There are 195 recognized countries in the world
doing their best to navigate the unforgiving arena of global geopolitics. However, only one country
among them has been unrivaled as the world’s supreme military power for years.
The United States. That’s why it shouldn’t be surprising
that this military titan might be ranked as the No. 1 military power once again in 2024.
To be fair, quantifying military power is a tricky endeavor, as the numbers don’t always tell the
whole story. However, the U.S.’s dominance extends far beyond mere statistics, encompassing
cutting-edge technological innovation, logistical prowess, and unparalleled
operational capabilities that cement its status as the world’s preeminent military force.
So, in this video, we will play the numbers game, but we’ll also look into
what those numbers represent. Regarding the numbers, we’ll primarily consult
the Global Firepower’s Military Strength Rankings, an annual report that comprehensively assesses
military capabilities worldwide. For 2024, Global Firepower, or GFP for short, evaluated
145 countries across 60 individual factors to determine each nation’s military strength.
Some of these factors are troop numbers, military equipment, and financial stability.
Again, accurately ranking military power involves more than just numbers. For instance,
one country might possess a large tank fleet filled with outdated or poorly maintained
vehicles, while another may have a smaller fleet composed of modern, well-maintained
tanks equipped with advanced technology. However, while the exact GFP ranking
might be off for a few countries, the data is accurate primarily from official sources.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the state of the U.S. military in 2024 to understand
why this country commands the respect—and fear—of nations around the globe.
First, let’s talk about money. After all, no country can maintain
military dominance without substantial financial investment. And when it comes to
the U.S.’s annual defense spending budget, calling it a “substantial financial investment”
might just be the understatement of the century. Why?
The defense budget the U.S. Congress approved for 2024
is a staggering $886 billion, roughly 3.3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Though this number is insanely impressive in and of itself, it becomes mind-blowing when you
consider how much other nations are spending on defense. The No. 2 nation, China, plans to spend
$236.1 billion on defense in 2024, a notable 7.2% leap from the previous year. The increase is even
higher with the third-ranked nation, Russia, which intends to spend around $109 billion on national
defense, approximately 30% more than in 2023. As monumental as the difference between the
U.S.’s military budget and the ones from the second- and third-ranking countries, it’s
also important to note that the U.S. probably won’t see any significant increases in defense
spending any time soon. You see, the increase in the U.S. military budget was capped at 1%
in 2023 thanks to a two-year budget deal. But even after these two years pass,
financial experts don’t see significant changes in the U.S.’s military budget
for at least two more years. Afterward, the experts estimate that the budget could
gradually rise to $922 billion in 2035. But let’s go back to the present for now.
What is the U.S. spending its military budget on? Though this budget must cover numerous
aspects of a standing fighting force, four areas might be the most crucial –
operation and maintenance, research and development of weapons and equipment, procurement
of weapons and systems, and military personnel. Speaking of military personnel, number-wise,
how strong is the U.S. military in 2024? Let’s start with the total
available military manpower. This figure refers to the total number of people
a nation could mobilize in the event of a war, be it offensive or defensive in nature.
Remember that this number can only be estimated and represents a rough picture of
the potential force size, not an exact count. According to GFP estimates, the U.S. could commit
almost 150 million people to its war effort, roughly 44% of its total population. Though
this figure is undoubtedly impressive, it isn’t the highest in the world.
Of course, this shouldn’t be surprising, as the U.S. isn’t the most populous country in
the world. This title belongs to India, closely followed by China, with each country having more
than 1.4 billion people. With this discrepancy in population in mind, it’s perfectly understandable
that India and China rank better in terms of total manpower, both being able to commit over 650
million people to their respective war efforts. A similar situation can be seen in
the number of people fit for military service. As the name suggests, these are the
able-bodied people who could theoretically fight or participate in material production
during a long-running war campaign. The U.S. has roughly 124 million troops, while India
and China can offer four to five times more. But let’s move away from potential
scenarios. How many active-duty personnel does the U.S. have in 2024?
