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Military Strength: Flag of Brazil Brazil vs Flag of Mexico Mexico

Military Strength
Brazil Mexico
Global Military Index 50.1 (#22) 45.1 (#35)
Military personnel 762,000 341,000
– Reserve troops 1,340,000 81,500
– Paramilitary forces 395,000 120,000
Military aircraft 502 431
– incl. combat aircraft 124 4
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 188 168
Military ships 66 201
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 5 0
Main battle tanks 294 0
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Brazil (ranked #22 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Mexico (#35) on the Global Military Index. Brazil fields 762,000 active troops — 2.2:1 Mexico's 341,000, backed by 1,340,000 reserves and 395,000 paramilitary. Brazil allocates $24B to defense compared to $17B for Mexico.

In the air, Brazil operates 502 aircraft including 124 combat jets, while Mexico fields 431 with 4 fighters.

At sea, Brazil's 66-ship navy faces Mexico's 201 vessels, including 5 and 0 submarines respectively. On the ground, Brazil deploys 294 main battle tanks vs 0 for Mexico.

Neither Brazil nor Mexico possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

Full ranking →
🇧🇷 Brazil World #22
50.1/ 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% 89.7 1155000 effective
Ground forces 20% 56.2 294 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 47.9 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 57.1 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 67.9 $24B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.04 Budget per soldier
🇲🇽 Mexico World #35
45.1/ 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% 76.0 292750 effective
Ground forces 20% 62.8 Tanks, armor & artillery
Naval power 20% 41.4 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 43.0 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 63.8 $17B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.05 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Brazil Mexico
Population 212.0 million 130.9 million
GDP $2.2 trillion $1.9 trillion
GDP per capita $10,311 $14,186
Military budget $24B $17B
– share of GDP 1.1% 0.9%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.0%
– per capita spending $113 $128
Land area 8,460,415 km² 1,943,945 km²
Coastline 7,491 km 9,330 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Brazil or Mexico?
Brazil has approximately 762,000 active military personnel compared to Mexico's 341,000, giving Brazil a 2.2:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Brazil or Mexico?
Brazil operates 124 combat aircraft compared to Mexico's 4. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Brazil or Mexico?
Mexico has a larger navy with 201 vessels compared to Brazil's 66 ships. Brazil operates 5 submarines while Mexico has 0.
Which country spends more on defense, Brazil or Mexico?
Brazil has a larger defense budget at $24 billion compared to Mexico's $16.7 billion annually.
Do Brazil and Mexico have nuclear weapons?
Neither Brazil nor Mexico currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Brazil and Mexico compare?
Brazil operates 294 main battle tanks compared to Mexico's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.