🇯🇵 Japan Military Strength 2026
With an overall Power Index rank of #10 out of 180, Japan stands as one of the world's leading military powers in 2026. Its armed forces field 247,150 active personnel plus 55,900 in reserve. The defense budget stands at $55.3 billion (2024), about 1.4% of GDP.
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Personnel & budget
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Active military personnel | 247,150 | #22 |
| Reserve personnel | 55,900 | |
| Paramilitary forces | 14,800 | |
| Defense budget (2024) | $55.3 billion | #10 |
| Budget share of GDP | 1.37% | |
| Population | 123.4M | |
Land forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Main battle tanks | 518 | #26 |
| Attack helicopters | 101 | |
Air power
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Combat aircraft | 313 | #12 |
| Military satellites | 11 | |
Naval forces
| Indicator | Value | Rank |
|---|
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | |
| Cruisers | 2 | |
| Destroyers | 34 | |
| Frigates | 8 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Amphibious warfare ships | 3 | |
| Nuclear submarines | 0 | |
| Conventional submarines | 24 | |
| Navy VLS missile cells | 1,448 | |
| Fleet strength score | 200 | #5 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Data years vary by indicator (latest available, 2023–2026). See methodology and sources.