This Asian Power Has Nearly as Many Reserve Forces as Singapore Has Residents

Declining oil revenues and poor fiscal buffers have put Azerbaijan at an uncertain place economically. Yet the country has proven where its priorities lie after allocating $5 billion towards military spending — a budget that far exceeds military spending in the past. According to the finance ministry, Azerbaijan’s president stated the necessity of this increase was the handle the increasing militarization of Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in conflict for decades. The ethnic and territorial conflict today boils down to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenia arguing that Azerbaijan forced ethnic Armenians to leave the area. Armenia and Azerbaijan do not represent the sole conflicts brewing in Eurasia. In fact, especially with the recent transitions in global power, more countries are beginning to fight for territory, power, and control than we have seen in recent years — just look at the tensions between China and Taiwan. As you might expect, military personnel and reserves are essential for these countries as it provides a way to ensure protection and defense in times of need. (This is what will happen if China invades Taiwan.)

Which countries are most prepared for conflict, should it arise? Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the armies of Asia to identify the Asian countries with the largest military reserve forces. We 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 reserve personnel. We included supplemental information regarding total personnel, active personnel, total population, fit-for-service, and overall military strength score. Countries without a reserve force were excluded.

Why Are We Covering This?

Part of a world globe showing Southeast Asia

Understanding the military dynamics of Asia is important considering the region’s complex geopolitical landscape and its growing strategic significance. Historically, Asia has been shaped by internal conflicts, border disputes, and great power competition. Today, its military forces play an important role in determining regional stability. As tensions rise over territorial claims and political influence, military power is the law of the land, from disputes in the South China Sea to the contested borders in South Asia.

Here is a look at the largest reserve forces in Asia:

35. Qatar

Soldiers at Military Parade on Qatar National Day on the 18th of December 2018. Photo by Ijas Muhammed Photography by Ijasmuhammed

Soldiers at Military Parade on Qatar National Day on the 18th of December 2018. Photo by Ijas Muhammed Photography (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Ijasmuhammed

Reserves: 15,000
Active personnel: 66,550
Paramilitary forces: 5,500
Total military personnel: 87,050
Total population: 2,532,104
Fit-for-service: 486,164
Aircraft: 228
Military Vehicles: 5,544 military vehicles (including 99 tanks and 16 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 123
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0789 – #63 out of 145

34. Myanmar

Reserves: 20,000
Active personnel: 150,000
Paramilitary forces: 55,000
Total military personnel: 225,000
Total population: 57,970,293
Fit-for-service: 22,144,652
Aircraft: 293
Military Vehicles: 8,139 military vehicles (including 705 tanks and 586 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 227
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145

33. Kuwait

Reserves: 24,000
Active personnel: 72,000
Paramilitary forces: 7,500
Total military personnel: 103,500
Total population: 3,103,580
Fit-for-service: 1,433,854
Aircraft: 144
Military Vehicles: 4,409 military vehicles (including 367 tanks and 27 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 123
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4261 – #77 out of 145

32. Laos

Reserves: 30,000
Active personnel: 100,000
Paramilitary forces: 120,000
Total military personnel: 250,000
Total population: 7,852,377
Fit-for-service: 2,489,204
Aircraft: 34
Military Vehicles: 1,880 (including 130 tanks and 64 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: N/A
Military strength score and world rank: 2.2071 – #112 out of 145

31. Lebanon

Reserves: 35,000
Active personnel: 60,000
Paramilitary forces: 65,000
Total military personnel: 160,000
Total population: 5,331,203
Fit-for-service: 1,764,628
Aircraft: 81
Military Vehicles: 4,522 military vehicles (including 204 tanks and 30 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 69
Military strength score and world rank: 2.4283 – #118 out of 145

30. Syria

Syria helicopter | Two flying army helicopters on sunset background

Reserves: 50,000
Active personnel: 170,000
Paramilitary forces: 50,000
Total military personnel: 270,000
Total population: 22,933,531
Fit-for-service: 12,728,110
Aircraft: 452
Military Vehicles: 14,550 (including 2,720 tanks and 614 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 47
Military strength score and world rank: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145

29. Malaysia

Malaysia Navy (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Rizuan

Reserves: 51,600
Active personnel: 113,000
Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Total military personnel: 264,600
Total population: 34,219,975
Fit-for-service: 13,345,790
Aircraft: 143
Military Vehicles: 13,965 (including 48 tanks and 36 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 101
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5992 – #42 out of 145

