Naval power has long been an indicator of a country's capability to project strength and influence beyond its borders, safeguard its interests, and maintain international security. From massive aircraft carriers to nimble patrol vessels, the size and composition of a nation's navy reflect its strategic priorities, resources, and geopolitical ambitions. Our analysts compiled annual lists of the largest navies in the world by the total number of warships. These include all types of combat-capable ships, such as patrol boats, frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers, which can engage in military operations in different parts of the globe. Key findings from the data include:
At the apex, China's naval capacity has been expanding at an alarming pace. With approximately 777 warships patrolling the vast sea lanes, China anchors the top spot. This massive fleet strongly manifests its aspiration for maritime hegemony. Russia trails China, holding a strong second position with its fleet of 603 warships. This number echoes Russia's strategic intent to sustain its standalone presence in global maritime domains. In third, North Korea presents a surprising scenario with its 492 warships. Often recognized for its terrestrial forces, North Korea has a fleet of legacy ships that are mostly limited its coast. The United States currently houses around 490 warships, positioning it as the fourth-largest navy. In spite of this, it excels in its significant advantage in tonnage and advanced technologies. Colombia rounds off the top five nations with a fleet of 453 naval warships, signifying its dedication to ensuring stability amidst the often turbulent environment in the South American region. Iran, with 398 warships, takes the sixth spot, followed by Egypt, boasting 316 warships. Thailand, India, and Indonesia conclude the top ten list with 292, 285, and 282 warships, respectively. Top 10 Navies in the World:
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
38
#63
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
201
#14
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
57
#48
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
49
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
48
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
31
#67
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
39
#61
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
112
#25
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
17
#88
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
173
#18
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
112
#24
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
29
#71
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
27
#73
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
64
#40
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
64
#39
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
69
#36
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
777
#1
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
453
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
28
#72
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
12
#91
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
20
#76
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
74
#35
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
33
#66
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
19
#83
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
316
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
4
#108
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
20
#79
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
6
#104
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
246
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
180
#17
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
10
#96
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
9
#97
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
80
#31
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
20
#77
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
116
#23
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
26
#74
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
59
#47
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
285
#9
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
282
#10
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
398
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
60
#45
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
8
#101
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
65
#38
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
249
#11
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
10
#94
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
155
#19
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
37
#64
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
15
#90
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
19
#82
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
38
#62
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
36
#65
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
18
#86
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
57
#49
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
5
#105
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
12
#92
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
8
#100
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
61
#44
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
5
#106
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
189
#15
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
18
#87
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
121
#21
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
8
#99
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
187
#16
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
8
#102
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
63
#41
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
11
#93
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
30
#70
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
75
#33
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
492
#3
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
62
#43
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
16
#89
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
100
#27
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
20
#78
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
40
#59
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
60
#46
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
103
#26
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
87
#29
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
41
#57
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
86
#30
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
6
#103
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
48
#56
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
603
#2
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
55
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
19
#84
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
10
#95
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
40
#60
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
2
#111
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
3
#109
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
30
#68
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
234
#13
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
77
#32
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
40
#58
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
18
#85
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
3
#110
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
63
#42
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
56
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
117
#22
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
19
#81
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
292
#8
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
50
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
149
#20
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
4
#107
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
8
#98
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
25
#75
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
75
#34
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
88
#28
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
490
#4
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
20
#80
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
49
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
65
#37
Metric
Value
Rank
# of Naval Warships
30
#69
Region ↕ | # of Naval Warships ↕ |
---|---|
Albania | 38 |
Algeria | 201 |
Angola | 57 |
Argentina | 49 |
Australia | 48 |
Azerbaijan | 31 |
Bahrain | 39 |
Bangladesh | 112 |
Belgium | 17 |
Bolivia | 173 |
Brazil | 112 |
Bulgaria | 29 |
Cambodia | 27 |
Cameroon | 64 |
Canada | 64 |
Chile | 69 |
China | 777 |
Colombia | 453 |
Croatia | 28 |
Cuba | 12 |
DR Congo | 20 |
Denmark | 74 |
Dominican Republic | 33 |
Ecuador | 19 |
Egypt | 316 |
El Salvador | 4 |
Eritrea | 20 |
Estonia | 6 |
Finland | 246 |
France | 180 |
Gabon | 10 |
Georgia | 9 |
Germany | 80 |
Ghana | 20 |
Greece | 116 |
Guatemala | 26 |
Honduras | 59 |
India | 285 |
Indonesia | 282 |
Iran | 398 |
Iraq | 60 |
Ireland | 8 |
Israel | 65 |
Italy | 249 |
Ivory Coast | 10 |
Japan | 155 |
Jordan | 37 |
Kazakhstan | 15 |
Kenya | 19 |
Kuwait | 38 |
Laos | 36 |
Latvia | 18 |
Lebanon | 57 |
Libya | 5 |
Lithuania | 12 |
Madagascar | 8 |
Malaysia | 61 |
Mauritania | 5 |
Mexico | 189 |
Montenegro | 18 |
Morocco | 121 |
Mozambique | 8 |
Myanmar | 187 |
Namibia | 8 |
Netherlands | 63 |
New Zealand | 11 |
Nicaragua | 30 |
Nigeria | 75 |
North Korea | 492 |
Norway | 62 |
Oman | 16 |
Pakistan | 100 |
Panama | 20 |
Paraguay | 40 |
Peru | 60 |
Philippines | 103 |
Poland | 87 |
Portugal | 41 |
Qatar | 86 |
Republic of the Congo | 6 |
Romania | 48 |
Russia | 603 |
Saudi Arabia | 55 |
Serbia | 19 |
Sierra Leone | 10 |
Singapore | 40 |
Slovenia | 2 |
Somalia | 3 |
South Africa | 30 |
South Korea | 234 |
Spain | 77 |
Sri Lanka | 40 |
Sudan | 18 |
Suriname | 3 |
Sweden | 63 |
Syria | 56 |
Taiwan | 117 |
Tanzania | 19 |
Thailand | 292 |
Tunisia | 50 |
Turkey | 149 |
Turkmenistan | 4 |
Uganda | 8 |
Ukraine | 25 |
United Arab Emirates | 75 |
United Kingdom | 88 |
United States | 490 |
Uruguay | 20 |
Venezuela | 49 |
Vietnam | 65 |
Yemen | 30 |