2023 Military Rankings: U.S. Leads, North Korea’s Asymmetric Approach Gains Notice

Ranking the World’s Strongest Military Powers
The U.S. Tops the 2023 Global Military Power Ranking Again

There are 196 countries on Earth. Including autonomous territories, the number reaches 249. Among these numerous nations, who has the strongest military power? The United States and Russia have maintained a high military image since the Cold War and are among the top contenders. However, recently, China and India have been rapidly rising.

According to a report by the U.S. military power evaluation agency Global Firepower (GFP) released in July, the 2023 Military Strength Ranking was once again topped by the United States. They are known as the “superpower,” with a military power index of 0.0712. The U.S., with a defense budget exceeding $1 trillion, is unrivaled with a defense budget of $761 billion. This is more than three times the size of China, which ranks second in budget size. The U.S. not only boasts 1.4 million active-duty soldiers, 8,848 tanks and armored vehicles, 983 attack helicopters, 92 destroyers, 11 aircraft carriers, and 13,800 aircraft but also is evaluated as the most unrivaled in terms of development level in all fields, including aerospace and communications.

The military power ranking is determined by evaluating 60 items, including conventional military equipment owned by each country, the size and financial status of the military, combat operational capability, and geographical advantages. The closer the evaluation index number is to 0, the stronger the military power.

Russia – Maintaining Second Place
Impact of the Invasion of Ukraine on Russia’s Military Reputation

Russia came in second place with a military power index of 0.0714. Its defense budget is $84.5 billion, and it has 766,000 active-duty soldiers, 15,300 tanks and armored vehicles, 3,400 aircraft, and 55 submarines.

Although it once formed a bipolar structure with the U.S. regarding military power, Russia still maintains the second most powerful military power in the world, even after its military power weakened 30 years after the collapse of the Cold War era. It has the largest tank force in the world and the second-largest air fleet after the U.S. Its submarine ownership is the third largest after the U.S. and China. Military experts assess that Russia’s military power reputation has been shaken as it revealed significant limitations in its air force and navy, along with enormous losses in its tank and other weapon systems due to the war of invasion against Ukraine.

China – Accelerating Military Expansion

Amid Russia’s military weakening, China ranked third this year, just like last year. According to GFP’s analysis, China is accelerating its defense budget expansion, benefiting from Russia’s war underperformance, and is expected to rise to second place soon.

China, which came in third in military power with an index of 0.0722, has 2.33 million active-duty soldiers, 9,150 tanks and armored vehicles, 2,860 aircraft, and 67 submarines. Recently, its naval force, which is building numerous warships, has been evaluated as being at the world’s strongest level in quantity, not falling behind the U.S. Its defense budget is the second largest in the world, at $216 billion.

China is accelerating its military technology development, which is called a game changer in modern warfare, such as high-powered ballistic missiles, fifth-generation aircraft, and aircraft carrier construction, achieving rapid progress in its military modernization program. GFP predicted that if this trend continues, China will soon overtake Russia and become a worthy military competitor of the U.S.

India – Rising Military Power

India, which invests a considerable amount of military expenses compared to its military capabilities, took the fourth place. It received a military power index of 0.1025. It is the country with the most tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft, following the U.S., Russia, and China. Its defense budget is $50 billion, with 1.32 million active-duty soldiers, 6,460 tanks, 1,900 aircraft, and 15 submarines. As a result of rapidly strengthening its military power due to military confrontation with China, it has risen to the world’s fourth largest military power. Especially as it possesses nuclear weapons, it boasts a military power that no country in the world can ignore.

The United Kingdom – NATO’s Largest Military Power

The UK took fifth place, the largest military power in NATO, with a military power index of 0.1435. Its defense budget is $60.5 billion, and it has 146,900 active-duty soldiers, 400 tanks and armored vehicles, 930 aircraft, and 10 submarines. The UK has recently reduced the size of its military by about 20%, but after the war between Russia and Ukraine, it has been rearming and strengthening its military power. As a military power that once dominated the world, it still exerts influence by dispatching its military worldwide. In particular, the British navy is still strong, and it has built the aircraft carrier Elizabeth, carrying more than 40 of the latest 5th generation stealth fighters, F-35B, and is sailing worldwide.

South Korea – A Formidable Force

South Korea ranks sixth among 145 countries globally, boasting a military power index 0.1505. Its defense budget is $62.3 billion, with an active-duty soldier count of 550,000. The nation also maintains a formidable arsenal, including 2,380 tanks and armored vehicles, 1,410 aircraft, and 13 submarines. South Korea has invested in advanced military capabilities, featuring cutting-edge weapon systems designed to counteract North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

Its military strength is underscored by its substantial fleet of submarines and attack helicopters, placing it as a top-ranking military force on a global scale. The country possesses numerous tanks and armored vehicles, including tanks and K9 self-propelled guns, and boasts the world’s sixth-largest air force.

