Top 10 Smallest Armies In The World (2023)

There are armies in the world today and not many countries have been able to produce big armies that could even go to war due to lack of population and so many other factors. Some countries are without armies in the world today and there are so many reasons why. Armies are not easy to train or even recruit because it comes with advantages and some disadvantages as well to those that are being involved in it. Many countries train their armies for various reasons and one of the smallest armies in the world is the Swiss Guard.

Top 10 Smallest Army in the World

1. Swiss Guard, Vatican City

The Swiss Guard which guards the Vatican City is one of the smallest countries in the world definitely will be having a small army which comprises 110 men. This army is equipped with traditional weapons and modern firearms as well. They have been able to undergo training with arms and without arms and this was since the assassination of Pope John Paul and their mission is to protect the city and the pope. There are so many things that you should know about the Swiss Guard, recruits must be unmarried Roman Catholic males with Swiss citizenship, between 19 and 30 years of age, and at least 5 feet 8 inches (1.74 metres) tall; they must have a professional diploma or high school degree and must complete basic training with the Swiss military.

2. The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Antigua and Barbuda

This is one of the world’s smallest armies which consist of only 245 personnel they are responsible for different roles which are internal security, prevention of drug smuggling, protection and support of fishing and marine rights and so many other things. This military force is much better equipped for fulfilling its civil roles, as opposed to providing deterrence against would-be aggressors or in defending the nation during a war.

3. The Public Services, Monaco

Moncao has a very limited military affected and depends almost entirely on its neighbour for help. They only have a population of 38,000 and about 263 are said to be in the military world. Security is provided by a small armed police force consisting of between 300-400 men and women. The defence of the nation is provided by France.

4. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, Vanuatu

This is an Island that was founded in the 1980s and it has only about 300 people in the military. The primary role of the Vanuatu mobile force is to assist the police force on pressing issues that are beyond their power. However, if there are threats of war the VMF will be the first to attack.

5. Defence Force of Haiti, Haiti

Haiti is known as one of the most beautiful countries with lots of beaches. The army has always been in dominant service and others have been serving alongside it. The country has about 400 serving in the military and 2000 in the paramilitary department, without its military, Haiti relies heavily on United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces. The multinational force has been responsible for quelling riots and preparing for democratic elections.

6. The Palestine Liberation Army, Palestine

This country is known to have only 500 active personnel in the military and they have about 56,000 in the paramilitary. The PLA was largely destroyed as a fighting force during the 1982 Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon that started the 1982 Lebanon War. Its fighters in Lebanon left for Tunis when the PLO evacuated Beirut that year, in a US-sponsored cease-fire agreement.

7. Andorra

This is a small country located between Spain and France. This country consists of 100 paramilitary individuals that have not received training in the armed forces. This country is very peaceful and this is perhaps one of the reasons they have not invested in their military. The Andorra people are a Roman Catholic group of people and the world’s 16th smallest country like land. It is a tourist country and this helps in creating a lot of revenue for the country.

8. The Iceland Defense Force, Iceland

This military only has a limited defence force and it came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defence of Iceland. They only have about 130 people who are active in the paramilitary and because it is a peaceful country, they do not see the need for their military forces over the years.

9. Public Force of Costa Rica

The public force of Costa Rica is the Costa Rican national law enforcement force, which performs policing and border patrol functions. National border patrol, security, and integrity. Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control. Costa Rica does not have an army rather it has National police who are in charge of safeguarding citizens in the country. They have no permanent standing army and this is due to so many reasons the country has no armed forces in 1949.

10. Mauritius

This country has a very limited army size and everything is carried out by their police forces in the country. This country is an incredible tourist destination that is free from violence and very beautiful. They make a good amount of money from tourism yearly and this has been able to grow their country’s GDP over the years, investing in their army should not be a big deal but due to personal reasons they have decided not to have so many persons in their military. The 1,500-member Special Mobile Force (SMF) and the 500-member National Coast Guard are the only two paramilitary units in Mauritius. Both units are composed of police officers on lengthy rotations to those services.

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Closing

There are so many countries in the world today that do not have an army force, though they are allowed to request help from neighbouring countries in cases of war. Many do not have the financial power to pull such and spend on artillery and some of these countries are with smaller populations so they do not have volunteers or the manpower as well that will be able to train for the force.