Does Russia or China Have the Strongest Military in Asia?

Key Points

Russia and China dominate the Asian continent in terms of military prowess
Russia relies on hordes of legacy tech, tanks, and artillery, but it has some of the most advanced aircraft on the planet and the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons
China has been the fastest developing military over the last decade, adding hundreds of new aircraft and naval vessels to its arsenal

As geopolitical tensions are escalating across Europe and Asia, the military balance between Russia and China has become increasingly important. These two military superpowers are looking for regional hegemony, and Asia might only be big enough for one of them. While Russia relies on hordes of tanks, fighter jets, and nukes, China has been developing its navy and air force at an unprecedented pace with cutting-edge tech. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at Asian countries and which one of these has the strongest military.

To determine the Asian 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 military powers in Asia:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the military dynamics of Asia is important considering the region's complex geopolitical landscape and its growing strategic significance. Historically, Asia has been shaped by internal conflicts, border disputes, and great power competition. Today, its military forces play an important role in determining regional stability. As tensions rise over territorial claims and political influence, military power is the law of the land, from disputes in the South China Sea to the contested borders in South Asia.

45. Bhutan

Total military personnel: 7,500
Total military aircraft: 2
Total helicopters: 2
Total military vehicles: 84
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 6.3934 – 145. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Bhutan has a total population of 884,546, and of this population 122,067 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $14,000,000.

44. Nepal

Total military personnel: 110,000
Total military aircraft: 15
Total helicopters: 10
Total military vehicles: 1,108
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8915 – 126. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Nepal has a total population of 31.12 million, and of this population 11,733,140 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $409,100,000.

43. Afghanistan

Total military personnel: 80,000
Total military aircraft: 9
Total helicopters: 6
Total military vehicles: 5,202
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.6442 – 118. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Afghanistan has a total population of 40.12 million, and of this population 8,826,741 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $290,000,000.

42. Lebanon

Total military personnel: 160,000
Total military aircraft: 80
Total helicopters: 68
Total military vehicles: 4,538
Total tanks: 116
Total navy ships and submarines: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 2.5981 – 115. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Lebanon has a total population of 5.364 million, and of this population 1,775,644 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $768,250,325.

41. Tajikistan

Total military personnel: 629,500
Total military aircraft: 25
Total helicopters: 20
Total military vehicles: 1,240
Total tanks: 38
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.3049 – 108. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Tajikistan has a total population of 10.39 million, and of this population 3,773,045 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $446,000,000.

40. Laos

Total military personnel: 250,000
Total military aircraft: 33
Total helicopters: 23
Total military vehicles: 4,380
Total tanks: 160
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2663 – 106. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Laos has a total population of 7.954 million, and of this population 2,521,277 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $135,000,000.

39. Kyrgyzstan

Total military personnel: 378,000
Total military aircraft: 7
Total helicopters: 7
Total military vehicles: 2,686
Total tanks: 215
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2543 – 105. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Kyrgyzstan has a total population of 6.172 million, and of this population 2,487,357 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $221,800,000.

38. Mongolia

Total military personnel: 220,000
Total military aircraft: 7
Total helicopters: 2
Total military vehicles: 2,560
Total tanks: 420
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1135 – 98. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Mongolia has a total population of 3.282 million, and of this population 1,552,233 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $165,110,000.

37. Cambodia

Total military personnel: 231,000
Total military aircraft: 25
Total helicopters: 21
Total military vehicles: 3,627
Total tanks: 644
Total navy ships and submarines: 20
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0752 – 95. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Cambodia has a total population of 17.06 million, and of this population 5,733,393 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $860,000,000.

36. Georgia

Total military personnel: 207,500
Total military aircraft: 61
Total helicopters: 44
Total military vehicles: 3,392
Total tanks: 123
Total navy ships and submarines: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0695 – 94. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Georgia has a total population of 4.901 million, and of this population 2,225,036 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $495,629,055.

35. Armenia

Total military personnel: 272,500
Total military aircraft: 71
Total helicopters: 36
Total military vehicles: 1,306
Total tanks: 109
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0373 – 91. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Armenia has a total population of 2.977 million, and of this population 1,366,335 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,700,000,000.

34. Yemen

Total military personnel: 86,700
Total military aircraft: 84
Total helicopters: 30
Total military vehicles: 550
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 33
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8901 – 85. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Yemen has a total population of 32.14 million, and of this population 9,031,464 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $810,375,000.

33. Oman

Total military personnel: 152,600
Total military aircraft: 128
Total helicopters: 31
Total military vehicles: 4,084
Total tanks: 150
Total navy ships and submarines: 22
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8047 – 82. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Oman has a total population of 3.902 million, and of this population 1,291,559 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $8,200,000,000.

32. Bahrain

Total military personnel: 129,900
Total military aircraft: 132
Total helicopters: 80
Total military vehicles: 2,764
Total tanks: 150
Total navy ships and submarines: 64
Military strength score and world rank: 1.7448 – 81. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Bahrain has a total population of 1.567 million, and of this population 720,768 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,597,200,000.