28. Japan

Reserves: 56,000
Active personnel: 247,150
Paramilitary forces: 25,000
Total military personnel: 328,150
Total population: 123,719,238
Fit-for-service: 43,054,295
Aircraft: 1,459
Military Vehicles: 37,662 military vehicles (including 518 tanks and 54 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 155
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145

27. Jordan

Reserves: 65,000
Active personnel: 100,500
Paramilitary forces: 35,000
Total military personnel: 200,500
Total population: 11,086,716
Fit-for-service: 2,960,153
Aircraft: 265
Military Vehicles: 24,148 military vehicles (including 1,365 tanks and 88 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 27
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4651 – #80 out of 145

26. Sri Lanka

Reserves: 90,000
Active personnel: 346,000
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 436,000
Total population: 23,588,613
Fit-for-service: 9,175,970
Aircraft: 86
Military Vehicles: 3,708 military vehicles (including 182 tanks and 32 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 270
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3459 – #75 out of 145

25. Oman

Reserves: 100,000
Active personnel: 42,600
Paramilitary forces: 10,000
Total military personnel: 152,600
Total population: 3,833,465
Fit-for-service: 1,268,877
Aircraft: 128
Military Vehicles: 5,019 (including 154 tanks)
Ships/Submarines: 22
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4448 – #78 out of 145

24. Bahrain

031012-N-4943L-004 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Marion Doss

Reserves: 110,000
Active personnel: 18,400
Paramilitary forces: 1,500
Total military personnel: 129,900
Total population: 1,553,886
Fit-for-service: 714,788
Aircraft: 120
Military Vehicles: 2,598 military vehicles (including 180 tanks and 17 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 58
Military strength score and world rank: 1.7163 – #86 out of 145

23. United Arab Emirates

Reserves: 130,000
Active personnel: 65,000
Paramilitary forces: 12,000
Total military personnel: 207,000
Total population: 9,973,449
Fit-for-service: 4,916,910
Aircraft: 560
Military Vehicles: 12,253 military vehicles (including 354 tanks and 162 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 79
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8083 – #51 out of 145

22. Mongolia

Military marching opening ceremony Naadam Ulaanbaatar Mongolia by amanderson2

Military marching opening ceremony Naadam Ulaanbaatar Mongolia (CC BY 2.0) by amanderson2

Reserves: 135,000
Active personnel: 35,000
Paramilitary forces: 50,000
Total military personnel: 220,000
Total population: 3,255,468
Fit-for-service: 1,539,836
Aircraft: 11
Military Vehicles: 3,600 military vehicles (including 470 tanks and 120 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: N/A
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1079 – #105 out of 145

21. Kazakhstan

Russian Tank T-80 with Gas Tur... by Andrey Korchagin

Russian Tank T-80 with Gas Tur... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrey Korchagin

Reserves: 135,000
Active personnel: 110,000
Paramilitary forces: 55,000
Total military personnel: 300,000
Total population: 19,543,464
Fit-for-service: 6,683,865
Aircraft: 243
Military Vehicles: 6,012 military vehicles (including 300 tanks and 407 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 18
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145

20. Georgia

MLRS (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Lynx-extra

Reserves: 152,500
Active personnel: 55,000
Paramilitary forces: 0
Total military personnel: 207,500
Total population: 4,936,390
Fit-for-service: 2,241,121
Aircraft: 52
Military Vehicles: 5,256 military vehicles (including 235 tanks and 82 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 19
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6969 – #84 out of 145

19. Thailand

130612-N-IY633-018 by Naval Surface Warriors

130612-N-IY633-018 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Naval Surface Warriors

Reserves: 200,000
Active personnel: 360,850
Paramilitary forces: 25,000
Total military personnel: 585,850
Total population: 69,794,997
Fit-for-service: 27,917,999
Aircraft: 501
Military Vehicles: 14,040 military vehicles (including 648 tanks and 26 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 293
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3389 – #25 out of 145

18. Armenia

Armenia military (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Khustup

Reserves: 210,000
Active personnel: 57,500
Paramilitary forces: 5,000
Total military personnel: 272,500
Total population: 2,989,091
Fit-for-service: 1,371,993
Aircraft: 64
Military Vehicles: 736 (including 221 tanks and 100 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: N/A
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0583 – #102 out of 145

17. Singapore

Reserves: 252,500
Active personnel: 51,000
Paramilitary forces: 12,000
Total military personnel: 315,500
Total population: 5,975,383
Fit-for-service: 2,605,267
Aircraft: 247
Military Vehicles: 8,318 military vehicles (including 170 tanks and 24 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 43
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4087 – #30 out of 145