In other words, how many soldiers are currently engaged in full-time military work and could be
ready to fight for the nation at any given moment? The answer is approximately 1.3
million highly-trained individuals. Though this figure places the U.S. in the top
three countries in the world, it’s important to note that the number of active-duty personnel has
been declining for quite some time. That’s why the current figures are far from the most recent peak
of over 2 million active-duty soldiers in 1987. But what about reserve personnel?
Unfortunately, this isn’t where the U.S. shines in the 2024 military power ranking. But
before delving into the details, let’s explain the difference between active and reserve duty.
Think of it this way – active duty is a full-time job, while reserve duty
can be compared to a part-time job. Reservists are considered an optional
military component and are basically on-call for service at any given moment.
The U.S. has almost 800,000 of these reservists as part of its military force in 2024.
This figure is nowhere near Vietnam's 5 million reservists, which occupies the No. 1 position
globally. It’s also significantly lower than three other nations in the top 5 in the military
power ranking of 2024: South Korea, with over 3 million reservists, Russia, with approximately
2 million, and India, with roughly 1.15 million reserve-duty personnel. The only country in
the top 5 with fewer reservists is China, which has half a million.
But why is the U.S.’s number of reservists comparatively low?
There are two ways to look at this number, one more positive and the other quite the opposite.
On the one hand, the relatively low number of reservists in the U.S. could be attributed to
the country’s reliance on a well-established active-duty force and sophisticated
military technology. On the other hand, the number of U.S. reservists could be related
to how overused this military component is. As things currently stand, some reservists
are expected to provide daily support to global military operations, essentially changing
the very nature of this military element. This could have something to do with fewer people
deciding to join the military as a reservist. But speaking of joining the military,
which options do individuals have when considering enlistment in the U.S. military?
The United States Armed Forces collectively manages three major service branches: the U.S.
Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy. In addition to the three main military
branches, the U.S. has three other notable military divisions: the U.S. Marine Corps, the
U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Five of these branches are managed by the
Department of Defense. The U.S. Coast Guard is the only exception, falling under the responsibility
of the Department of Homeland Security. But what exactly are these
departments managing in 2024? Let’s find out.
First, let’s get the numbers out of the way. No. 1 is the Army, the largest
and oldest service in the U.S., with roughly 452,000 active-duty soldiers. This is
the smallest total the Army has been since 1940, a year before the U.S. joined World War II.
In second place, we have the Navy, the U.S.’s forward-deployed force. In 2024, this branch had
approximately 347,000 active-duty sailors. As with the Army, the U.S. generally isn’t satisfied
with this number, as it falls short of desired readiness levels and strategic objectives.
The third-ranking branch, the Air Force, closely follows the Navy, with approximately
324,000 active-duty personnel. The Department of Defense describes the Air Force as having “rapid,
flexible, and lethal air and space capability.” Next up – the Marine Corps, a component of the
Department of the Navy, which accounts for about 172,000 of the U.S.’s active-duty personnel.
This just leaves us with one more Department of Defense-controlled branch – the U.S. Space
Force. Due to the unique nature of this branch, it shouldn’t be surprising
that it’s by far the smallest, encompassing only about 9,400 active personnel.
This also makes it the smallest branch in the U.S. military in general, as the Department
of Homeland Security-managed Coast Guard has 41,700 active-duty service members.
However, the number of military personnel in each branch is just one aspect of their military might.
The other, arguably even more important, aspect is the equipment and technology they possess. In
this regard, we’ll focus on three areas of attack. Let’s look at U.S. land,
airpower, and naval power. We’ll start with the U.S.’s might on the
ground. Though it took some time, the U.S. ground forces have finally started departing from
the Cold War-era thinking focused on containment. Slowly but surely, these forces are becoming
significantly more agile and adaptable, reflecting the requirements of the modern battlefield.
