NATO Russia military comparison 2025| Statista

As of 2025,the combined forces of NATO had approximately 3.44 million active military personnel, compared with 1.32 million active military personnel in the Russian military. The collective military capabilities of the 32 countries that make up NATO outnumber Russia in terms of aircraft, at 22,377 to 4,957, and in naval power, with 1,143 military ships, to 419. In terms of ground combat vehicles, NATO had an estimated 11,495 main battle tanks, to Russia's 5,750. The combined nuclear arsenal of the United States, United Kingdom, and France amounted to 5,559 nuclear warheads, compared with Russia's 5,580.

NATO military spending

In 2024, the combined military expenditure of NATO states amounted to approximately 1.47 trillion U.S. dollars, with the United States responsible for the majority of this spending, as the U.S. military budget amounted to 967.7 billion dollars that year. The current U.S. President, Donald Trump has frequently taken aim at other NATO allies for not spending as much on defense as America. NATO member states are expected to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense, although the U.S. has recently pushed for an even higher target. As of 2024, the U.S. spent around 3.38 percent of its GDP on defense, the third-highest in the alliance, with Estonia just ahead on 3.43 percent, and Poland spending the highest share at 4.12 percent.

US aid to Ukraine

The pause in aid to Ukraine from the United States at the start of March 2025 marks a significant policy change from Ukraine's most powerful ally. Throughout the War in Ukraine, military aid from America has been crucial to the Ukrainian cause. In Trump's first term in office, America sent a high number of anti-tank Javelins, with this aid scaling up to more advanced equipment after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The donation of around 40 HIMARs rocket-artillery system, for example, has proven to be one of Ukraine's most effective offensive weapons against Russia. Defensive systems such as advanced Patriot air defense units have also helped protect Ukraine from aerial assaults. Although European countries have also provided significant aid, it is unclear if they will be able to fill the hole left by America should the pause in aid goes on indefinitely.

Comparison of the military capabilities of NATO and Russia as of 2025

Characteristic	NATO	Russia
Personnel	-	-
Total military personnel	8,658,882	3,570,000
Active soldiers	3,439,197	1,320,000
Reserve forces	4,343,065	2,000,000
Paramilitary units	876,620	250,000
Air Force	-	-
Total aircraft	22,377	4,292
Fighters / interceptors	3,312	833
Ground attack aircraft	1,163	689
Transport aircraft	1,479	456
Special aircraft (e.g reconnaissance)	889	141
Tanker aircraft	658	19
Total helicopters	9,141	1,651
Combat helicopters	1,416	557
Ground combat vehicles	-	-
Main battle tanks	11,495	5,750
Armored vehicles	971,280	131,527
Self-propelled artillery	3,985	5,168
Towed artillery	6,325	8,505
Self-propelled rocket launchers	1,977	3,005
Naval forces	-	-
Total military ships	1,143	419
Aircraft carriers	16	1
Helicopter carriers	14	0
Destroyers	101	10
Frigates	128	12
Corvettes	67	83
Submarines	148	63
Patrol boats	488	123
Minesweepers	181	47
Nuclear Weapons	-	-
Nuclear warheads*	5,559	5,580

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Release date

March 2025

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2025

Supplementary notes

*Information taken from this SIPRI press release (as of January 2024). The values for the USA, France and the United Kingdom were added together for the information for NATO.

Status of all other information: beginning of 2025; Data retrieved on February 5, 2025.

The figures for NATO were calculated using the figures for the individual member states. Information may be partially estimated according to the source.

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