🇧🇪 Belgium Military Strength 2026
With an overall Power Index rank of #70 out of 180, Belgium stands as a mid-tier military in 2026. Its armed forces field 23,500 active personnel plus 5,900 in reserve. The defense budget stands at $8.6 billion (2024), about 1.3% of GDP.
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Personnel & budget
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Active military personnel | 23,500 | #92 |
| Reserve personnel | 5,900 | |
| Paramilitary forces | 0 | |
| Defense budget (2024) | $8.6 billion | #33 |
| Budget share of GDP | 1.28% | |
| Population | 11.9M | |
Land forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Main battle tanks | 0 | — |
| Attack helicopters | 14 | |
Air power
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Combat aircraft | 44 | #57 |
| Military satellites | 0 | |
Naval forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 2 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Amphibious warfare ships | 0 | |
| Nuclear submarines | 0 | |
| Conventional submarines | 0 | |
| Fleet strength score | 4 | #56 |
Data years vary by indicator (latest available, 2023–2026). See methodology and sources.