Why Egypt Ranks as the Strongest Military Force in Africa

Military

Published: August 23, 2024 1:50 pm

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Egypt is home to the strongest military on the African continent.
It has over 1,000 M1 Abrams tanks at its disposal.
Egypt has over 1,000 aircraft including advanced fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
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Egypt consistently ranks as the strongest military force in Africa on multiple fronts. As one of the region’s most heavily militarized nations, Egypt boasts the largest air force and standing army on the continent. Although it does not have the largest navy, it comes in at a close second to Algeria. Overall, Egypt’s forces are massive, enough to rank fairly high on the world stage as well.

On land, Egypt is home to one of the largest tank fleets in the world. In fact, Egypt has more tanks in its arsenal than any single NATO nation. There are over 1,00 M1 Abrams tanks at Egypt’s disposal. These are considered some of the most advanced tanks on the planet. Also Egypt has a large number of Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), such as the BM-21 Grad and more modern systems like the American M270. (These are the African countries with the biggest tank armies.)

In terms of its naval assets, Egypt has a number of advanced frigates, corvettes, and patrol vessels. Egypt is also one of the few African nations to possess military submarines. All of these help to protect Egypt’s strategic interests along its coast in the Mediterranean Sea and through the Suez Canal.

The Egyptian Air Force is the largest in Africa and further solidifies its military dominance in the region. It operates over 1,000 aircraft, including advanced fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Mirage 2000, and the newer Rafale. (This is the fastest military stealth plane ever.)

Overall, Egypt’s combination of land, sea, and air forces make it a force to be reckoned with. All of these military assets and the soldiers that man them solidify Egypt’s position as the strongest military in Africa.

24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at other African militaries as well. To identify the countries with the strongest militaries in Africa, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. We included supplemental information regarding active military personnel, military aircraft, vehicles, and naval power as well.

Here is a look at the strongest militaries in Africa:

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. Somalia

Active military personnel: 15,000
Total military aircraft: 0
Total military vehicles: 1,856
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 11
Military strength score and world rank: 3.9006 – #142 out of 145

37. Benin

Active military personnel: 4,750
Total military aircraft: 3
Total military vehicles: 150
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 7
Military strength score and world rank: 3.8912 – #141 out of 145

36. Liberia

091217 i Liberia Security Sector Reform Sgt, 1st Class Dedraf Blash by US Army Africa

091217 i Liberia Security Sector Reform Sgt, 1st Class Dedraf Blash (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Active military personnel: 1,500
Total military aircraft: 0
Total military vehicles: 325
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 6
Military strength score and world rank: 3.7262 – #140 out of 145

35. Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone and Brig. Gen. Kabia: A progressive voice for African military women - ALFS 2010 by US Army Africa

Sierra Leone and Brig. Gen. Kabia: A progressive voice for African military women - ALFS 2010 (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Active military personnel: 13,000
Total military aircraft: 4
Total military vehicles: 100
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 10
Military strength score and world rank: 3.5433 – #138 out of 145

34. Central African Republic

Burundi soldiers arrive in Cen... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Burundi soldiers arrive in Cen... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 10,000
Total military aircraft: 6
Total military vehicles: 228
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 3.5316 – #137 out of 145

33. Madagascar

Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march. by Anne & David (Use Albums)

Madagascar. Antsirabe. Malagasy military, on a march. (PDM 1.0) by Anne & David (Use Albums)

Active military personnel: 13,500
Total military aircraft: 5
Total military vehicles: 232
Total tanks: 12
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 3.0655 – #133 out of 145

32. Gabon

Active military personnel: 4,800
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 848
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 5
Military strength score and world rank: 2.9517 – #132 out of 145

31. Mauritania

Mauritanian troops stage borde... by Magharebia

Mauritanian troops stage borde... (CC BY 2.0) by Magharebia

Active military personnel: 31,540
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 1,000
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 5
Military strength score and world rank: 2.9277 – #131 out of 145

30. Senegal

Active military personnel: 17,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total military vehicles: 1,104
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 4
Military strength score and world rank: 2.9117 – #130 out of 145

29. Burkina Faso

Active military personnel: 12,000
Total military aircraft: 21
Total military vehicles: 1,112
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8501 – #127 out of 145

28. Botswana

Botswana Defence Force, U.S. conducts joint military exercise by US Army Africa

Botswana Defence Force, U.S. conducts joint military exercise (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Active military personnel: 21,000
Total military aircraft: 46
Total military vehicles: 587
Total tanks: 20
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.8353 – #126 out of 145

27. Namibia

Active military personnel: 13,000
Total military aircraft: 32
Total military vehicles: 2,674
Total tanks: 7
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 2.7652 – #124 out of 145

26. Republic of the Congo

U.S. Army Africa assists with ... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

U.S. Army Africa assists with ... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 8,500
Total military aircraft: 14
Total military vehicles: 519
Total tanks: 32
Total navy ships and submarines: 6
Military strength score and world rank: 2.7282 – #122 out of 145

25. Niger

Army partners with Republic of... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Army partners with Republic of... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 25,000
Total military aircraft: 24
Total military vehicles: 912
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.5988 – #121 out of 145

