NATO’s European Big Three Now Control a $157 B War Chest

Key Points

Italy ranks as the 10th most powerful military, supported by a sizable $30.9 billion defense budget
The Italian Armed Forces boast a sizable arsenal of over 73,000 military vehicles and nearly 1,000 military aircraft, as well as an aircraft carrier
Despite all these military assets, a few of its neighbors still outrank Italy in terms of military power
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On the world stage, Italy ranks as the 10th most powerful military, propped up by a fairly large $30.9 billion defense budget. The Italian Armed Forces boast a sizable arsenal of over 73,000 military vehicles and nearly 1,000 military aircraft. Also it is one of the few countries in the world that owns an aircraft carrier. Italy plays a central role in NATO and European security at large. Despite all these military assets, a few of its neighbors still outrank Italy in terms of military power. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at European militaries and which ones are the strongest.

To determine the European countries with the strongest military might, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2025 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 ranked these countries according to their PowerIndex score. We included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power, as well as the defense budget.

Here is a look at the strongest militaries in Europe:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the military dynamics in Europe is important considering the continent’s deeply rooted geopolitical challenges going forward. Historically, Europe has been marked by wars, shifting alliances, and territorial disputes, and yet it still remains a key player on the global stage. At the same time, alliances like the EU or NATO are some of the most powerful in terms of their influence on the world. Whether it is a question of NATO’s expansion or Russia’s campaign in Eastern Europe, these military forces tilt the region’s balance of power.

38. Kosovo

Active military personnel: 10,000
Reserve military personnel: 5,000
Total military aircraft: 0
Total helicopters: 0
Total military vehicles: 737
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 4.9141 – #144 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Kosovo has a total population of 1.977 million, and of this population 743,387 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $260,715,150.

37. Iceland

Iceland | Reykjavik capital city of iceland

Active military personnel: 0
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 0
Total helicopters: 0
Total military vehicles: 150
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 3.5181 – #135 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Iceland has a total population of 364,036, and of this population 50,237 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $312,400,000.

36. Moldova

Active military personnel: 8,500
Reserve military personnel: 67,000
Total military aircraft: 3
Total helicopters: 2
Total military vehicles: 500
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 3.2555 – #134 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Moldova has a total population of 3.600 million, and of this population 1,792,565 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,710,000,000.

35. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Active military personnel: 12,770
Reserve military personnel: 6,000
Total military aircraft: 22
Total helicopters: 22
Total military vehicles: 720
Total tanks: 45
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 3.0799 – #131 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Bosnia and Herzegovina have a total population of 3.799 million, and of this population 1,956,316 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $216,400,000.

34. Montenegro

Active military personnel: 2,350
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 11
Total helicopters: 11
Total military vehicles: 471
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 14
Military strength score and world rank: 2.9216 – #127 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Montenegro has a total population of 599,849, and of this population 85,179 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $148,100,000.

33. Luxembourg

Active military personnel: 1,000
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 1
Total helicopters: 0
Total military vehicles: 182
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.6415 – #117 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Luxembourg has a total population of 671,254, and of this population 92,633 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $726,092,925.

32. North Macedonia

Active military personnel: 9,000
Reserve military personnel: 60,000
Total military aircraft: 20
Total helicopters: 10
Total military vehicles: 1,108
Total tanks: 20
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4042 – #112 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, North Macedonia has a total population of 2.136 million, and of this population 783,773 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $388,421,700.

31. Estonia

Active military personnel: 7,700
Reserve military personnel: 78,800
Total military aircraft: 5
Total helicopters: 3
Total military vehicles: 1,685
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2917 – #107 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Estonia has a total population of 1.194 million, and of this population 456,028 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,463,360,000.

30. Latvia

Active military personnel: 17,250
Reserve military personnel: 36,000
Total military aircraft: 7
Total helicopters: 7
Total military vehicles: 1,848
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 18
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1246 – #99 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Latvia has a total population of 1.801 million, and of this population 648,449 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,138,000,000.

29. Ireland

Active military personnel: 7,765
Reserve military personnel: 1,700
Total military aircraft: 22
Total helicopters: 8
Total military vehicles: 1,712
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1103 – #97 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Ireland has a total population of 5.233 million, and of this population 1,999,182 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,500,000,000.

28. Slovenia

Slovenia+artillery | 190603-A-OQ915-0030

Active military personnel: 7,300
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total helicopters: 16
Total military vehicles: 1,428
Total tanks: 54
Total navy ships and submarines: 2
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Slovenia has a total population of 2.098 million, and of this population 826,570 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $886,860,000.

