FULL LIST: Nigeria Ranked 3rd Most Powerful Military In Africa

Nigeria has emerged as the third most powerful military force in Africa, according to the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index released by Global Firepower.

The annual index, which evaluated 145 countries, measures military strength using over 60 indicators, including troop numbers, the sophistication of weaponry, financial resources, logistics, and geographical advantages.

Nigeria’s rise to third position reflects notable progress in military capability and sustained investments in personnel, equipment acquisition, and counter-terrorism operations.

Egypt retained its position as Africa’s leading military power, followed closely by Algeria. Nigeria climbed to third place, ahead of South Africa, which now sits fourth on the continental ranking.

Ethiopia, Angola, and Morocco occupy the fifth to seventh positions respectively.

Below is the full list of African countries in the 2025 Global Firepower Index, with their global ranking in brackets:

Egypt (19)

Algeria (26)

Nigeria (31)

South Africa (40)

Ethiopia (52)

Angola (56)

Morocco (59)

Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)

Sudan (73)

Libya (76)

Kenya (83)

Chad (84)

Mozambique (89)

Tunisia (90)

Tanzania (92)

Cameroon (93)

Ivory Coast (102)

Mali (104)

Zambia (109)

Ghana (110)

Zimbabwe (111)

South Sudan (113)

Uganda (114)

Namibia (116)

Niger (119)

Eritrea (120)

Republic of the Congo (121)

Botswana (122)

Mauritania (123)

Senegal (125)

Burkina Faso (129)

Madagascar (130)

Gabon (133)

Liberia (138)

Sierra Leone (140)

Somalia (142)

Central African Republic (143)

Benin (144)

The Global Firepower report is widely regarded as a reference point for comparative military capability. It provides insights into how nations are equipping their armed forces to address both conventional threats and evolving security challenges.