One of the strongest deterrents against invasion or occupation is a standing army. If a country had no military force, then it would be at the mercy of hostile powers, whether foreign or domestic. This is especially true for countries in the African continent. While military manpower is not entirely definitive of a country’s strength, other assets like tanks and aircraft play a role in projecting this strength. But at the end of the day, these assets must be piloted or driven by military personnel. (These are the strongest militaries in the world.)

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look into African nations that have the most military manpower. To identify the African countries with the most military personnel, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Countries were ranked on the total number of military personnel. We included supplemental information regarding active personnel, reserves, total population, fit-for-service, and overall military strength score.

Egypt is easily one of the strongest nations on the African continent with an impressive air force and navy. However, it is also home to one of the largest militaries in the world in terms of manpower.

Another powerful African military is found in Algeria. With one of the larger defense budgets in the world, Algeria has invested considerably to develop its military capabilities, especially training its forces on the ground.

It’s worth noting that countries fill out their ranks of military personnel through voluntary or selective service, and some through mandatory service. Other countries even turn to paramilitary forces should the need become drastic. (These are the countries with the most military personnel.)

Here is a look at the African countries with the most military manpower:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the military dynamics of Africa is important due to the continent’s strategic geopolitical significance. The continent is known for some instability, and military power is one way of ensuring stability both political and economical. Many of these African nations are growing rapidly and the continued stability of this region is crucial.

38. Benin

• Total military personnel: 4,750
• Active personnel: 4,750
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 14,219,908
• Fit-for-service: 3,085,720
• Military strength score: 3.8912 – #141 out of 145

37. Liberia

• Total military personnel: 7,000
• Active personnel: 1,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,358,483
• Fit-for-service: 1,938,211
• Military strength score: 3.7262 – #140 out of 145

36. Gabon

• Total military personnel: 7,300
• Active personnel: 4,800
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,397,368
• Fit-for-service: 520,229
• Military strength score: 2.9517 – #132 out of 145

35. Republic of the Congo

• Total military personnel: 11,000
• Active personnel: 8,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,677,493
• Fit-for-service: 1,260,403
• Military strength score: 2.7282 – #122 out of 145

34. Central African Republic

• Total military personnel: 11,000
• Active personnel: 10,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 5,552,228
• Fit-for-service: 1,232,595
• Military strength score: 3.5316 – #137 out of 145

33. Sierra Leone

• Total military personnel: 13,000
• Active personnel: 13,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 8,908,040
• Fit-for-service: 1,175,861
• Military strength score: 3.5433 – #138 out of 145

32. Mozambique

• Total military personnel: 14,200
• Active personnel: 11,200
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 32,513,805
• Fit-for-service: 7,575,717
• Military strength score: 1.8377 – #92 out of 145

31. Ghana

• Total military personnel: 15,500
• Active personnel: 15,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 33,846,114
• Fit-for-service: 9,747,681
• Military strength score: 2.2358 – #113 out of 145

30. Zambia

• Total military personnel: 16,350
• Active personnel: 15,150
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 20,216,029
• Fit-for-service: 4,022,990
• Military strength score: 1.9851 – #97 out of 145

29. Burkina Faso

• Total military personnel: 16,500
• Active personnel: 12,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 22,489,126
• Fit-for-service: 5,914,640
• Military strength score: 2.8501 – #127 out of 145

28. Senegal

• Total military personnel: 17,000
• Active personnel: 17,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 18,384,660
• Fit-for-service: 3,989,471
• Military strength score: 2.9117 – #130 out of 145

27. Somalia

• Total military personnel: 17,000
• Active personnel: 15,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 12,693,796
• Fit-for-service: 1,751,744
• Military strength score: 3.9006 – #142 out of 145

26. Namibia

• Total military personnel: 18,000
• Active personnel: 13,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,777,232
• Fit-for-service: 397,144
• Military strength score: 2.7652 – #124 out of 145

25. Botswana

• Total military personnel: 21,000
• Active personnel: 21,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 2,417,596
• Fit-for-service: 609,234
• Military strength score: 2.8353 – #126 out of 145

24. Madagascar

• Total military personnel: 21,600
• Active personnel: 13,500
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 28,812,195
• Fit-for-service: 7,779,293
• Military strength score: 3.0655 – #133 out of 145

23. Ivory Coast

• Total military personnel: 27,500
• Active personnel: 22,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 29,344,847
• Fit-for-service: 7,688,350
• Military strength score: 1.9869 – #98 out of 145

