The list of 11 countries with the smallest militaries in the World is bound to surprise you, as the country at first spot has no military at all. We are not making this up! There are countries in this world that give no importance to their military power and their focus remains on totally different things. Now, having no or the smallest of militaries can be because of two reasons. Number one is because the country can’t afford it or has been attacked by another country and its military resources have been completely taken over and controlled by that country. Number two can be because the country enjoys a peaceful relationship with all its neighboring countries and faces no real threat of being attacked.
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In this list you are most likely to find small countries. A country with large covered area can’t afford to lack in military grounds no matter how good its relationships are with the rest of the world. To measure the strength of a military, various factors are considered – some of these factors include available and reserved manpower, strategic assets, labor force, nuclear capabilities (Read our post if you want to know about The 6 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons), etc. The most important is the manpower (reserved and available) and in our list of smallest military countries, we will mainly be considering this factor.
Do you think countries with smallest militaries are also the most peaceful in the world? You’ll be amazed to know that the answer is NO! Without further ado, let us dive straight in and discover the countries with smallest militaries in the world…
11. Palestine
At number eleven we have Palestine, the country that has been facing political issues and unrest for decades. According to an estimate it has only 500 active military personnel and 56,000 paramilitary force.
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10. Panama
Panama only started forming a military after the US invasion (1989.) The country is pretty stable now when it comes to wars and threats from other countries. It has only 500 active military personnel (with no one in reserve.) These military officials also control the paramilitary force of 12,000.
9. Costa Rica
Costa Rica maintains a small military force, which is only trained to keep peace inside the country. The military of the country is not trained for battle. It has around 9,800 paramilitary personnel.
8. Haiti
Number 8 on our list of 11 countries with the smallest militaries in the World is Haiti. It is a beautiful, peaceful country with some of the most amazing beaches on earth. The country, however, has around 400 active military personnel with 2,000 paramilitary men.
7. Mauritius
Another tourist’s attraction, Mauritius is not famous when it comes to militaries. It has only 2,000 paramilitary personnel.
6. Vanuatu
The island nation that was founded in 1980 has only 300 military personnel. The country aims to improve on those numbers and is looking forward to building a stronger force.
5. Monaco
Monaco is the world’s smallest country only behind the Vatican. The population of the country is around 38,000 out of which only 263 serve as paramilitary personnel.
4. Iceland
Iceland is probably the only member of NATO without any standing army. A North European country known for its cold weather and friendly people has only 130 active paramilitary personnel. Icelandic Coast Guards, however, guard its coastal borders.
3. Saint Kitts & Nevis
A two-island state in the West Indies, Saint Kitts is the smallest independent land in Americas with respect to population and area. The country has 70 active military personnel while the reserved forces are around 130. Saint Kitts & Nevis also has 119 paramilitary personnel.
2. Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is an island country which is situated in the North America. The country is mostly famous for its exotic beaches and lovely, warm weather. Each year thousands of tourist visit Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism is also the main economic sector in the country. When it comes to military, the country has 245 personnel of which 170 are active while 75 remain as reserved.
1. Andorra
Number one on our list of 11 countries with the smallest militaries in the World is Andorra. It is a tiny country situated between Spain and France. The country only covers 468 sq.km. It is considered a shopping paradise and is also known for its ski resorts and amazing beaches. Another thing that makes Andorra famous is the number of people serving in its military. You’ll be surprised that no formal training is given to the 100 paramilitary personnel working here. Having said that, the country is one of the friendliest and most peaceful in the world. So army or no army – makes no difference for people living here and those visiting every year.
