Except for Tunisia entering the Top 10 at Libya’s expense, and Morocco moving up to sixth ahead of Angola, Africa’s top military rankings are unchanged from the 2025 edition of the Global Firepower Index, which is based on more than 60 indicators including manpower, equipment and defence spending.

Egypt remains Africa's leading military power, according to the 2026 edition of the world's most powerful armies ranking. The list was published on Friday, Jan. 23, by Global Fire Power (GFP), a U.S. website specializing in defense.

The ranking covers 145 countries. It is based on more than 60 indicators divided into six major categories: human resources, equipment, financial means, logistical means, natural resources, and geography. These criteria are combined into a global military power index ("Power Index"), where a perfect score would be 0.0000, a level no country can achieve in practice. As a result, the closer a country is to this score, the higher it ranks. The index, updated annually, does not take nuclear stockpiles into consideration. It also does not disadvantage landlocked countries for having no navy.

At the African level, the top of the ranking remains unchanged

At the African level, the top of the ranking remains unchanged. Egypt retains its continental leadership and ranks 19th globally out of 145 countries. The North African country, which spans two continents, Africa and Asia through the Sinai Peninsula, recorded a score of 0.3651. Its global ranking is unchanged from the 2025 edition.

Egypt has 438,500 active military personnel, 479,000 reservists, and 300,000 paramilitary force members. It also has 3,620 tanks, 1,088 military aircraft, and 149 naval vessels.

Algeria, ranked 27th globally, takes second place in Africa. It is followed by Nigeria (33rd globally), South Africa (40th), Ethiopia (47th), Morocco (56th), Angola (59th), DR Congo (64th), and Sudan (66th). Tunisia, ranked 79th globally, completes the African Top 10.

(See the full ranking of the 38 African countries assessed below)

In total, 14 African countries moved up in the overall ranking this year compared with the 2025 edition: Ethiopia, Morocco, DR Congo, Sudan, Tunisia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Somalia, and Benin. Meanwhile, 17 countries fell and seven were unchanged.

According to Global Fire Power, the United States remains the world's leading military power, ahead of Russia, China, India, and South Korea.

Walid Kéfi

2026 ranking of Africa’s military powers (global rank in brackets)

1. Egypt (19th)

2. Algeria (27th)

3. Nigeria (33rd)

4. South Africa (40th)

5. Ethiopia (47th)

6. Morocco (56th)

7. Angola (59th)

8. DR Congo (64th)

9. Sudan (66th)

10. Tunisia (79th)

11. Libya (80th)

12. Kenya (84th)

13. Chad (85th)

14. Tanzania (89th)

15. Mozambique (92nd)

16. Cameroon (99th)

17. Mali (104th)

18. Zimbabwe (105th)

19. Uganda (107th)

20. Côte d’Ivoire (108th)

21. Zambia (111th)

22. Ghana (112th)

23. South Sudan (113th)

24. Republic of the Congo (117th)

25. Eritrea (119th)

26. Niger (120th)

27. Namibia (122nd)

28. Mauritania (123rd)

29. Senegal (126th)

30. Burkina Faso (127th)

31. Botswana (130th)

32. Madagascar (131st)

33. Gabon (132nd)

34. Somalia (137th)

35. Benin (138th)

36. Sierra Leone (140th)

37. Liberia (141st)

38. Central African Republic (143rd)