Nigeria has been ranked third in the list of African countries with the most powerful military in the 2025 Global Military Strength Index, published by Global Firepower.
Published annually, the GFP index analyzes over 60 indicators including manpower, equipment strength, financial resources, logistical efficiency, and geographical advantage to evaluate a nation’s military posture.
In the list, Egypt ranks number one while Algeria and South Africa rank second and fourth respectively.
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)