31. Kuwait

Total military personnel: 103,500
Total military aircraft: 128
Total helicopters: 67
Total military vehicles: 5,636
Total tanks: 367
Total navy ships and submarines: 123
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6982 – 79. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Kuwait has a total population of 3.138 million, and of this population 1,449,920 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $6,950,000,000.

30. Turkmenistan

Total military personnel: 40,000
Total military aircraft: 91
Total helicopters: 26
Total military vehicles: 5,016
Total tanks: 654
Total navy ships and submarines: 16
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6512 – 77. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Turkmenistan has a total population of 5.744 million, and of this population 2,245,963 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,078,020,000.

29. Jordan

Total military personnel: 200,500
Total military aircraft: 274
Total helicopters: 155
Total military vehicles: 16,624
Total tanks: 1,458
Total navy ships and submarines: 27
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6139 – 76. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Jordan has a total population of 11.17 million, and of this population 2,983,464 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,500,000,000.

28. Qatar

Total military personnel: 87,050
Total military aircraft: 251
Total helicopters: 80
Total military vehicles: 5,024
Total tanks: 99
Total navy ships and submarines: 115
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4307 – 72. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Qatar has a total population of 2.552 million, and of this population 490,001 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $9,432,000,000.

27. Sri Lanka

Total military personnel: 436,000
Total military aircraft: 85
Total helicopters: 55
Total military vehicles: 3,190
Total tanks: 44
Total navy ships and submarines: 270
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3941 – 69. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Sri Lanka has a total population of 21.98 million, and of this population 8,551,235 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $1,265,400,000.

26. Syria

Total military personnel: 270,000
Total military aircraft: 207
Total helicopters: 77
Total military vehicles: 11,148
Total tanks: 365
Total navy ships and submarines: 27
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2771 – 64. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Syria has a total population of 23.87 million, and of this population 13,245,310 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $291,850,000.

25. Azerbaijan

Total military personnel: 441,400
Total military aircraft: 154
Total helicopters: 86
Total military vehicles: 7,642
Total tanks: 497
Total navy ships and submarines: 38
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2531 – 60. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Azerbaijan has a total population of 10.65 million, and of this population 3,908,638 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $5,000,000,000.

24. Uzbekistan

Total military personnel: 68,000
Total military aircraft: 192
Total helicopters: 101
Total military vehicles: 2,970
Total tanks: 340
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1121 – 58. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Uzbekistan has a total population of 36.52 million, and of this population 15,959,499 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,803,500,000.

23. Kazakhstan

Total military personnel: 300,000
Total military aircraft: 198
Total helicopters: 65
Total military vehicles: 7,736
Total tanks: 350
Total navy ships and submarines: 26
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1016 – 57. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Kazakhstan has a total population of 20.26 million, and of this population 6,928,922 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,048,700,000.

22. United Arab Emirates

Total military personnel: 207,000
Total military aircraft: 551
Total helicopters: 247
Total military vehicles: 8,707
Total tanks: 354
Total navy ships and submarines: 181
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0186 – 54. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, United Arab Emirates has a total population of 10.03 million, and of this population 4,945,881 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,212,360,382.

21. Iraq

Total military personnel: 293,000
Total military aircraft: 391
Total helicopters: 197
Total military vehicles: 37,288
Total tanks: 1,025
Total navy ships and submarines: 68
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – 43. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Iraq has a total population of 42.08 million, and of this population 14,308,368 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $7,923,000,000.

20. Malaysia

Total military personnel: 264,600
Total military aircraft: 135
Total helicopters: 45
Total military vehicles: 13,506
Total tanks: 48
Total navy ships and submarines: 100
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7429 – 42. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Malaysia has a total population of 34.56 million, and of this population 13,480,276 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,800,000,000.

19. Philippines

Total military personnel: 1,385,000
Total military aircraft: 202
Total helicopters: 122
Total military vehicles: 11,878
Total tanks: 10
Total navy ships and submarines: 113
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6987 – 41. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Philippines has a total population of 118.28 million, and of this population 41,751,803 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,380,000,000.

18. Myanmar

Total military personnel: 225,000
Total military aircraft: 317
Total helicopters: 83
Total military vehicles: 5,980
Total tanks: 445
Total navy ships and submarines: 232
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6735 – 37. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Myanmar has a total population of 57.53 million, and of this population 21,975,367 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $2,948,000,000.

17. Bangladesh

Total military personnel: 6,963,000
Total military aircraft: 214
Total helicopters: 65
Total military vehicles: 11,584
Total tanks: 320
Total navy ships and submarines: 118
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6062 – 35. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Bangladesh has a total population of 168.70 million, and of this population 66,129,296 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,374,000,000.