24. South Sudan

U.S., South Sudan partner during de-mining courses by US Army Africa

U.S., South Sudan partner during de-mining courses (BY 2.0) by US Army Africa

Active military personnel: 185,000
Total military aircraft: 16
Total military vehicles: 1,920
Total tanks: 55
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4376 – #119 out of 145

23. Eritrea

Active military personnel: 120,000
Total military aircraft: 20
Total military vehicles: 3,512
Total tanks: 1,756
Total navy ships and submarines: 23
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4152 – #117 out of 145

22. Uganda

Ugandan military police train ... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Ugandan military police train ... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 45,000
Total military aircraft: 55
Total military vehicles: 3,162
Total tanks: 130
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2405 – #114 out of 145

21. Ghana

Ghana Armed Forces u2013 Military Sergeant Soldier by Flickr: [2]

Ghana Armed Forces u2013 Military Sergeant Soldier (BY 2.0) by Flickr: [2]

Active military personnel: 15,500
Total military aircraft: 20
Total military vehicles: 1,656
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 27
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2358 – #113 out of 145

20. Mali

Active military personnel: 40,000
Total military aircraft: 42
Total military vehicles: 647
Total tanks: 20
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1115 – #106 out of 145

19. Cameroon

Multinational MEDEVAC training... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Multinational MEDEVAC training... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 40,000
Total military aircraft: 35
Total military vehicles: 850
Total tanks: 0
Total navy ships and submarines: 65
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0599 – #104 out of 145

18. Tanzania

Active military personnel: 27,000
Total military aircraft: 39
Total military vehicles: 712
Total tanks: 21
Total navy ships and submarines: 12
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0587 – #103 out of 145

17. Zimbabwe

Active military personnel: 29,000
Total military aircraft: 90
Total military vehicles: 2,412
Total tanks: 20
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0352 – #101 out of 145

16. Ivory Coast

Malawi Defence Force receives ... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Malawi Defence Force receives ... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 22,000
Total military aircraft: 9
Total military vehicles: 476
Total tanks: 10
Total navy ships and submarines: 7
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9869 – #98 out of 145

15. Zambia

Active military personnel: 15,150
Total military aircraft: 99
Total military vehicles: 506
Total tanks: 38
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.9851 – #97 out of 145

14. Chad

Active military personnel: 33,250
Total military aircraft: 41
Total military vehicles: 1,568
Total tanks: 90
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8607 – #93 out of 145

13. Mozambique

Active military personnel: 11,200
Total military aircraft: 21
Total military vehicles: 872
Total tanks: 60
Total navy ships and submarines: 8
Military strength score and world rank: 1.8377 – #92 out of 145

12. Kenya

Active military personnel: 50,000
Total military aircraft: 158
Total military vehicles: 4,856
Total tanks: 188
Total navy ships and submarines: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 1.7629 – #89 out of 145

11. Libya

Libya tanks | A T-55 tank destroyed by NATO forces in the desert north of Ajadabiya, Libya.

Active military personnel: 32,000
Total military aircraft: 132
Total military vehicles: 2,890
Total tanks: 300
Total navy ships and submarines: 7
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4449 – #79 out of 145

10. Sudan

Active military personnel: 92,000
Total military aircraft: 170
Total military vehicles: 3,648
Total tanks: 233
Total navy ships and submarines: 12
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145

9. Tunisia

Active military personnel: 89,800
Total military aircraft: 155
Total military vehicles: 6,400
Total tanks: 140
Total navy ships and submarines: 52
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2881 – #74 out of 145

8. Democratic Republic of Congo

MEDFLAG 2010, Kinshasa, Democr... by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

MEDFLAG 2010, Kinshasa, Democr... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Active military personnel: 166,580
Total military aircraft: 46
Total military vehicles: 458
Total tanks: 210
Total navy ships and submarines: 16
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2491 – #73 out of 145

7. Morocco

Active military personnel: 195,800
Total military aircraft: 255
Total military vehicles: 13,710
Total tanks: 1,564
Total navy ships and submarines: 121
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0081 – #61 out of 145

6. Angola

Active military personnel: 107,000
Total military aircraft: 297
Total military vehicles: 5,500
Total tanks: 310
Total navy ships and submarines: 40
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8702 – #55 out of 145

5. Ethiopia

Active military personnel: 162,000
Total military aircraft: 91
Total military vehicles: 10,028
Total tanks: 680
Total navy ships and submarines: 0
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7938 – #49 out of 145

4. Nigeria

Active military personnel: 230,000
Total military aircraft: 147
Total military vehicles: 6,404
Total tanks: 343
Total navy ships and submarines: 133
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5619 – #39 out of 145

3. South Africa

Active military personnel: 71,235
Total military aircraft: 194
Total military vehicles: 12,140
Total tanks: 195
Total navy ships and submarines: 47
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4632 – #33 out of 145

2. Algeria

Active military personnel: 325,000
Total military aircraft: 605
Total military vehicles: 35,990
Total tanks: 1,632
Total navy ships and submarines: 213
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

1. Egypt

Egyptian National Military Mus... by Terrazzo

Egyptian National Military Mus... (CC BY 2.0) by Terrazzo

Active military personnel: 440,000
Total military aircraft: 1,080
Total military vehicles: 77,596
Total tanks: 5,340
Total navy ships and submarines: 140
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2283 – #15 out of 145

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