For this endeavor, the U.S. ground forces primarily rely on combat tanks, infantry
fighting vehicles, artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems. So, let’s break down the
U.S.’s capabilities in these departments. When it comes to tanks, the M1 Abrams continues
to lead the way, making up for a good portion of the country’s 4,657 tanks. This figure makes
the U.S. the NATO country with the highest number of tanks. However, the same can’t be said for
the world, as this position belongs to Russia, which has over 14,000 tanks. While Russia’s main
battle tank, the T-72, is far inferior to the U.S.’s Abrams tanks, the same can’t be said for
the T-14 Amata, which was designed to rival and surpass its Western counterparts' capabilities.
Regarding infantry fighting vehicles, the widely respected M2 Bradley remains a cornerstone of the
U.S. ground forces, providing formidable firepower and mobility. However, we mustn’t forget about
the Stryker armored vehicles that have allowed the U.S. ground forces to cover a myriad of
battlefield roles with as many as ten variants of this Canadian-made vehicle. So, it’s no wonder
some 10% of all U.S. infantry fighting vehicles are Stryker armored vehicles. These include:
1789 M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) 545 M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicles (RVs)
441 M1129 Mortar Carriers (MCs) 348 M1130 Commander’s Vehicles (CVs)
304 M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEVs) The remainder of some 360,000 front-line,
second-line, and support vehicles are mostly wheeled types designed for urban fighting based
on experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq. This impressive figure also makes the U.S. the No.
1 country in the world in terms of infantry fighting vehicles, as they possess more than
double these vehicles compared to the next countries on the list, China and Russia.
Unfortunately, the U.S. artillery systems don’t showcase the same superiority.
Here, we’ll look at two artillery system types – self-propelled and towed.
Both these systems have a pretty self-explanatory name – the former can move independently on tracks
or wheels, while the latter requires a separate vehicle to position it on the battlefield.
The U.S. operates an equal number of both of these systems. It has almost 1,600 self-propelled guns,
and almost all of them are M109 Paladin-tracked vehicles. As for their towed counterparts, there
are about 1,267 of them used by the U.S. military. Roughly 820 of those are the M777 howitzer-class
systems operated by the Army and the Marine Corps. This just leaves us with
multiple launch rocket systems. These systems aim to provide rapid and
widespread firepower against ground targets, typically using rockets or missiles launched
from a mobile platform. The U.S. ground forces operate almost 700 of these handy systems, with
the M142 HIMARS launcher making up more than a quarter of the total number.
Now, it’s time to take flight. How does the U.S. rank in
terms of airpower in 2024? The answer is simple – in the
air, the U.S. is second to none. With over 13,000 service-available airframes,
the U.S. maintains the world’s most formidable air force with a diverse fleet of aircraft.
So, let’s inspect this fleet in more detail. The U.S. Air Force is one of the few
services worldwide that operates a dedicated bomber fleet with aircraft capable
of both conventional and nuclear attacks. The standout bomber aircraft in this fleet include:
The B-1B Lancer is the backbone of the U.S.’s long-range bomber force. The Air Force operates
39 of these high-level bombers, which can carry the highest payload of 75,000 pounds.
The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of carrying both conventional and
nuclear warheads. Due to a high per-unit cost, only 21 of these aircraft are in the U.S. fleet,
but the amount of firepower these units bring more than makes up for their modest number.
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range heavy bomber that can fly at high subsonic
speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. The U.S. Force has used these bombers
since the 1950s and operates 72 units. Next up – the U.S. Air Force’s
fighter aircraft fleet. These aircraft remain the frontline defenders
of the U.S. Air Force, which operates as many as 1,854. Let’s list the most notable among them:
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter,
represented by over 500 units. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role
fighter that is relatively low-cost. That last factor explains why the Air Force operates
775 of these fighters, the most of any model. The F-22 Raptor is a supersonic, all-weather
stealth fighter that can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The
Air Force has 177 of these premiere aircraft. The F-35A Lighting II, the U.S. Air Force’s latest
fifth-generation fighter, accounts for 310 units. Though these aircraft might be the first
you think of, the U.S. Air Force fleet doesn’t solely consist of aircraft designed to
engage in combat or intercept other aircraft. It also includes aircraft designed for various
other crucial missions, such as refueling, transport, and reconnaissance.
