According to Global Firepower’s annual report, Nigeria ranks third among African nations with the most formidable military forces in the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index.
The newly released 2025 Global Firepower ranking places Nigeria behind Egypt and Algeria in terms of overall military strength on the continent.
The report, which studied 145 countries worldwide, looked into more than 60 indicators such as the number of active troops, equipment types, financial backing, transport systems, and geographical factors to determine each nation’s military capabilities.
Egypt continues to hold the top spot in Africa and is ranked 19th globally. Algeria follows in second place within the continent and is ranked 26th globally.
Nigeria moved up to third place in Africa and is now ranked 31st on the global scale, showing significant progress compared to previous years.
Here is a list of African countries ranked in the 2025 Global Firepower Index.
1. Egypt (19)
2. Algeria (26)
3. Nigeria (31)
4. South Africa (40)
5. Ethiopia (52)
6. Angola (56)
7. Morocco (59)
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)
9. Sudan (73)
10. Libya (76)
11. Kenya (83)
12. Chad (84)
13. Mozambique (89)
14. Tunisia (90)
15. Tanzania (92)
16. Cameroon (93)
17. Ivory Coast (102)
18. Mali (104)
19. Zambia (109)
20. Ghana (110)
21. Zimbabwe (111)
22. South Sudan (113)
23. Uganda (114)
24. Namibia (116)
25. Niger (119)
26. Eritrea (120)
27. Republic of the Congo (121)
28. Botswana (122)
29. Mauritania (123)
30. Senegal (125)
31. Burkina Faso (129)
32. Madagascar (130)
33. Gabon (133)
34. Liberia (138)
35. Sierra Leone (140)
36. Somalia (142)
37. Central African Republic (143)
38. Benin (144)
