Africa is one of the least developed regions in the world. However, at the same time, it is also one of the continents with countries that have the strongest military in the world. Since military strength goes hand in hand with power and respect, many people ask which are the most respected African countries?
Military power is necessary for any country seeking to protect its borders and interests. In this piece, we take a look at the most respected African countries based on military strength. It is important to note that there is no one definitive way to rank the strongest militaries.
Table of Contents
10. Angola
Despite being involved in several conflicts such as the Angolan Civil War, Angola is one of the most respected African countries due to its military strength. The Southern African country has over 107,000 active troops plus an additional 500,000 reserve troops. It’s defence budget is over $3.5 billion.
9. Tanzania
Tanzania ranks ninth when talking about countries with the strongest militaries in Africa. With a defence budget of over $600 million, the East African country has more than 107,000 active troops and an additional 500,000 reserve troops.
8. Kenya
Kenya is one of the most famous and respected African countries. It has a defence budget of over $800 million and 24,000 active troops. The country, which has been involved in several peacekeeping missions, has an additional 5,000 troops.
Kenyan army. Photo/ The Star.
7. Sudan
Sudan is one of the African countries whose military has been involved in several conflicts in recent years. The country has modern military equipment and over 109,000 active troops. It has an additional 150,000 reserve troops.
6. Morocco
Morocco ranks sixth when talking about countries with the strongest military. It has over 200,000 active troops and a defence budget of over $3.4 billion. The country has an additional 150,000 reserve troops and modern military equipment such as fighter jets and tanks.
5. Ethiopia
Ethiopia has more than 180,000 active troops and an additional 150,000 reserve troops. The country has a defence budget of over $400 million and has been involved in several conflicts in recent years.
Ethiopian army. Photo/ Medium.
4. Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most famous countries in Africa. It has the fourth-strongest military in the continent with a defence budget of over $2.4 billion. Nigeria has over 120,000 active troops and 80,000 reserve troops.
3. South Africa
South Africa is one of the most respected African countries for many reasons, and one of them is because of its military strength. South Africa has the third-strongest military in Africa.
According to Military Africa, South Africa has a defence budget of over $4.3 billion. It also has more than 78,000 active troops and additional 17,000 reserve troops.
2. Algeria
Algeria has the second-strongest military in Africa. The country, which is located in the northern part of Africa, has a defence budget of over $10 billion. It also has 130,000 active troops and an additional 150,000 reserve troops. Just like Egypt, Algeria has modern military equipment such as fighter jets, artillery and tanks.
Algerian military. Photo/ The Cradle.
1. Egypt
Egypt has the strongest military in Africa, hence ranking among the most respected African countries. According to Military Africa, Egypt has a defence budget of over $4.4 billion and a standing army of over 450,000 active troops. It has an additional 800,000 reserve troops. The North African country has modern military equipment such as fighter jets, submarines and tanks.
Who are the 3 most powerful countries in Africa?
Based on military strength, Egypt has the strongest military forces in Africa. Egypt has a score of 0.22, which is the highest in Africa. Trailing behind Egypt in the list are Algeria and South Africa in second and third positions, with scores of 0.39 and 0.48, respectively.
Which Country in Africa has the Best Standard of Living?
Mauritius has the best standards of living in Africa. Compared to other African countries, Mauritius scored the highest on the Human Development Index (HDI) in 2021. The country also ranks 63rd globally, as one of the countries with a very high human development.
What is the Poorest Country in Africa?
Nestled within Africa’s diverse landscape, Burundi tops the list of poorest countries in the continent. In almost all socioeconomic measures, Burundi is more or less on the bottom rung not just in Africa, but globally. Internal conflicts and corruption are the major contributors to Burundi’s current status.
Is Kenya the Most Developed Country in Africa?
The island country of Mauritius is Africa’s most developed country with an HDI of .802, which just clears the “very high human development” threshold.
