China Had the World's Largest Active Military in 2021

Military strength is a crucial factor in maintaining a nation's sovereignty, especially against threats from land, sea, and air attacks. One indicator of military strength is the number of active personnel.

The following list shows the five countries with the largest number of active military personnel in 2021, according to data from the *World Population Review*.

1. China

China ranks first, with 2.03 million active military personnel. Its military budget is substantial, reaching US$216 billion (approximately Rp 3.07 quadrillion). According to Global Firepower, China's military strength ranks third globally with a score of 0.086.

2. India

India is second, with 1.44 million active military personnel. Its military budget is US$50 billion (approximately Rp 712 trillion). India's military strength ranks fourth globally with a score of 0.12.

3. United States

The United States ranks third, with 1.37 million active military personnel. Its military budget is US$601 billion (approximately Rp 8 quadrillion). The United States' military strength ranks first globally with a score of 0.072.

4. Russia

Russia ranks fourth, with 1.013 million active military personnel. Its military budget is US$84.5 billion (approximately Rp 1.2 quadrillion). Russia's military strength ranks second globally with a score of 0.079.

5. North Korea

North Korea ranks fifth, with 950,000 active military personnel. While North Korea does not publicly release its military budget, data from the U.S. Department of State estimates it at US$3.6 billion (approximately Rp 51.18 trillion) in 2019.

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