Top 10 African countries with the fewest number of battle-ready soldiers in 2025

In contrast to having a large and well-organized active military force, which inadvertently improves a country’s security and regional influence, keeping a small active military force can expose serious weaknesses, particularly for some African countries.

Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the fewest number of battle-ready soldiers in 2025.
This list is courtesy of Global Fire Power.
Liberia ranks number 1 on the list.

A nation’s capacity to effectively respond to security challenges may be hampered by a limited active military force.

Having fewer soldiers on the ground limits the ability to conduct prolonged operations and fast deployment in areas beset by terrorism, separatist movements, or cross-border incursions.

Smaller nations may find it difficult to preserve their territorial integrity, making them more susceptible to both external invasion and internal instability.

For instance, it may be difficult for countries with a small military to maintain sufficient security in isolated regions, where armed groups and insurgents frequently operate.

This lack of coverage has the potential to further destabilize the nation by providing safe havens for criminal activity.

Madagascar Army holds parade for 62nd indepencence celebration [Global Times]

Additionally, a small military force reduces a nation’s capacity to dissuade possible aggressors on a continent where border and resource disputes are frequent.

Smaller states may seem like easier targets for outside threats than those with sizable, well-equipped militaries that demonstrate power.

With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the fewest number of battle-ready soldiers in 2025, according to Global Firepower. This list is based on the number of active personnel per region.

PS: Most of the data for this year corresponds with the data for last year.