Want to know which countries have the biggest navies in the world? Having strong naval capabilities is practically a requisite for global power status, and having a great navy is no simple task. Since only the most advanced armies can afford a modern naval fleet, only a few countries actually dominate the seas in a military sense today. Due to a lack of major international conflicts of global implications, which would require a naval confrontation, sovereign states have rather focused on ground and air forces designed specifically for defense. Hence, many nations have neglected their navy, while others have stayed true to the traditional military value placed on being able to breach the stopping power of water.
If you have already seen our list on the 10 most militarily powerful countries in the world, then the following article will bear certain similarities. As stated above, the countries with the largest defense budgets usually boast the largest navies, yet we hope there will be at least one or two surprises in our ranking. So how will we go about measuring the biggest navies in the world? We will only be taking into account the total tonnage of the warships each navy has, since military hardware seems a far more accurate estimate of strength, than for example the number of navy officers. However, we can also not take every boat into account, since certain vessels would not stand a chance in a naval battle anyways. A navy might have hundreds of patrol boats, but these would have no business going up against an aircraft carrier. Hence, all lesser ships and vessels are not included in this calculation of the biggest navies in the world.
Judging by its international presence and well known military strength, the US will surely trump the list of the ten biggest navies in the world, yet who will follow? Does the UK still boast an impressive naval fleet, or has it lost its footing with the emergence of new economic powerhouses in Asia? Let’s check out the ranking and find out!
10. Republic of China Navy (Taiwan) – 151,662 tons
Although it does not have the necessary strength to project its power worldwide, the Taiwanese Navy has considerable strength and can deliver one hell of a punch, especially if taken on in its coastal areas.
The naval battle has only just begun. The countdown of the biggest navies in the world continues on the next page.
9. Marina Militare (Italy) – 173,549 tons
We usually don’t think of the Italians as a power on the high seas, yet they do have one of the largest navies in the world. They even own a couple of small aircraft carriers, some destroyers, frigates, submarines and even amphibious assault ships.
8. Republic of Korea Navy (South Korea) – 178,710 tons
South Korea has to maintain a very large naval force relative to its size, due to the constant threat posed by neighboring North Korea. Thanks to their strong economy, the Koreans can even begin funding a powerful blue-water navy.
7. Indian Navy – 317,725 tons
The Indian Navy steps things up a notch, bringing its total tonnage above the 300 thousand ton mark. Including two aircraft carriers, the Indians surely have more than enough firepower to defend their waters from most threats.
6. French Navy – 319,195 tons
A powerful European nation such as France unsurprisingly has a strong navy, which allows it to project its power internationally. The French have been at the forefront of naval capacity ever since its colonial era.
5. Royal Navy (UK) – 367,850 tons
Naturally the British could not be missing on this list, as they are probably the nation most identified with sea battles. The British Empire was built on naval strength, and although it is currently not the largest, it is certainly one of the most proficient forces in the world.
4. Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force – 413,800 tons
Although it is one of the largest naval forces in the world, the Japanese have yet to acquire a true blue-water navy. Nevertheless, their naval capacities are tremendous, despite the fact that their true purpose is defense.
3. People’s Liberation Army Navy (China) –708,086 tons
The Chinese navy surely does make the previously named forces look like amateurs. China has a fleet almost twice the size of Japan’s, with a considerable amount of submarines, and is making its way to a blue-water navy.
2. Russian Navy- 845,730 tons
Still boasting some of the military strength of the Soviet era and making its way into the second position is Russia. Nevertheless, its capabilities are very limited, especially due to the lack of new investments, which left the navy with powerful but very outdated ships.
1. United States Navy – 3,415,893 tons
Yes, you read right, the United States Navy is around five times larger than that of China. It has an impressive ten aircraft carrier groups, which include dozens of destroyers, and a fleet of submarines and other warships in its arsenal. This is truly the most advanced and powerful navy in the world today, by a wide margin.
