Military Strength: 
Honduras vs 
Nicaragua
Military Strength
| Honduras | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Global Military Index | 16.9 (#117) | 16.9 (#118) |
| Military personnel | 23,000 | 12,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 60,000 | 0 |
| – Paramilitary forces | 8,000 | 0 |
| Military aircraft | 61 | 17 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 20 | 0 |
| – incl. bombers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. helicopters | 15 | 11 |
| Military ships | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 0 |
| Main battle tanks | 0 | 89 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
Military Forces Chart
Overview
Honduras (ranked #117 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Nicaragua (#118) on the Global Military Index. Honduras fields 23,000 active troops vs 12,000 for Nicaragua, backed by 60,000 reserves and 8,000 paramilitary. Honduras's $0.6B defense budget is 5.6x that of Nicaragua ($0.10B).
In the air, Honduras operates 61 aircraft including 20 combat jets, while Nicaragua fields 17 with 0 fighters.
On the ground, Honduras deploys 0 main battle tanks vs 89 for Nicaragua.
Neither Honduras nor Nicaragua possesses nuclear weapons.
Global Military Index
Full ranking →
🇭🇳 Honduras
World #117
17.0/ 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% | 59.2 | 47350 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 0.0 | Tanks, armor & artillery |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 30.6 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 28.9 | $0.6B, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×1.00 | 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
| Honduras | Nicaragua | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10.8 million | 6.9 million |
| GDP | $37.1 billion | $19.7 billion |
| GDP per capita | $3,426 | $2,848 |
| Military budget | $556.4 million | $98.5 million |
| – share of GDP | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| – share of govt spending | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| – per capita spending | $51 | $14 |
| Land area | 111,890 km² | 119,990 km² |
| Coastline | 832 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, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras has approximately 23,000 active military personnel compared to Nicaragua's 12,000, giving Honduras a 1.9:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras operates 20 combat aircraft compared to Nicaragua's 0. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Which country spends more on defense, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras has a larger defense budget at $556 million (6:1 more) compared to Nicaragua's $98 million annually.
Do Honduras and Nicaragua have nuclear weapons?
Neither Honduras nor Nicaragua currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Honduras and Nicaragua compare?
Nicaragua operates 89 main battle tanks compared to Honduras's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.