With the world in shock over the Russia – Ukrainian war, many countries have had a self-reflection on their defense capabilities and offensive power. Because of Africa’s history with wars, coups, and instabilities, many countries have been on a spending spree in the last decade in a bid to boost their military power. African militaries rank much better than many other countries on the global scale.
Every year, the Global Firepower list ranks countries all over the world based on the strength of their military. The countries are given a Power Index (‘PwrIndx’) score based on the workforce, airpower, land forces, naval forces, natural resources, financials, logistical capability, and geography.
The smaller the PwrIndx score, the stronger a nation’s technical fighting capability is. The perfect score is 0.0000, which, according to Global Firepower, is “realistically unattainable.”
Here are the seven African countries with the most powerful militaries:
1. Egypt
The North African giant is not only an economic power but also a strategic military power not just on the African continent but also in the middle eastern region. Egypt has also been growing their offensive military strategies in a build-up for a possible war with Ethiopia over the Nile.
Power index – 0.1872
Total Population – 99,413,317
Total Military Personnel – 920,000 (est.) (0.9%). Egypt military. Egypt was also ranked as the most powerful military in Africa in 2022.
2. Algeria
Power index – 0.4659
Total Population – 41,657,488
Total Military Personnel – 280,000 (est.) (0.7%)
Soldiers arrive at the site of a military plane crash near the village of Ouled Gacem in eastern Algeria, about 500km (311 miles) from the capital Algiers
3. South Africa
Power index – 0.4985
Total Population – 55,380,210
Total Military Personnel – 81,300 (est.) (0.1%)
4. Nigeria
Nigeria’s war with the radical elements of Boko Haram has kept the African economic powerhouse a brace with the latest warfare technologies, experience, and equipment. Nigeria is the strongest economy in Africa, with the largest population on the continent.
Power index – 0.6485
Total Population – 203,452,505
Total Military Personnel – 120,000 (est.) (0.1%)
5. Angola
This oil powerhouse of Africa has enough capital resources on its hands to boost their military and defense budget spending. Angola is rarely engaged in battle but keeps itself a brace with the latest weaponry technology.
Power index – 0.8379
Total Population – 30,355,880
Total Military Personnel – 107,000 (est.) (0.4%)
Angolan troops practice room-clearing maneuvers in Luanda as U.S. Marines observe. U.S. Marine Corps photo
Power index – 0.8408
Total Population – 34,314,130
Total Military Personnel – 510,000 (est.) (1.5%)
7. Ethiopia
Power index – 0.8581
Total Population – 108,386,391
Total Military Personnel – 162,000 (est.) (0.1%)
Weakest militaries in Africa
On the lower end of the list we have these five:
1. Liberia
Power index – 5.5737
Total Population – 4,809,768
Total Military Personnel – 2,100 (est.) (0.0%)
Losseni Fofana of the Ivory Coast Republican forces (FRCI) and commander of the military operation in the Tai area, stands with his men during a patrol on the road to Para village, in the western Tai area near Ivory Coast’s border with Liberia
Power index – 4.6404
Total Population – 11,259,029
Total Military Personnel – 20,000 (est.) (0.2%)
Somalia’s military are reportedly under-funded
Power index – 4.2063
Total Population – 6,312,212
Total Military Personnel – 8,500 (est.) (0.1%)
4. Gabon
Power index – 3.3736
Total Population – 2,119,036
Total Military Personnel – 5,000 (est.) (0.2%)
President Ali Bongo is paraded before the military in Gabon in 2019.
Power index – 3.2889
Total Population – 5,745,062
Total Military Personnel – 7,150 (est.) (0.1%)
