The 25 largest militaries in the world in 2026, ranked by the number of active troops

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Military parade in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) staged a military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the nation.
North Korea has the fourth-largest number of active armed forces in the world.

Alain Nogues/Corbis via Getty Images

Plummeting fertility rates are making Asian countries worry about running out of soldiers

Tech Insider
The South Korean flag on army uniforms.
South Korea, which has the world's lowest fertility rate, has military conscription of at least 18 months.

Im Yeongsik/Getty Images

Subscribe to militaries