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Military Strength: Flag of Algeria Algeria vs Flag of Mali Mali

Military Strength
Algeria Mali
Global Military Index 54.5 (#15) 20.6 (#98)
Military personnel 326,000 41,000
– Reserve troops 150,000 0
– Paramilitary forces 187,200 20,000
Military aircraft 612 43
– incl. combat aircraft 156 12
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 315 10
Military ships 104 0
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 6 0
Main battle tanks 1,485 10
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Algeria (ranked #15 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Mali (#98) on the Global Military Index. Algeria fields 326,000 active troops — 8.0x Mali's 41,000, backed by 150,000 reserves and 187,200 paramilitary. Algeria's $22B defense budget is 19:1 that of Mali ($1B).

In the air, Algeria operates 612 aircraft including 156 combat jets, while Mali fields 43 with 12 fighters.

Algeria operates a 104-ship naval fleet; Mali has no navy. On the ground, Algeria deploys 1,485 main battle tanks vs 10 for Mali.

Neither Algeria nor Mali possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

Full ranking →
🇩🇿 Algeria World #15
54.2/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 74.9 261160 effective
Ground forces 20% 69.8 1485 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 51.9 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 58.4 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 68.2 $21.5B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.10 Budget per soldier
🇲🇱 Mali World #98
21.3/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 51.4 19000 effective
Ground forces 20% 26.6 10 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 27.1 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 34.4 $1.2B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.06 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Algeria Mali
Population 46.8 million 24.5 million
GDP $269.3 billion $26.8 billion
GDP per capita $5,753 $1,095
Military budget $21.5 billion $1.2 billion
– share of GDP 8.0% 4.3%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.0%
– per capita spending $460 $47
Land area 2,381,741 km² 1,220,190 km²
Coastline 998 km 0 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
Related Comparisons
Algeria vs Mali Air Forces Algeria vs Morocco Strongest militaries in the world (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Algeria or Mali?
Algeria has approximately 326,000 active military personnel compared to Mali's 41,000, giving Algeria a 8:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Algeria or Mali?
Algeria operates 156 combat aircraft compared to Mali's 12. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Algeria or Mali?
Algeria has a larger navy with 104 vessels compared to Mali's 0 ships. Algeria operates 6 submarines while Mali has 0.
Which country spends more on defense, Algeria or Mali?
Algeria has a larger defense budget at $21.5 billion (19:1 more) compared to Mali's $1.2 billion annually.
Do Algeria and Mali have nuclear weapons?
Neither Algeria nor Mali currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Algeria and Mali compare?
Algeria operates 1,485 main battle tanks compared to Mali's 10. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.