South Korea continues to enhance its advanced military capabilities through initiatives such as developing high-powered ballistic missiles and launching military reconnaissance satellites, which have resulted from negotiations with the United States.

Pakistan – Focusing on Military Strength

Pakistan, which has recently focused on strengthening its military power, ranked seventh with a military power index of 0.1694. Although its defense budget is only $7 billion, its active-duty soldiers number 610,000, making it one of the largest armies in the world. It has 2,920 tanks, armored vehicles, 910 aircraft, and 8 submarines. As India has become a military power, it is investing heavily to expand its military power. It is expected to become the third largest nuclear weapon holder in the world within the next 10 years due to its fast pace in nuclear armament.

Japan – A Compact Military Force

Japan (military power index 0.1711) ranked 8th. With a defense budget of $41.8 billion and an active-duty force of 247,000, 670 tanks, including armored vehicles, 1,610 aircraft, and 16 submarines, Despite having a small military force in terms of numbers, Japan’s state-of-the-art weaponry, backed by U.S. support, makes it a force that cannot be ignored. Above all, Japan has a strong naval force and the world’s fourth-largest submarine fleet. Although it has four aircraft carriers, they are currently only capable of carrying helicopters. Following China, Russia, and the U.S., Japan operates the world’s fourth-largest attack helicopter unit.

France – Traditionally Strong

France (military power index 0.1818), a traditionally strong nation, took the 9th place. With a defense budget of $62.3 billion, an active-duty force of 200,000, 420 tanks, including armored vehicles, 1,260 aircraft, and 10 submarines. The French military is relatively small but is highly trained and specialized. France operates its latest aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, and its own developed latest fighter, the Rafale, which is also being exported.

Italy – Completing the Top 10

Italy (military power index 0.1973) ranked last in the top 10. With a defense budget of $34 billion and an active-duty force of 320,000, 580 tanks, including armored vehicles, 760 aircraft, and 6 submarines, Italy owns 2 aircraft carriers and is boosting its military power by operating relatively large submarine and attack helicopter units.

North Korea’s Asymmetric Power

Meanwhile, North Korea (military power index 0.5118), a nuclear-armed nation, was ranked 34th based on the evaluation of conventional military power alone.

Up to this point, the evaluation was based on conventional weapons. The situation changes when including strategic weapons such as nuclear weapons, which serve as asymmetric powers. If the military power ranking includes nuclear submarines, South Korea, which only possesses conventional weapons in a non-nuclear state, ranks 10th. North Korea surpasses South Korea.

Implications of Military Rankings and Nuclear Asymmetry

When applying the Hanseon Comprehensive National Power Index Measurement Model (Hanseon Model), which is an analysis based on the Comprehensive National Power: Basic Data for National Strategic Planning published by the Korean Peninsula Advanced Foundation, the ratio of the conventional military power of South and North Korea excluding nuclear weapons is 100 to 97. However, if North Korea employs a ‘surprise attack and short-term war’ strategy, the South-North Korean military power index reverses from 1 to 1.6. The Hanseon Model applies the hypothesis that nuclear weapons are used more for threats than actual use. It is interpreted that if North Korea uses asymmetric strategic weapons, the military power of South and North Korea can ultimately flow into a different situation.

If you consider the possession of nuclear weapons and biological and chemical weapons, the U.S. scored 99.3 points out of 100, also ranking 1st. This is followed by 2nd place Russia (95.6 points) and 3rd place China (94.7 points). These three countries are the only ones that possess tactical and strategic nuclear weapons and biological and chemical weapons, which are evaluated as game-changers.

India (92.4 points) took 4th place, the UK (91.2 points) 5th place, and North Korea (89.0 points), which was outside the top 30 in terms of conventional weapons, took 6th place, thanks to the possession of tactical nuclear and biological and chemical weapons. France (88.5 points) took 7th place, Israel (87.9 points) 8th place, and Pakistan (83.6 points) 9th place. From 4th to 9th place, excluding North Korea, they possess tactical and strategic nuclear weapons.

South Korea took 10th place (80.3 points), followed by 11th place Japan (80.0), 12th place Turkey (78.1 points), 13th place Ukraine (76.9 points), 14th place Brazil (72.3 points), 15th place Egypt (71.9 points), 16th place Germany (71.9 points), 17th place Taiwan (68.4 points), 18th place Indonesia (68.4 points), 19th place Poland (67.2 points), and 20th place Italy (67.0 points).

A military expert said, “Countries with powerful nuclear power and biological and chemical weapons occupy the top 1 to 5 ranks, and middle ranks include nuclear-armed countries such as North Korea, Pakistan, Israel, and France, ranking 6 to 9,” and “As a non-nuclear-armed country with the strongest conventional weapons and military power, South Korea is stuck at 10th place, so it is time to consider a national policy on self-possession of nuclear weapons and form a consensus among the people.”

By. Hyung Ho Lee