Countries with the Biggest Armies in the World
Egypt – 468,500

Egyptian soldiers sit on an armored personnel carrier (APC) outside the Giza zoo on the road leading to Cairo University where Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi's supporters are camped, on July 4, 2013 in Cairo. Egypt's chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as the country's interim president,… more a day after the military ousted and detained Morsi following days of massive protests. AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA


Iran – 523,000

Iranian army's special forces march during the Army Day parade in Tehran on April 18, 2013. The Iranian army "alone" is able to destroy Israel, Tehran's regional arch foe, Islamic republic army commander general Ataollah Salehi said, on the sideline of the country's annual Army Day. AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI


Pakistan – 617,000

Pakistani army soldiers patrol with an armoured personnel carrier on a street on the outskirts of Peshawar on May 10, 2013. Pakistan goes to the polls on May 11, to elect a new government, the first time in the country's turbulent history that one civilian administration has handed power to another through the ballot box.… more AFP PHOTO/ A. MAJEED

South Korea – 639,000

South Korea's East Timor peacekeeping unit soldiers chant during their inauguration ceremony at the army base in Inchon 29 September 1999. The peacekeeping unit, named "Evergreen" is made up of 201 elite combat soldiers, 172 support personnel and 46 officers will join the United Nations proved multinational force in East… more Timor October 4. It is the first time South Korean sent their soldiers overseas since the Vietnam War in 965. AFP PHOTO

Turkey – 666,576

Turkish soldiers march 30 August 2006 during ceremonies marking the 84th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk troops' victory against the Greek army. The Turkish government will next week call parliament back early from summer recess for a vote on sending Turkish troops to Lebanon as peacekeepers, government spokesman… more Cemil Cicek said 29 August. "We have a plan for parliament to meet Tuesday (September 5) to discuss the government request to send troops," Cicek told reporters here after a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several ministers. AFP PHOTO / MUSTAFA OZER

Russian Federation – 1,027,000

1472323 Russia, Moscow. 05/19/2013 Maksim Tsvetkov, two-times world junior biathlon champion, center, at the military oath-taking ceremony for the athletes who might represent Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, members of the first all-athlete military units of the Russian Defense Ministry since Soviet times. Alexander… more Vilf/RIA Novosti

North Korea – 1,106,000

2253867 North Korea, Pyongyang. 07/27/2013 Soldiers during the military parade, devoted to the 60th anniversary of Korean War's end, in Pyongyang. Iliya Pitalev/RIA Novosti

India – 1,325,000

Indian army personnel stand to attention during a wreath laying ceremony for the Indian army soldiers, who were killed during an ambush, at Brigade headquarters in Poonch, about 240 kms from Jammu on August 6, 2013. India accused Pakistan's military of involvement in an ambush on an army post in disputed Kashmir which… more killed five soldiers and punctured hopes of a resumption in peace talks. AFP PHOTO

United States of America – 1,458,219

American marines storm a beach to "rescue" American soldiers held by enemies as part of joint military exercises in Ternate Cavite, 70 kilometers South of Manila, 23 October 2007. About 6,500 troops from boths side are involved in the two-week annual RP-PHIBLEX and Talon Vision exercises aimed at boosting inter-… moreoperability in anti-terror operations. AFP PHOTO/Jay DIRECTO

People’s Republic of China – 2,285,000

Chinese soldiers present their combat gear at a barracks near Xi'an, China, 29 July 2013. China has been investimg billions into modernising its armed forces. The progress was supposed to be presented to the media at the first media day of the air defence, but unfortunaltely the most modern anti-aircraft missiles were not… more present that day of all days. Photo: Stephan Scheuer

__________________