16. North Korea

Total military personnel: 1,980,000
Total military aircraft: 861
Total helicopters: 205
Total military vehicles: 18,288
Total tanks: 4,344
Total navy ships and submarines: 207
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6016 – 34. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, North Korea has a total population of 26.30 million, and of this population 5,312,331 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $4,736,000,000.

15. Singapore

Total military personnel: 315,500
Total military aircraft: 230
Total helicopters: 70
Total military vehicles: 8,998
Total tanks: 170
Total navy ships and submarines: 50
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5271 – 29. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Singapore has a total population of 6.028 million, and of this population 2,628,408 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $15,000,000,000.

14. Thailand

Total military personnel: 585,850
Total military aircraft: 493
Total helicopters: 258
Total military vehicles: 16,935
Total tanks: 635
Total navy ships and submarines: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4536 – 26. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Thailand has a total population of 69.92 million, and of this population 27,968,399 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $5,887,883,500.

13. Saudi Arabia

Total military personnel: 407,000
Total military aircraft: 917
Total helicopters: 264
Total military vehicles: 19,040
Total tanks: 840
Total navy ships and submarines: 32
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – 25. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Saudi Arabia has a total population of 36.54 million, and of this population 17,468,238 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $74,760,000,000.

12. Vietnam

Total military personnel: 5,850,000
Total military aircraft: 246
Total helicopters: 101
Total military vehicles: 11,912
Total tanks: 1,374
Total navy ships and submarines: 110
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – 24. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Vietnam has a total population of 105.76 million, and of this population 45,053,323 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $8,594,000,000.

11. Taiwan

Total military personnel: 2,580,000
Total military aircraft: 761
Total helicopters: 236
Total military vehicles: 19,921
Total tanks: 888
Total navy ships and submarines: 97
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3988 – 23. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Taiwan has a total population of 23.60 million, and of this population 1,061,787 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $19,740,000,000.

10. Iran

Total military personnel: 1,180,000
Total military aircraft: 551
Total helicopters: 128
Total military vehicles: 65,825
Total tanks: 1,713
Total navy ships and submarines: 107
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – 16. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Iran has a total population of 88.39 million, and of this population 41,541,860 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $15,450,000,000.

9. Israel

Total military personnel: 670,000
Total military aircraft: 611
Total helicopters: 147
Total military vehicles: 35,985
Total tanks: 1,300
Total navy ships and submarines: 62
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2661 – 15. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Israel has a total population of 9.403 million, and of this population 3,281,513 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $30,500,000,000.

8. Indonesia

Total military personnel: 1,050,000
Total military aircraft: 459
Total helicopters: 214
Total military vehicles: 20,440
Total tanks: 331
Total navy ships and submarines: 331
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2557 – 13. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Indonesia has a total population of 281.56 million, and of this population 114,595,923 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $10,600,000,000.

7. Pakistan

Total military personnel: 1,704,000
Total military aircraft: 1,399
Total helicopters: 373
Total military vehicles: 17,516
Total tanks: 2,627
Total navy ships and submarines: 121
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – 12. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Pakistan has a total population of 252.36 million, and of this population 85,803,614 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $7,640,000,000.

6. Turkey

Total military personnel: 883,900
Total military aircraft: 1,083
Total helicopters: 508
Total military vehicles: 61,173
Total tanks: 2,238
Total navy ships and submarines: 182
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – 9. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Turkey has a total population of 84.12 million, and of this population 36,087,279 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $47,000,000,000.

5. Japan

Total military personnel: 328,150
Total military aircraft: 1,443
Total helicopters: 596
Total military vehicles: 31,964
Total tanks: 521
Total navy ships and submarines: 159
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1839 – 7. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Japan has a total population of 123.2 million, and of this population 42,874,277 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $57,000,000,000.

4. South Korea

Total military personnel: 3,820,000
Total military aircraft: 1,592
Total helicopters: 807
Total military vehicles: 58,880
Total tanks: 2,236
Total navy ships and submarines: 227
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – 5. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, South Korea has a total population of 52.08 million, and of this population 21,353,538 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $46,300,000,000.

3. India

Total military personnel: 5,137,550
Total military aircraft: 2,229
Total helicopters: 899
Total military vehicles: 148,594
Total tanks: 4,201
Total navy ships and submarines: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – 4. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, India has a total population of 1.409 billion, and of this population 522,786,598 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $75,000,000,000.

2. China

Total military personnel: 3,170,000
Total military aircraft: 3,309
Total helicopters: 913
Total military vehicles: 144,017
Total tanks: 6,800
Total navy ships and submarines: 754
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – 3. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, China has a total population of 1.415 billion, and of this population 626,864,169 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $266,850,000,000.

1. Russia

Total military personnel: 3,570,000
Total military aircraft: 4,292
Total helicopters: 1,651
Total military vehicles: 131,527
Total tanks: 5,750
Total navy ships and submarines: 419
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – 2. out of 145

Outside of these military assets, Russia has a total population of 140.82 million, and of this population 46,189,226 are fit to serve in the military. Also, this country has a total defense budget of $126,000,000,000.