Pakistan Ranks 7th Globally With 660,000 Active Military Personnel

 

Pakistan has the world’s seventh-largest active military force, with an estimated 660,000 active personnel, according to Global Firepower’s 2026 data. The figure includes personnel serving in the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy.

The 2026 ranking places Pakistan among the countries with the highest numbers of active military personnel worldwide.

Rank	Country
1	China
2	India
3	United States
4	Russia
5	North Korea
6	Ukraine
7	Pakistan

Separate estimates provide slightly different figures for Pakistan’s military strength. According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, cited by Reuters in July 2026, Pakistan has approximately 560,000 active Army personnel. The Pakistan Air Force has around 70,000 personnel, while the Navy has approximately 30,000 members, including Marines.

A June 2026 report by the European Union Agency for Asylum estimated Pakistan’s overall active-duty military strength at between 650,000 and 660,000 personnel. The report also estimated the Army’s strength at around 550,000, based on figures from December 2025.

The differences among estimates reflect variations in sources and reporting periods, but the available figures place Pakistan among the countries with the largest active military forces globally.