The United States ranks at the top as the most powerful military in the world. In addition to its abundant resources, which enable the country to carry out multiple military activities, it has consistently had an impressive defense budget (the current fiscal year of 2024 has an almost 850 billion dollar budget). This spending allows the U.S. to maintain advanced military equipment, adequate personnel, and a specialized military research department to name a few.

The American military currently has an estimated 750 bases spread across almost every continent except Antarctica where it is illegal to conduct military activity per international law. This gives the U.S. a massive, global military footprint, with troops deployed in around 176 countries. These military bases are intended to deter adversaries, project power, and reassure allies, but the bulk of American military power is still concentrated within the United States. (This is the country with the most people in the military.)

According to the Department of Defense’s report Demographics Profile of the Military Community, there are hundreds of military bases home to nearly 1.2 million active-duty service members and their families spread across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and its territories, like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While some outposts are relatively small, like Ammunition Depot Indian Island, in Port Hadlock, Washington, others have populations comparable to a mid-size city. (This is the county in every state with the most people in the military.)

Using DoD military demographics data for 2019, the most recent year of comprehensive base-level, 24/7 Wall St. identified the biggest military bases in America. For this story, only bases housing active-duty military personnel for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and DoD were considered. Each of the 26 bases on this list is home to at least 10,000 active-duty military personnel. Including dependents and military families, some of these bases have over 100,000 people.

The largest branch of the U.S. military by headcount is the Army which controls most of these bases. The Air Force and Marine Corps each have only two bases on this list, while the Navy has five.  These bases include those used as basic training sites for these four military branches.

Here are the biggest military bases in America.

26. Nellis AFB, Nevada

• Service branch: Air Force
• Location: 8 miles from Las Vegas

Nellis AFB in Nevada has a total of 10,168 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 89.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,937.

25. Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

• Service branch: Navy
• Location: 6 miles from Honolulu

The Naval Base Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu has a total of 10,222 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 21.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,697.

24. Mayport NAVSTA, Florida

• Service branch: Navy
• Location: 10 miles from Jacksonville

The Mayport NAVSTA in Florida has a total of 10,442 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 15.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,013.

23. Fort Sam Houston, Texas

• Service branch: Army
• Location: San Antonio

Fort Sam Houston in Texas has a total of 10,721 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 8.8%% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,655.

22. Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 15 miles from Baltimore

Fort George G. Meade in Maryland has a total of 11,140 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 39.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 26,041.

21. Fort Gordon, Georgia

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 12 miles from Augusta

Fort Gordon in Georgia has a total of 11,220 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 16.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 25,636.

20. Fort Jackson, South Carolina

• Service branch: Army
• Location: Columbia

Fort Jackson in South Carolina has a total of 11,545 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 28.4% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 20,589.

19. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 85 miles from Springfield

Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri has a total of 12,218 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 72.3% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 23,479.

18. Fort Sill, Oklahoma

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 90 miles from Oklahoma City

Fort Sill in Oklahoma has a total of 13,310 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 59.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 26,189.

17. Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 20 miles from Honolulu

The Schofield Barracks in Hawaii has a total of 15,057 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 31.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 34,022.

16. Fort Drum, New York

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 8 miles from Watertown

Fort Drum in New York has a total of 15,195 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 74.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 32,011.

15. Fort Riley, Kansas

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 50 miles from Topeka

Fort Riley in Kansas has a total of 15,214 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 69.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 33,295.

14. Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois

• Service branch: Navy
• Location: 30 miles from Chicago

The Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois has a total of 15,726 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 72.8% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 21,875.

13. Fort Stewart, Georgia

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 35 miles from Savannah

Fort Stewart in Georgia has a total of 19,476 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 28.6% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 45,302.

12. Lackland AFB, Texas

• Service branch: Air Force
• Location: 5 miles from San Antonio

Lackland AFB in Texas has a total of 22,220 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 18.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 42,521.

11. Fort Moore, Georgia

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 5 miles from Columbus

Fort Moore (previously known as Fort Benning) in Georgia has a total of 24,305 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 35.7% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 46,785.

10. Fort Carson, Colorado

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 6 miles from Colorado Springs

Fort Carson in Colorado has a total of 24,520 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 68.4% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 57,473.

9. Fort Bliss, Texas

• Service branch: Army
• Location: El Paso

Fort Bliss in Texas has a total of 26,100 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 21.3% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 60,307.

8. Fort Lewis, Washington

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 12 miles from Tacoma

Fort Lewis in Washington state has a total of 26,512 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 44.6% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 62,831.

7. Fort Campbell, Kentucky

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 50 miles from Nashville

Fort Campbell in Kentucky has a total of 26,824 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 83.1% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 62,977.

6. San Diego NAVSTA, California

• Service branch: Navy
• Location: San Diego

San Diego NAVSTA in California has a total of 32,983 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 20.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 66,557.

5. Fort Cavazos, Texas

• Service branch: Army
• Location: Killeen

Fort Cavazos in Texas has a total of 36,697 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 30.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 83,815.

4. Camp Lejeune MCB, North Carolina

• Service branch: Marine Corps
• Location: 3 miles from Jacksonville

Camp Lejeune MCB in North Carolina has a total of 38,706 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 37.1% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 72,106.

3. Camp Pendleton, California

• Service branch: Marine Corps
• Location: 35 miles from San Diego

Camp Pendleton in California has a total of 39,690 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 24.0% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 70,700.

2. Fort Liberty, North Carolina

• Service branch: Army
• Location: 10 miles from Fayetteville

Fort Liberty in North Carolina has a total of 45,055 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 43.2% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 109,101.

1. Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia

• Service branch: Navy
• Location: Norfolk

Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia has a total of 47,368 active-duty personnel stationed at the base, which is 37.5% of military personnel in-state. All personnel assigned to the base, including military family members, is 100,893.

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