Here are some of the more notable aircraft fulfilling these roles.
First up – tanker aircraft designed to extend the operational range of other
aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has over 2,600 of these valuable aircraft, including the following:
388 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers 61 KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling and
strategic military transport aircraft 40 KC-10 Extender advanced
tanker and cargo aircraft As for transport aircraft, the U.S. Air Force
operates over 950 units of the most diverse design, with the C-17 Globemaster III as the
primary hauler with 228 units. Interestingly, this fleet also includes limited numbers
of special aircraft designed to transport VIP individuals, such as U.S. leaders and
high-ranking government and Department of Defense officials. So, for instance, there’s
only one C-20 and four C-32A aircraft. When it comes to reconnaissance, the
following aircraft play a significant role: 13 MC-12W Liberty medium-to-low
altitude, twin-engine turboprop aircraft 14 E-8C Joint Stars Joint Surveillance
Target Attack Radar Systems 26 U-2S Dragon Lady subsonic,
high-altitude spy planes Finally, two more notable pieces
of equipment to cover – helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The former category includes approximately 5,737 units, which are instrumental to the U.S. military
due to their flexibility and tactical usefulness. These helicopters can be deployed to various
missions, including search and rescue, medical evacuation, and special operations support.
However, these rotorcraft units can also attack. The U.S. owns about 1,000 dedicated attack
helicopters that can provide on-call fire support for ground forces, neutralize armored
vehicles, or counter dug-in enemy force elements. Lastly – unmanned aerial vehicles.
This is another area where the U.S. absolutely demolishes any competition.
The country’s armed services operate one of the largest UAV forces, with over
16,000 units. These drones are primarily Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR)
types, but direct-attack units are also included. Now that we’ve covered U.S. land and
air power let’s dive into and explore the strength of the U.S. naval forces in 2024.
By now, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that these forces also beat out potential
competitors by a considerable margin. Sure, with 472 vessels, the U.S. might not have
the largest fleet in terms of size. However, the U.S. Navy boasts unmatched technological
sophistication and operational capabilities, ensuring dominance in both traditional
and asymmetric maritime warfare scenarios. The U.S. Navy also dominates the
numbers game in areas where it matters the most on the sea – carriers.
The U.S. currently has 11 carrier ships, which is more than all the other
countries in the world combined. To be fair, 10 of these are Nimitz-class
nuclear-powered carriers that still utilize Cold War technologies to some extent. Still,
they remain formidable assets, complemented by the newer, more advanced Gerald R. Ford-class
supercarrier, which promises to take the U.S. military’s naval capabilities to new heights.
The U.S. is also No. 1 in the helicopter carrier department, with nine impressive
warships. Even though these warships are smaller and less expensive to procure,
other notable military forces are yet to keep up. Japan has the most helicopter
carriers after the U.S., with only four. But let’s turn up the dramatics and discuss the
more “aggressive” vessels in the Navy’s fleet. And what better way to start than with destroyers?
Destroyers are advanced, multi-role vessels equipped with various sensory equipment,
processing systems, and weaponry to counter threats from the air, the surface,
and under the surface. These ships can operate independently of the main fleet
when hunting enemy targets, often completing their missions with unbelievable precision.
With all these characteristics in mind, you probably won’t be surprised to hear
destroyers are rather costly to procure and operate. That’s why only a dozen countries
in the world own destroyers, most of them operating only a few of these powerful vessels.
Of course, the same can’t be said for the U.S., which owns as many as 75 destroyer-type ships,
the most in the world. Among these destroyers, two classes are represented – the Arleigh
Burke class with 73 destroyers and the Zumwalt class with two of them.
