Military Strength: 
Guatemala vs 
Nicaragua
Military Strength
| Guatemala | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Global Military Index | 18.5 (#108) | 16.9 (#118) |
| Military personnel | 43,000 | 12,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 63,850 | 0 |
| – Paramilitary forces | 25,000 | 0 |
| Military aircraft | 37 | 17 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 3 | 0 |
| – incl. bombers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. helicopters | 20 | 11 |
| Military ships | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 0 |
| Main battle tanks | 5 | 89 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
Military Forces Chart
Overview
Guatemala (ranked #108 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Nicaragua (#118) on the Global Military Index. Guatemala fields 43,000 active troops — 3.6x Nicaragua's 12,000, backed by 63,850 reserves and 25,000 paramilitary. Guatemala's $0.5B defense budget is 4.6x that of Nicaragua ($0.10B).
In the air, Guatemala operates 37 aircraft including 3 combat jets, while Nicaragua fields 17 with 0 fighters.
On the ground, Guatemala deploys 5 main battle tanks vs 89 for Nicaragua.
Neither Guatemala nor Nicaragua possesses nuclear weapons.
Global Military Index
Full ranking →
🇬🇹 Guatemala
World #108
18.6/ 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% | 60.9 | 57475 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 21.6 | 5 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 22.3 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 27.4 | $0.5B, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.97 | Budget per soldier |
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
World #118
16.9/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier.
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 15% | 47.6 | 12000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 44.9 | 89 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 14.2 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 17.4 | $0.1B, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.90 | Budget per soldier |
Country Profile
Economy & Geography
| Guatemala | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18.4 million | 6.9 million |
| GDP | $113.2 billion | $19.7 billion |
| GDP per capita | $6,150 | $2,848 |
| Military budget | $452.8 million | $98.5 million |
| – share of GDP | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| – share of govt spending | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| – per capita spending | $25 | $14 |
| Land area | 107,159 km² | 119,990 km² |
| Coastline | 400 km | 910 km |
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
Wargame Simulation
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Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more military personnel, Guatemala or Nicaragua?
Guatemala has approximately 43,000 active military personnel compared to Nicaragua's 12,000, giving Guatemala a 4:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Guatemala or Nicaragua?
Guatemala operates 3 combat aircraft compared to Nicaragua's 0. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Which country spends more on defense, Guatemala or Nicaragua?
Guatemala has a larger defense budget at $453 million (5:1 more) compared to Nicaragua's $98 million annually.
Do Guatemala and Nicaragua have nuclear weapons?
Neither Guatemala nor Nicaragua currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Guatemala and Nicaragua compare?
Nicaragua operates 89 main battle tanks compared to Guatemala's 5. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.