16. Kyrgyzstan

the country of Kyrgyzstan on the world map, wooden volumetric world map on a white background macro, close-up, shallow depth of field

Reserves: 300,000
Active personnel: 23,000
Paramilitary forces: 55,000
Total military personnel: 378,000
Total population: 6,122,781
Fit-for-service: 2,467,481
Aircraft: 6
Military Vehicles: 2,772 military vehicles (including 215 tanks and 36 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: N/A
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0057 – #100 out of 145

15. Azerbaijan

160724-Z-NT152-004 by Oregon National Guard

160724-Z-NT152-004 (CC BY 2.0) by Oregon National Guard

Reserves: 300,000
Active personnel: 126,400
Paramilitary forces: 15,000
Total military personnel: 441,400
Total population: 10,420,515
Fit-for-service: 3,824,329
Aircraft: 144
Military Vehicles: 29,312 military vehicles (including 920 tanks and 218 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 24
Military strength score and world rank: 0.9934 – #59 out of 145

14. Iran

Reserves: 350,000
Active personnel: 610,000
Paramilitary forces: 220,000
Total military personnel: 1,180,000
Total population: 87,590,873
Fit-for-service: 41,167,710
Aircraft: 551
Military Vehicles: 65,765 military vehicles (including 1,996 tanks and 775 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 101
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2269 – #14 out of 145

13. Turkey

Reserves: 378,700
Active personnel: 355,200
Paramilitary forces: 150,000
Total military personnel: 883,900
Total population: 83,593,483
Fit-for-service: 3,561,604
Aircraft: 1,069
Military Vehicles: 55,104 military vehicles (including 2,231 tanks and 286 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 186
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145

12. Indonesia

Reserves: 400,000
Active personnel: 400,000
Paramilitary forces: 250,000
Total military personnel: 1,050,000
Total population: 279,476,346
Fit-for-service: 113,746,873
Aircraft: 474
Military Vehicles: 11,604 military vehicles (including 313 tanks and 63 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 333
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145

11. Israel

Reserves: 465,000
Active personnel: 170,000
Paramilitary forces: 35,000
Total military personnel: 670,000
Total population: 9,043,387
Fit-for-service: 3,156,142
Aircraft: 612
Military Vehicles: 43,407 military vehicles (including 1,370 tanks and 150 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 67
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145

10. China

Reserves: 510,000
Active personnel: 2,035,000
Paramilitary forces: 625,000
Total military personnel: 3,170,000
Total population: 1,413,142,846
Fit-for-service: 626,022,281
Aircraft: 3,304
Military Vehicles: 174,300 military vehicles (including 5,000 tanks and 3,180 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 730
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145

9. Pakistan

Pakistan military tank by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Pakistan military tank (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Reserves: 550,000
Active personnel: 654,000
Paramilitary forces: 500,000
Total military personnel: 1,704,000
Total population: 247,653,551
Fit-for-service: 84,202,207
Aircraft: 1,434
Military Vehicles: 50,523 military vehicles (including 3,742 tanks and 602 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 114
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145

8. North Korea

North Korea artillery | Missiles on the background of the North Korean flag

Reserves: 560,000
Active personnel: 1,320,000
Paramilitary forces: 100,000
Total military personnel: 1,980,000
Total population: 26,072,217
Fit-for-service: 5,266,588
Aircraft: 951
Military Vehicles: 24,696 military vehicles (including 5,845 tanks and 2,920 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 505
Military strength score and world rank: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145

7. Tajikistan

2017 S Tajik soldiers study diligently as part of their professional military education class, Tajikistan, 2017 by U.S. Embassy Dushanbe

2017 S Tajik soldiers study diligently as part of their professional military education class, Tajikistan, 2017 (PDM 1.0) by U.S. Embassy Dushanbe

Reserves: 600,000
Active personnel: 9,500
Paramilitary forces: 20,000
Total military personnel: 629,500
Total population: 9,245,937
Fit-for-service: 3,356,275
Aircraft: 25
Military Vehicles: 4,650 (including 80 tanks and 45 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: N/A
Military strength score and world rank: 2.1265 – #107 out of 145

6. India

Reserves: 1,155,000
Active personnel: 1,455,550
Paramilitary forces: 2,527,000
Total military personnel: 5,137,550
Total population: 1,399,179,585
Fit-for-service: 519,095,626
Aircraft: 2,296
Military Vehicles: 151,248 military vehicles (including 4,614 tanks and 702 MLRS units)
Ships/Submarines: 294
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145