Country rankings

World War Two Army Size by Country

Russia has the highest World War II Size of Military (personnel) (34.5M), followed by Germany (18.1M) and United States (16.4M). Slovakia has the lowest (80K).

History43 countries · 2 metricsUpdated Apr 22, 2025Original page
4 sources
World War II Size of Military (personnel)Better directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
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World War II Size of Military (personnel)

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All 24 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
1.1M
Middle half 437.5K – 6.7M
Average
5.2M
24 countries
Highest
34.5M
Russia
Lowest
80K
Slovakia

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

43 countries · # = rank by World War II Size of Military (personnel)
#
1Russia34.5MData shown pertains to the USSR, which included not only modern Russia but also 14 additional modern countries (listed individually).
2Germany18.1M—
3United States16.4M—
4China14MIn addition to the total shown, the WWII-era country Manchuku fielded an army of 200,000 and has since been absorbed into mainland China, forming the region Manchuria.
5Japan9.1M—
5Italy9.1M—
7United Kingdom5.9MUK totals were originally credited specifically to Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales). As such, it is unclear whether they include soldiers from Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle or Man.
8France5M—
9India2.6M—
10Poland2M—
10Romania2M—
12Canada1.1M—
13Australia1M—
14Finland650K—
15Belgium600K—
15Hungary600K—
17Greece540K—
18Bulgaria450K—
19Netherlands400K—
20South Africa330K—
21New Zealand204K—
22Croatia200KPart of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
23Norway90K—
24Slovakia80K—
—Ukraine—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Uzbekistan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Kazakhstan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Tajikistan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Azerbaijan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Belarus—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Turkmenistan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Kyrgyzstan—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Serbia—Part of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
—Georgia—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Bosnia and Herzegovina—Part of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
—Moldova—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Armenia—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Lithuania—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Slovenia—Part of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
—Latvia—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—North Macedonia—Part of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
—Estonia—Contributed to the 34,476,000 troops of the USSR, which later split into 15 current countries.
—Montenegro—Part of the 1,500,000 troops of Yugoslavia, which has since split into modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

What correlates with World War II Size of Military (personnel)?

Pearson r against 2,115 other country metrics sharing at least 15 countries. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher World War II Size of Military (personnel) tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Total Workforce (All Sectors) (ILO)Public Sector Size by Country
    r = +0.97 · very strong · n = 18
    Plot
  2. IKEAsCountries with the Most IKEAs
    r = +0.92 · very strong · n = 21
    Plot
  3. Military DeathsWorld War II Casualties by Country
    r = +0.91 · very strong · n = 22
    Plot
  4. Euro Market ValuePharmaceutical Market Size by Country
    r = +0.91 · very strong · n = 15
    Plot
  5. Humanitarian CommitmentsTotal Aid to Ukraine by Country
    r = +0.91 · very strong · n = 18
    Plot
  6. Total Bilateral and EU Assistance (2022 to 2026)Total Aid to Ukraine by Country
    r = +0.89 · very strong · n = 20
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher World War II Size of Military (personnel) tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Relative Change '06-'23Democracy Index by Country
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 21
    Plot
  2. Visa Ease RankEasiest Countries to Immigrate ToA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.70 · strong · n = 23
    Plot
  3. Polity Democracy ScorePolity Data Series by Country
    r = −0.69 · strong · n = 23
    Plot
  4. Global Freedom ScoreFreedom Index by Country
    r = −0.62 · strong · n = 24
    Plot
  5. V-Dem LCI ScoreV Dem Democracy Index by Country
    r = −0.61 · strong · n = 24
    Plot
  6. Government Response ScoreGlobal Slavery Index by Country
    r = −0.57 · strong · n = 24
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest World War II Size of Military (personnel)?
Russia has the highest World War II Size of Military (personnel), at 34.5M, followed by Germany (18.1M) and United States (16.4M).
Which country has the lowest World War II Size of Military (personnel)?
Slovakia has the lowest World War II Size of Military (personnel), at 80K.
What is the median World War II Size of Military (personnel) across countries?
The median is 1.1M across the 24 countries with data.
Where does this world war two army size by country data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Number of personnel mobilized by selected Axis and Allied countries or territories during the Second World War from 1937 to 1945 - Statista; Number of people mobilised in World War II - Military History; World War II by country - Wiki; World War II Infographics - Thames and Hudson.

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