A new index has ranked countries by the\u00a0size of their armies and armed forces, with the USA, Russia and China predictably dominating in terms of raw military power.<\/p>\n
This is according to Global Firepower (GFP)<\/a>, an independent group which aims to provide an unbiased measure of global military strength using publicly available information.<\/p>\n The GFP list ranks 126 countries according to effective military strength, and makes use of over 50 factors to determine each nation’s Power Index score.<\/p>\n Military data is taken from the CIA World Factbook, public domain print and media sources and user contributions.<\/p>\n The USA<\/strong> in top spot commands an active frontline force of over 1.4 million people, with 1.1 million more in reserve – this on top of close to 55,000 military vehicles, 14,000 aircraft and a naval force of 500 vessels.<\/p>\n Russia <\/strong>has an active frontline of 770,000, with 2.5 million in reserve, and boasts a vehicle force exceeding the USA’s at over 61,000.<\/p>\n The country has fewer aircraft, however, at 3,500, and fewer naval vessels at 352.<\/p>\n The United States is the world’s biggest military spender, with a budget exceeding $610 billion. Russia is third at $84.5 billion, behind China’s $216 billion spend.<\/p>\n China<\/strong> – the third most powerful military according to GFP – exceeds both the USA and Russia in frontline soldiers (2.3 million, with 2.3 million in reserve) – but has fewer land and air vehicles.<\/p>\n The country has the strongest naval strength of the three super powers, at 670 vessels.<\/p>\n GFP makes the following points about its data:<\/p>\n Land-locked countries are not penalised for a lack of naval forces<\/p>\n Read:\u00a0The world\u2019s biggest military spenders in 2014<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n South Africa was ranked as having the 32nd most powerful military force on the index.<\/p>\n It is ranked third in Africa, below Egypt and Algeria, and ahead of Nigeria (4th) and Ethiopia (5th).<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s military budget was R40.2 billion in 2013\/14, and R42.8 billion was budgeted for the 2014\/15 financial year.<\/p>\n According to the GFP data, the country has an active frontline personnel totalling 88,565 people, with 17,100 in reserve.<\/p>\n This is out of approximately 14 million individuals who are fit for service.<\/p>\n The GFP notes that South Africa has a war-ready labour force of 18.5 million people.<\/p>\n “War s as much a battle of logistics – moving man and marching from points all over – as it is direct combat,” the group said.<\/p>\n “Labour force reflects possible wartime industry strength.”<\/p>\n Looking at military strength by vehicles, South Africa has the following stats:<\/p>\n This is largely made up by 2,265 armored fighting vehicles (AFVs). Also included are 196 tanks, and 50 multiple-launch rocket systems.<\/p>\n This is including 17 interceptors and 12 attack helicopters.<\/p>\n This includes 4 frigates, 3 submarines and 9 defense craft.<\/p>\n South Africa tax vs GDP: 1994 \u2013 2014<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nWorld’s top 10 military powers<\/h3>\n
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\n #<\/th>\n Country<\/th>\n Active Frontline<\/th>\n Reserve<\/th>\n Land Vehicles<\/th>\n Air\u00a0Force<\/th>\n Naval Vessels<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1<\/td>\n United States<\/td>\n 1 400 000<\/td>\n 1 100 000<\/td>\n 54 474<\/td>\n 13 892<\/td>\n 473<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2<\/td>\n Russia<\/td>\n 766 055<\/td>\n 2 485 000<\/td>\n 61 086<\/td>\n 3 429<\/td>\n 352<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3<\/td>\n China<\/td>\n 2 330 000<\/td>\n 2 300 000<\/td>\n 23 664<\/td>\n 2 860<\/td>\n 673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/td>\n India<\/td>\n 1 325 000<\/td>\n 2 143 000<\/td>\n 21 164<\/td>\n 1 905<\/td>\n 202<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/td>\n United Kingdom<\/td>\n 146 980<\/td>\n 182 000<\/td>\n 6 624<\/td>\n 936<\/td>\n 66<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6<\/td>\n France<\/td>\n 202 761<\/td>\n 195 770<\/td>\n 7 888<\/td>\n 1 264<\/td>\n 113<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 7<\/td>\n South Korea<\/td>\n 624 465<\/td>\n 2 900 000<\/td>\n 12 619<\/td>\n 1 412<\/td>\n 166<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 8<\/td>\n Germany<\/td>\n 179 046<\/td>\n 145 000<\/td>\n 6 481<\/td>\n 663<\/td>\n 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 9<\/td>\n Japan<\/td>\n 247 173<\/td>\n 57 900<\/td>\n 4 329<\/td>\n 1 613<\/td>\n 131<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/td>\n Turkey<\/td>\n 410 500<\/td>\n 185 630<\/td>\n 13 849<\/td>\n 1 020<\/td>\n 115<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 32<\/td>\n South Africa<\/td>\n 88 565<\/td>\n 17 100<\/td>\n 2 650<\/td>\n 209<\/td>\n 30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n
South Africa’s military strength<\/h3>\n
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More on\u00a0South Africa<\/h3>\n