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Military Strength: Flag of Bhutan Bhutan vs Flag of Nepal Nepal

Military Strength
Bhutan Nepal
Global Military Index 0.9 (#175) 13.5 (#133)
Military personnel 6,000 112,000
– Reserve troops 0 0
– Paramilitary forces 0 15,000
Military aircraft 2 22
– incl. combat aircraft 0 0
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 2 15
Military ships 0 0
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 0 0
Main battle tanks 0 0
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Nepal (ranked #133 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Bhutan (#175) on the Global Military Index. Nepal fields 112,000 active troops — 19:1 Bhutan's 6,000, backed by 15,000 paramilitary. Nepal allocates $0.4B to defense.

In the air, Bhutan operates 2 aircraft vs 22 for Nepal.

Neither Bhutan nor Nepal possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

Full ranking →
🇧🇹 Bhutan World #175
0.9/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 0.0 0 effective
Ground forces 20% 0.0 Tanks, armor & artillery
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 4.0 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 0.0 Data unavailable
Readiness modifier ×1.00 Budget per soldier
🇳🇵 Nepal World #133
13.5/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 66.0 101100 effective
Ground forces 20% 0.0 Tanks, armor & artillery
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 19.8 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 27.0 $429M, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×0.85 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Bhutan Nepal
Population 791524 29.7 million
GDP $3.0 billion $42.9 billion
GDP per capita $3,806 $1,447
Military budget $429M
– share of GDP 0.0% 1.0%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.0%
– per capita spending $ $14
Land area 38,394 km² 143,686 km²
Coastline 0 km 0 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal has approximately 112,000 active military personnel compared to Bhutan's 6,000, giving Nepal a 19:1 numerical advantage.
Which country spends more on defense, Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal has a larger defense budget at $429 million compared to Bhutan's $0 million annually.
Do Bhutan and Nepal have nuclear weapons?
Neither Bhutan nor Nepal currently possesses nuclear weapons.