Top 7 most powerful and 5 weakest militaries in Africa right now

With the world in shock over the Russia – Ukrainian war,  many countries have had a self-reflection on their defense capabilities and offensive power. Because of Africa’s history with wars, coups, and instabilities, many countries have been on a spending spree in the last decade in a bid to boost their military power. African militaries rank much better than many other countries on the global scale.

Every year, the Global Firepower list ranks countries all over the world based on the strength of their military. The countries are given a Power Index (‘PwrIndx’) score based on the workforce, airpower, land forces, naval forces, natural resources, financials, logistical capability, and geography.

The smaller the PwrIndx score, the stronger a nation’s technical fighting capability is. The perfect score is 0.0000, which, according to Global Firepower, is “realistically unattainable.”

The North African giant is not only an economic power but also a strategic military power not just on the African continent but also in the middle eastern region. Egypt has also been growing their offensive military strategies in a build-up for a possible war with Ethiopia over the Nile.

Power index – 0.1872
Total Population – 99,413,317
Total Military Personnel – 920,000 (est.) (0.9%). Egypt military. Egypt was also ranked as the most powerful military in Africa in 2022.

Power index – 0.4659
Total Population – 41,657,488
Total Military Personnel – 280,000 (est.) (0.7%)

Power index – 0.4985
Total Population – 55,380,210
Total Military Personnel – 81,300 (est.) (0.1%)

Nigeria’s war with the radical elements of Boko Haram has kept the African economic powerhouse a brace with the latest warfare technologies, experience, and equipment. Nigeria is the strongest economy in Africa, with the largest population on the continent.

Power index – 0.6485
Total Population – 203,452,505
Total Military Personnel – 120,000 (est.) (0.1%)

This oil powerhouse of Africa has enough capital resources on its hands to boost their military and defense budget spending. Angola is rarely engaged in battle but keeps itself a brace with the latest weaponry technology.
Power index – 0.8379
Total Population – 30,355,880
Total Military Personnel – 107,000 (est.) (0.4%)

Total Population – 34,314,130

Total Military Personnel – 510,000 (est.) (1.5%)

Total Population – 108,386,391

Total Military Personnel – 162,000 (est.) (0.1%)

On the lower end of the list we have these five:

Total Population – 4,809,768

Total Military Personnel – 2,100 (est.) (0.0%)

Total Population – 11,259,029

Total Military Personnel – 20,000 (est.) (0.2%)

Total Population – 6,312,212

Total Military Personnel – 8,500 (est.) (0.1%)

Total Population – 2,119,036

Total Military Personnel – 5,000 (est.) (0.2%)

Total Population – 5,745,062

Total Military Personnel – 7,150 (est.) (0.1%)