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Military Strength: Flag of Moldova Moldova vs Flag of Romania Romania

Military Strength
Moldova Romania
Global Military Index 10.1 (#146) 41.2 (#46)
Military personnel 6,000 128,000
– Reserve troops 58,000 55,000
– Paramilitary forces 2,000 57,000
Military aircraft 5 166
– incl. combat aircraft 0 49
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 2 64
Military ships 0 33
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 0 0
Main battle tanks 0 328
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Romania (ranked #46 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Moldova (#146) on the Global Military Index. Romania fields 128,000 active troops — 21:1 Moldova's 6,000, backed by 55,000 reserves and 57,000 paramilitary. Romania's $8.8B defense budget is 81:1 that of Moldova ($0.1B).

In the air, Moldova operates 5 aircraft including 0 combat jets, while Romania fields 166 with 49 fighters.

Romania operates a 33-ship naval fleet; Moldova has no navy. On the ground, Moldova deploys 0 main battle tanks vs 328 for Romania.

Neither Moldova nor Romania possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

Full ranking →
🇲🇩 Moldova World #146
10.1/ 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% 56.5 34750 effective
Ground forces 20% 0.0 Tanks, armor & artillery
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 6.6 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 18.0 $109M, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×0.96 Budget per soldier
🇷🇴 Romania World #46
41.2/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 67.1 113900 effective
Ground forces 20% 59.1 328 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 31.5 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 41.7 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 51.6 $8.8B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.08 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Moldova Romania
Population 2.4 million 19.1 million
GDP $18.2 billion $382.6 billion
GDP per capita $7,576 $20,080
Military budget $109M $8.8B
– share of GDP 0.6% 2.3%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.0%
– per capita spending $45 $462
Land area 32,891 km² 231,291 km²
Coastline 0 km 225 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
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Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Moldova or Romania?
Romania has approximately 128,000 active military personnel compared to Moldova's 6,000, giving Romania a 21:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Moldova or Romania?
Romania operates 49 combat aircraft compared to Moldova's 0. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Moldova or Romania?
Romania has a larger navy with 33 vessels compared to Moldova's 0 ships.
Which country spends more on defense, Moldova or Romania?
Romania has a larger defense budget at $8.8 billion (81:1 more) compared to Moldova's $109 million annually.
Do Moldova and Romania have nuclear weapons?
Neither Moldova nor Romania currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Moldova and Romania compare?
Romania operates 328 main battle tanks compared to Moldova's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.