Now, let’s peek under the surface. There, you’ll find an impressive fleet of
attack submarines, combining Cold War relics with more modern and advanced entries. The
first category is filled with vessels like 26 Los Angeles-class, 18 Ohio-class, and three
Sea Wolf-class attack submarines. The second boasts 24 Virginia-class submarines that are
gradually replacing their older counterparts. Now, while we have to go underwater
to view this display of naval might, it’s important to know that these submarines
can also conduct land attacks, some of them even through nuclear means. And don’t get fooled
by the name “attack submarines,” as these vessels can also be used for reconnaissance or to
provide support during special forces operations. There are aspects of the naval fleet where
the U.S. isn’t the leading military force in the world. In fact, the U.S. doesn’t
even rank in the top 10 in some of them. But if you know anything about the
country’s determination, you know that this won’t last for long.
Take frigates as an example. Currently, the U.S. has zero of these
multi-role general-purpose vessels, which places it at the bottom of the 145
countries ranked by Global Firepower. Though, keep in mind that the U.S.
rarely uses frigates anymore. However, other powerful countries like Russia
and China haven’t followed suit, so the U.S. is getting back into the frigate game. The construction started in August 2022, after
a 35-year break, and the USS Constellation, the lead class of these vessels,
should enter service around 2026. Other areas where the U.S.
Navy currently falls short are: No. 1 – the corvette-type vessels, which are very
similar to frigates. Currently, the Navy operates 23 of these small vessels, which is almost four
times less than the first-ranking country, Russia. No. 2 – the mine and countermine
warfare ships that lay down or neutralize minefields in strategic waters. As
of 2024, the Navy owns eight of these vessels, a far cry from the 47 owned by the same
country that owns the most corvettes – Russia. Finally, there is No. 3—the merchant marine force.
During wartime, these vessels transport soldiers, supplies, and vehicles. The U.S. owns around
1,800 merchant vessels, so it doesn’t even manage to crack the top 10 leading maritime nations.
Still, these few items in no way detract from the extraordinary military might that the U.S.
possesses. By now, you should understand why this nation has consistently been ranked No. 1
regarding overall military power and capability. All of this boils down to one vital question: How
will the U.S. use this military might in 2024? There is a whole barrage of ongoing military
operations that either involve the U.S. directly or through international organizations like the
United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Here’s a quick overview of operations involving the U.S. in chronological order:
Since 2004, the U.S. has been deploying drone strikes against Islamist militant
groups in the War in North-West Pakistan. Since 2010, the same destiny has befallen
al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab, and ISIS positions in Yemen, resulting from the effort to combat
the al-Qaeda insurgency in the country. In 2011, U.S. troops were sent to Uganda as
advisers to assist in the fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its leader, Joseph Kony.
In 2014, the U.S. started interventions in Iraq and Syria, aiming to combat the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In 2021, the U.S. continued its
intervention in Somalia by conducting airstrikes on al-Shabab militants.
In 2023, Operation Prosperity Guardian was launched to counter the threat
by Houthi forces in the Red Sea. Besides conducting specific operations,
the U.S. troops are also stationed across different continents to maintain regional
stability, provide security assistance to partner nations, conduct joint training
exercises, or deter potential adversaries. So, as of 2024, the U.S. has:
Over 100,000 service members in Europe 30,000 throughout the Middle East
375,000 in the Indo-Pacific region From these numbers and the ongoing military
operations, it’s easy to conclude where the U.S. stands on most matters in terms of foreign policy.
For instance, Europe received another 20,000 American soldiers after the Russo-Ukrainian
War began in 2022 to enhance its military capabilities. Similarly, the sheer number
of troops in the Indo-Pacific region makes it clear that the U.S. prioritizes the
so-called Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to uphold international norms
and principles in the face of increasing assertiveness from countries like China.
Did any of the information surprise you, for better or worse? Do you see any country
surpassing the U.S. as the global military power any time soon? Share your opinions in the
comments section below, then check out “What If USA Launched a Nuclear Bomb (Minute by
Minute).” Or watch this video instead!