27. Lithuania

Active military personnel: 23,000
Reserve military personnel: 104,000
Total military aircraft: 9
Total helicopters: 4
Total military vehicles: 1,263
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 14
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9075 – #88 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Lithuania has a total population of 2.628 million, and of this population 1,332,490 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,388,900,000.

26. Albania

Active military personnel: 6,600
Reserve military personnel: 2,000
Total military aircraft: 19
Total helicopters: 19
Total military vehicles: 1,796
Total tanks: 46
Total navy ships and submarines: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Albania has a total population of 3.107 million, and of this population 1,292,554 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $558,862,420.

25. Croatia

Active military personnel: 14,325
Reserve military personnel: 20,100
Total military aircraft: 67
Total helicopters: 37
Total military vehicles: 2,848
Total tanks: 45
Total navy ships and submarines: 30
Military strength score and world rank: 1.5074 – #75 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Croatia has a total population of 4.150 million, and of this population 1,564,594 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,176,000,000.

24. Slovakia

Slovakia+military+aircraft | JAS-39 Gripen Czechia

Active military personnel: 19,500
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 41
Total helicopters: 22
Total military vehicles: 3,074
Total tanks: 45
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3978 – #71 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Slovakia has a total population of 5.564 million, and of this population 2,353,424 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,656,000,000.

23. Belarus

Active military personnel: 63,000
Reserve military personnel: 145,000
Total military aircraft: 185
Total helicopters: 68
Total military vehicles: 6,916
Total tanks: 507
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3954 – #70 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Belarus has a total population of 9.501 million, and of this population 3,724,569 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,077,900,000.

22. Austria

Austrian national flag waving on blue sky background. Republic of Austria, AT

Active military personnel: 16,000
Reserve military personnel: 125,600
Total military aircraft: 85
Total helicopters: 41
Total military vehicles: 7,322
Total tanks: 56
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3704 – #68 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Austria has a total population of 8.968 million, and of this population 3,632,033 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $5,475,750,000.

21. Serbia

Active military personnel: 25,000
Reserve military personnel: 2,000
Total military aircraft: 110
Total helicopters: 46
Total military vehicles: 3,683
Total tanks: 262
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2576 – #63 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Serbia has a total population of 6.652 million, and of this population 2,574,406 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,287,461,000.

20. Belgium

Active military personnel: 25,000
Reserve military personnel: 6,400
Total military aircraft: 108
Total helicopters: 20
Total military vehicles: 4,606
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 9
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2564 – #62 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Belgium has a total population of 11.98 million, and of this population 3,880,753 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $10,200,000,000.

19. Bulgaria

Active military personnel: 37,000
Reserve military personnel: 3,000
Total military aircraft: 65
Total helicopters: 27
Total military vehicles: 4,914
Total tanks: 90
Total navy ships and submarines: 36
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2563 – #61 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Bulgaria has a total population of 6.783 million, and of this population 2,611,324 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,373,232,000.

18. Hungary

close up of the country of Hungary viewed on a wold map as a travel concept. Hungary on a map

Active military personnel: 41,600
Reserve military personnel: 20,000
Total military aircraft: 69
Total helicopters: 44
Total military vehicles: 7,797
Total tanks: 209
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Hungary has a total population of 9.856 million, and of this population 3,794,462 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,576,000,000.

17. Czechia

Active military personnel: 28,000
Reserve military personnel: 4,200
Total military aircraft: 99
Total helicopters: 42
Total military vehicles: 6,340
Total tanks: 43
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9994 – #53 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Czechia has a total population of 10.84 million, and of this population 4,129,236 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $6,750,000,000.

16. Romania

Romanian Defence Forces Join In Combative Training On Black Sea

Active military personnel: 81,300
Reserve military personnel: 55,000
Total military aircraft: 140
Total helicopters: 65
Total military vehicles: 10,774
Total tanks: 328
Total navy ships and submarines: 20
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Romania has a total population of 18.15 million, and of this population 7,731,114 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $9,700,000,000.

15. Finland

Finland artillery | Missile system on the background of the Finnish flag

Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 870,000
Total military aircraft: 163
Total helicopters: 27
Total military vehicles: 11,704
Total tanks: 200
Total navy ships and submarines: 264
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Finland has a total population of 5.626 million, and of this population 1,912,981 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $6,779,661,000.

14. Denmark

Active military personnel: 20,000
Reserve military personnel: 12,000
Total military aircraft: 117
Total helicopters: 34
Total military vehicles: 3,856
Total tanks: 44
Total navy ships and submarines: 50
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8109 – #45 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Denmark has a total population of 5.973 million, and of this population 2,126,436 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $7,225,466,250.

