This European Nation Has More Active-Duty Military Personnel Than The Next Three Powers Combined

The war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage on. Now in its third year after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian forces have proven to be a tough opponent for Russian soldiers. Ukraine has also managed to garner significant international support. Multiple countries have stepped in to provide aid, ground support, and additional resources. Recently, Denmark’s parliament met to discuss the potential of sending troops to Ukraine for peace-keeping if needed. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated that the move, which is supported by 53% of surveyed Danes, would “send the right signals both to Putin and to Washington.” This comes at a time when tensions are high between Denmark, Ukraine, and the United States following both Donald Trump’s assertion that the U.S. should buy Greenland (a territory of Denmark) and a failed meeting between Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Should Denmark step in, it would be to provide valuable security to, and protect the peace of, Ukraine. However, no concrete decisions have been made at this time. (What happens if the conflict in Ukraine continues for years?)

Should Trump, or Putin, continue to clash with European powers like Denmark or Ukraine, the results could be intense, if not disastrous. Most European nations hold strong standing armies — and very many world powers are prepared to deploy these armies should the need arise. In an increasingly polarized and tension-frought geopolitical landscape, many people even expect a third World War in the coming years. To identify the European nations with the largest standing armies, and to see where power would lie should more conflict erupt, 24/7 Wall St. looked at the 2025 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower. This ranking, which has been trusted to provide concrete defense data for over 20 years, assesses 145 world powers by looking at total manpower, air power, naval power, resources, and more. We listed the 36 countries below in ascending order from least active-duty personnel to most active-duty military personnel. We also sourced the military strength score from Global Firepower. The closer to 0.000, the more powerful the military.

This article (previously published) was updated on March 14, 2025 to reflect new population and fit-to-serve data from 2025, as well as news regarding troop-sharing between Denmark and Ukraine.

Why Are We Covering This Now?

High detailed political map of western Europe

To understand the historical and emerging geopolitical challenges in Europe, it is important to examine the region’s military dynamics and capabilities. Historically, Europe has been marked by wars, shifting alliances, and territorial disputes — yet it still remains a key player on the global stage. From the ongoing challenges in Ukraine to far-right rallies attended virtually and spoken at by Elon Musk, Europe is changing. Some political analysts even state that prior countries known for their stabilizing politics, such as Germany, can no longer be trusted. Knowing which countries hold the strongest military forces show how the region’s balance of power might tilt in the next decade.