Military

These Countries Play Host to the Most US Military Personnel

usnavy / Flickr

The US Department of Defense controls over 4,790 military sites around the globe. According to USAFacts, 228,390 US military personnel (including 168,571 active duty troops) are stationed abroad. Some of these are countries the US has long been allied with, while other countries are places the US has been in conflict with in the past. (Also see all the countries the US has invaded.)

To determine the 15 countries where America has the most soldiers, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed unclassified military personnel data from the Department of Defense Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications, using data from Sept. 30, 2022 — the most recent fully updated report. The number of military sites came from the Base Structure Report FY22 published by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment with a snapshot as of Sept. 30, 2021.

Why Is This Important?

Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images News via Getty Images

A third of the 15 countries where America has the most active-duty personnel are in EU member states, not including one in the UK. Four of the 15 are located in the Middle East, including Turkey, and three are in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. The other two countries with the most active-duty troops are located in Djibouti and Cuba. Not included on the list, the US also maintains bases in its Pacific territories, such as Guam. 

These are the countries where the US stations most of its military personnel abroad.  

15. Qatar

American flag and Qatar flag on cloudy sky. fly in the sky
Andy.LIU / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 397
  • Number of US military sites: 2 – #27 most

14. Netherlands

Pride of the USA. Soldier and military dog covered with American national flag celebrating Independence day.
Aleksandar Malivuk / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 434
  • Number of US military sites: 6 – #19 most

13. Djibouti

US navy sixt fleet warship transits Istanbul Strait towards the Black Sea in Turkey
Archaeonavall / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 509
  • Number of US military sites: 1 – #30 most

12. Cuba

US Coast Guard Boat
Elias H. Debbas II / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 596
  • Number of US military sites: 1 – #30 most

11. Kuwait

US Air Force jet at high speed
Ivan Cholakov / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 714
  • Number of US military sites: 7 – #17 most

10. Belgium

A soldier works on his laptop.
VHarasymiv / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 1,143
  • Number of US military sites: 11 – #12 most

9. Australia

A US Navy ship departs San Diego Bay for the Pacific Ocean.
Bill Chizek / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 1,580
  • Number of US military sites: 9 – #15 most

8. Turkey

United States military helicopter. Combat US air force
Cristi Croitoru / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 1,735
  • Number of US military sites: 12 – #10 most

7. Spain

Military parade of American troops. A warship with sailors on the deck against the background of the us flag. American fleet. The naval forces of America. Protection of the country's water borders.
FOTOGRIN / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 3,164
  • Number of US military sites: 4 – #22 most

6. Bahrain

Parachute Attack Airborne , US Army paratroopers , Member of Red Star history club wears historical American paratrooper uniform during historical reenactment of WWII
ANURAKE SINGTO-ON / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 3,698
  • Number of US military sites: 12 – #10 most

5. United Kingdom

Dark room against portrait of military saluting
vectorfusionart / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 9,840
  • Number of US military sites: 23 – #7 most

4. Italy

US Navy attack
Ivan Cholakov / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 12,432
  • Number of US military sites: 49 – #6 most

3. South Korea

Hispanic American Female Soldier in uniform saluting in front of American flags
Mie Ahmt / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 25,372
  • Number of US military sites: 79 – #4 most

2. Germany

Thunderbirds in formation in the sky
Michael T. Bonanza / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 35,781
  • Number of US military sites: 123 – #1 most

1. Japan

Scenery of warships seen from the YOKOSUKA military port tour boat
Princess_Anmitsu / Shutterstock.com
  • Number of active-duty US troops: 53,973
  • Number of US military sites: 113 – #2 most

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