ISLAMABAD: China, India and the United States continue to field the world’s largest armed forces by active-duty personnel, while Pakistan ranks seventh globally, according to the latest International Institute for Strategic Studies Military Balance 2025 report.

The annual assessment highlights the scale of global militaries at a time of heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflicts. China tops the list with approximately 2.03 million active personnel, followed by India with about 1.47 million and the United States with around 1.32 million troops.

Russia and North Korea remain among the top five, each maintaining forces exceeding 1.2 million personnel. The war in Ukraine has significantly reshaped the rankings, pushing Ukraine into sixth place with roughly 1.25 million active soldiers following large-scale mobilisation.

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Pakistan ranks seventh worldwide with an estimated 660,000 active-duty personnel, placing it ahead of several regional and international powers, including Iran, South Korea and Vietnam. Analysts say the ranking reflects Pakistan’s continued emphasis on maintaining a sizeable conventional force within South Asia’s complex security environment.

Military size not sole measure of strength

The report cautions that troop numbers alone do not determine overall military capability. Countries with comparatively smaller forces, such as the United States and several European powers, retain global influence through advanced technology, logistics, intelligence integration and power projection.

Conversely, states with large standing armies often face challenges related to equipment modernisation, sustainability and operational readiness. The Military Balance also notes that ongoing conflicts and security crises can rapidly alter force sizes, as seen in Ukraine’s sharp rise in active personnel and fluctuations within Russia’s military ranks.

For Pakistan, defence analysts note that while manpower remains a key component of national security, future military effectiveness will increasingly depend on modernisation, technological integration and adaptability to emerging domains such as cyber and information warfare.