Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Nigeria has secured the third position among African nations in the 2025 Global Military Strength Index released by Global Firepower.
The ranking, which was released on Monday, assesses military capabilities worldwide, places Nigeria behind Egypt and Algeria. “This year’s index reflects Nigeria’s continued efforts in bolstering its defense capabilities despite economic challenges,” said a security analyst familiar with the report.
The Global Firepower Index, published annually, evaluates over 60 key indicators, including troop numbers, weapon systems, defense budgets, logistical infrastructure, and geographical advantages.
“Our methodology aims to provide a realistic snapshot of a country’s military readiness beyond just numbers,” the organization noted in a statement accompanying the report.
“Egypt leads, Algeria second, South Africa fourth” — Report highlights
In the African standings, Egypt retained its top spot, followed by Algeria, with Nigeria in third place and South Africa in fourth.
“These rankings underscore the significant investments made by these nations in maintaining military strength,” the report stated.
The comprehensive list of African countries in the 2025 index is as follows:
- 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)
