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Military Strength: Flag of Croatia Croatia vs Flag of Serbia Serbia

Military Strength
Croatia Serbia
Global Military Index 33.0 (#60) 31.1 (#65)
Military personnel 20,000 32,000
– Reserve troops 20,100 50,150
– Paramilitary forces 0 3,000
Military aircraft 67 132
– incl. combat aircraft 12 32
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 37 61
Military ships 29 0
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 0 0
Main battle tanks 45 262
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Croatia (ranked #60 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Serbia (#65) on the Global Military Index. Croatia fields 20,000 active troops vs 32,000 for Serbia, backed by 50,150 reserves and 3,000 paramilitary. Croatia allocates $2B to defense compared to $2B for Serbia.

In the air, Croatia operates 67 aircraft including 12 combat jets, while Serbia fields 132 with 32 fighters.

Croatia operates a 29-ship naval fleet; Serbia has no navy. On the ground, Croatia deploys 45 main battle tanks vs 262 for Serbia.

Neither Croatia nor Serbia possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

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🇭🇷 Croatia World #60
33.0/ 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% 53.8 25250 effective
Ground forces 20% 44.7 45 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 30.8 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 32.9 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 38.2 $1.9B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.08 Budget per soldier
🇷🇸 Serbia World #65
30.7/ 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% 60.4 54125 effective
Ground forces 20% 54.4 262 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 38.9 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 39.8 $2.3B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.05 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Croatia Serbia
Population 3.9 million 6.6 million
GDP $93.0 billion $90.1 billion
GDP per capita $24,050 $13,679
Military budget $1.9 billion $2.3 billion
– share of GDP 2.0% 2.5%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.0%
– per capita spending $481 $342
Land area 55,974 km² 88,246 km²
Coastline 5,835 km 0 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
Related Comparisons
Croatia vs Serbia Air Forces Croatia vs Serbia Armies Strongest militaries in the world (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Croatia or Serbia?
Serbia has approximately 32,000 active military personnel compared to Croatia's 20,000, giving Serbia a 1.6:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Croatia or Serbia?
Serbia operates 32 combat aircraft compared to Croatia's 12. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Croatia or Serbia?
Croatia has a larger navy with 29 vessels compared to Serbia's 0 ships.
Which country spends more on defense, Croatia or Serbia?
Serbia has a larger defense budget at $2.3 billion compared to Croatia's $1.9 billion annually.
Do Croatia and Serbia have nuclear weapons?
Neither Croatia nor Serbia currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Croatia and Serbia compare?
Serbia operates 262 main battle tanks compared to Croatia's 45. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.