22. Niger

• Total military personnel: 30,000
• Active personnel: 25,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 25,396,840
• Fit-for-service: 5,104,765
• Military strength score: 2.5988 – #121 out of 145

21. Chad

• Total military personnel: 38,250
• Active personnel: 33,250
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 18,523,165
• Fit-for-service: 3,741,679
• Military strength score: 1.8607 – #93 out of 145

20. Mali

• Total military personnel: 44,800
• Active personnel: 40,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 21,359,722
• Fit-for-service: 4,165,146
• Military strength score: 2.1115 – #106 out of 145

19. Zimbabwe

• Total military personnel: 50,800
• Active personnel: 29,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 15,418,674
• Fit-for-service: 3,345,852
• Military strength score: 2.0352 – #101 out of 145

18. Cameroon

• Total military personnel: 52,500
• Active personnel: 40,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 30,135,732
• Fit-for-service: 6,057,282
• Military strength score: 2.0599 – #104 out of 145

17. Uganda

• Total military personnel: 55,000
• Active personnel: 45,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 47,729,952
• Fit-for-service: 9,593,720
• Military strength score: 2.2405 – #114 out of 145

16. Kenya

• Total military personnel: 75,000
• Active personnel: 50,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 57,052,004
• Fit-for-service: 13,749,533
• Military strength score: 1.7629 – #89 out of 145

15. Tunisia

• Total military personnel: 101,800
• Active personnel: 89,800
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 11,976,182
• Fit-for-service: 5,149,758
• Military strength score: 1.2881 – #74 out of 145

14. Mauritania

• Total military personnel: 102,540
• Active personnel: 31,540
• Reserves: 66,000
• Total population: 4,244,878
• Fit-for-service: 1,158,852
• Military strength score: 2.9277 – #131 out of 145

13. Tanzania

• Total military personnel: 113,500
• Active personnel: 27,000
• Reserves: 80,000
• Total population: 65,642,682
• Fit-for-service: 6,498,626
• Military strength score: 2.0587 – #103 out of 145

12. Angola

• Total military personnel: 117,000
• Active personnel: 107,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 35,981,281
• Fit-for-service: 3,598,128
• Military strength score: 0.8702 – #55 out of 145

11. Libya

• Total military personnel: 132,000
• Active personnel: 32,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 7,252,573
• Fit-for-service: 3,241,900
• Military strength score: 1.4449 – #79 out of 145

10. South Africa

• Total military personnel: 150,585
• Active personnel: 71,235
• Reserves: 29,350
• Total population: 58,048,332
• Fit-for-service: 14,395,986
• Military strength score: 0.4632 – #33 out of 145

9. Ethiopia

• Total military personnel: 162,000
• Active personnel: 162,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 116,462,712
• Fit-for-service: 34,705,888
• Military strength score: 0.7938 – #49 out of 145

8. South Sudan

• Total military personnel: 185,000
• Active personnel: 185,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 12,118,379
• Fit-for-service: 3,877,881
• Military strength score: 2.4376 – #119 out of 145

7. Sudan

• Total military personnel: 194,500
• Active personnel: 92,000
• Reserves: 85,000
• Total population: 49,197,555
• Fit-for-service: 16,677,971
• Military strength score: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145

6. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Total military personnel: 207,580
• Active personnel: 166,580
• Reserves: 31,000
• Total population: 111,859,928
• Fit-for-service: 30,425,900
• Military strength score: 1.2491 – #73 out of 145

5. Eritrea

• Total military personnel: 250,000
• Active personnel: 120,000
• Reserves: 130,000
• Total population: 6,274,796
• Fit-for-service: 1,581,249
• Military strength score: 2.4152 – #117 out of 145

4. Nigeria

• Total military personnel: 280,000
• Active personnel: 230,000
• Reserves: 0
• Total population: 230,842,743
• Fit-for-service: 88,181,928
• Military strength score: 0.5619 – #39 out of 145

3. Morocco

• Total military personnel: 395,800
• Active personnel: 195,800
• Reserves: 150,000
• Total population: 37,067,420
• Fit-for-service: 15,123,507
• Military strength score: 1.0081 – #61 out of 145

2. Algeria

• Total military personnel: 610,000
• Active personnel: 325,000
• Reserves: 135,000
• Total population: 44,758,398
• Fit-for-service: 18,261,426
• Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

1. Egypt

• Total military personnel: 1,220,000
• Active personnel: 440,000
• Reserves: 480,000
• Total population: 109,546,720
• Fit-for-service: 37,684,072
• Military strength score: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145

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