13. Switzerland

Active military personnel: 101,584
Reserve military personnel: 49,715
Total military aircraft: 146
Total helicopters: 40
Total military vehicles: 6,996
Total tanks: 205
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7869 – #44 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Switzerland has a total population of 8.861 million, and of this population 3,163,225 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $25,039,000,000.

12. Portugal

Active military personnel: 24,000
Reserve military personnel: 211,700
Total military aircraft: 115
Total helicopters: 31
Total military vehicles: 10,828
Total tanks: 34
Total navy ships and submarines: 194
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6856 – #39 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Portugal has a total population of 10.64 million, and of this population 4,096,295 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,627,000,000.

11. Norway

Active military personnel: 23,250
Reserve military personnel: 0
Total military aircraft: 97
Total helicopters: 33
Total military vehicles: 6,552
Total tanks: 44
Total navy ships and submarines: 43
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6811 – #38 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Norway has a total population of 5.510 million, and of this population 1,807,192 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $9,710,000,000.

10. Netherlands

Active military personnel: 41,380
Reserve military personnel: 6,765
Total military aircraft: 120
Total helicopters: 63
Total military vehicles: 2,755
Total tanks: 18
Total navy ships and submarines: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6412 – #36 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Netherlands has a total population of 17.77 million, and of this population 6,486,918 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $27,000,000,000.

9. Greece

Active military personnel: 142,700
Reserve military personnel: 221,350
Total military aircraft: 558
Total helicopters: 293
Total military vehicles: 61,888
Total tanks: 1,344
Total navy ships and submarines: 192
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Greece has a total population of 10.46 million, and of this population 3,985,676 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $6,500,000,000.

8. Sweden

Sweden+Gripen-E | Gripen E/F Test Aircraft

Active military personnel: 24,400
Reserve military personnel: 32,900
Total military aircraft: 169
Total helicopters: 53
Total military vehicles: 6,795
Total tanks: 110
Total navy ships and submarines: 308
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Sweden has a total population of 10.59 million, and of this population 3,558,185 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $13,000,000,000.

7. Poland

Poland+T-72M1 | T-72M1 ‘3243’ – Tankfest 2017

Active military personnel: 202,100
Reserve military personnel: 350,000
Total military aircraft: 479
Total helicopters: 216
Total military vehicles: 23,138
Total tanks: 614
Total navy ships and submarines: 62
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #22 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Poland has a total population of 38.75 million, and of this population 15,576,017 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $48,700,000,000.

6. Ukraine

Active military personnel: 900,000
Reserve military personnel: 1,200,000
Total military aircraft: 324
Total helicopters: 136
Total military vehicles: 18,920
Total tanks: 1,114
Total navy ships and submarines: 89
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3755 – #21 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Ukraine has a total population of 35.66 million, and of this population 12,731,272 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $53,700,000,000.

5. Spain

Active military personnel: 133,282
Reserve military personnel: 15,150
Total military aircraft: 461
Total helicopters: 153
Total military vehicles: 17,626
Total tanks: 317
Total navy ships and submarines: 152
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Spain has a total population of 47.28 million, and of this population 17,635,602 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $23,397,000,000.

4. Germany

Active military personnel: 181,600
Reserve military personnel: 34,000
Total military aircraft: 584
Total helicopters: 309
Total military vehicles: 83,260
Total tanks: 296
Total navy ships and submarines: 61
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2601 – #14 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Germany has a total population of 84.12 million, and of this population 30,955,829 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $50,000,000,000.

3. Italy

Active military personnel: 165,500
Reserve military personnel: 18,500
Total military aircraft: 729
Total helicopters: 392
Total military vehicles: 73,480
Total tanks: 200
Total navy ships and submarines: 196
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Italy has a total population of 60.96 million, and of this population 22,191,235 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $30,890,000,000.

2. France

Active military personnel: 200,000
Reserve military personnel: 26,000
Total military aircraft: 976
Total helicopters: 448
Total military vehicles: 110,932
Total tanks: 215
Total navy ships and submarines: 129
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #8 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, France has a total population of 68.37 million, and of this population 23,794,358 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $55,000,000,000.

1. United Kingdom

Active military personnel: 184,860
Reserve military personnel: 924,000
Total military aircraft: 631
Total helicopters: 266
Total military vehicles: 38,200
Total tanks: 227
Total navy ships and submarines: 109
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145

Outside of these military assets, United Kingdom has a total population of 68.46 million, and of this population 25,192,932 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $71,500,540,000.

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Author: Chris Lange

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