively small military, focusing on territorial defense. |
| 3 | Suriname | A small South American country with a limited military capacity, largely focused on internal security and guarding its borders. |
Understanding Military Strength Rankings
Military strength rankings typically evaluate a nation's defense capabilities by examining a wide array of criteria. These factors collectively contribute to a country's overall military power score, with lower scores indicating weaker military standing. Key elements often include:
- Manpower: This considers the total number of active military personnel, reserve forces, and paramilitary personnel available. A smaller force naturally limits a military's operational capacity.
- Equipment: The quantity and quality of military hardware, including aircraft (fighters, transport, helicopters), naval vessels (warships, submarines), and land vehicles (tanks, armored vehicles, artillery).
- Defense Budget: The financial resources a nation allocates to its military, covering training, procurement, maintenance, and personnel salaries. Lower budgets often mean less advanced equipment and training.
- Logistics and Infrastructure: The ability to transport troops and equipment, maintain supply lines, and support operations. This includes infrastructure like airfields, ports, and road networks.
- Geographic Factors: A country's size, coastline, shared borders, and terrain can influence its defense strategy and requirements. Landlocked nations, for example, do not require a navy.
Countries with the weakest militaries often exhibit limited resources across these categories, leading to a smaller, less equipped, and less capable defense force. This can be due to various reasons, including a focus on neutrality, small population size, limited economic resources, or a prioritization of non-military aspects of national development.
