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Algeria Military Strength: Global Firepower Rank, Budget and Troops

Algeria military strength is measured most often by three numbers: a Global Firepower rank of 27th in the world and second in Africa, a defence budget of US$25.4 billion in 2025 and a force of roughly 430,000 personnel when reserves and paramilitaries are counted. Each figure comes from a different method, and none comes from Algiers, which publishes no equipment inventory. This guide sets out the ranking, the spending trend, the manpower and the main equipment, and separates published data from estimates and reports.

Algeria Military Strength at a Glance

The table brings together the headline figures and says who produced them. For the long equipment inventory, see our full profile of the weapons Algeria’s military operates.

Indicator	Figure	Source
Global Firepower rank	27th of 145 countries; index 0.4849	Global Firepower (estimate-based index)
Rank in Africa	Second, behind Egypt	Global Firepower, reported by Ecofin Agency
Military spending, 2025	US$25.4 billion, up 11% in real terms	SIPRI
Burden on the economy	8.8% of GDP; 25% of government spending	SIPRI
Personnel	130,000 active, 150,000 reserve, 150,000 paramilitary	Global Firepower (estimate)
Main battle tanks	1,485	Global Firepower (estimate)
Aircraft	620 in total, 111 fighters	Global Firepower (estimate)
Naval assets	111, including six submarines	Global Firepower (estimate)

Algeria Military Strength Ranking: Global Firepower and Regional Comparison

Global Firepower ranks Algeria 27th of 145 countries, with a power index of 0.4849, where a lower score is better. Ecofin Agency, reporting the ranking released on 23 January, puts Egypt first in Africa at 19th (index 0.3651), Algeria second, Nigeria third at 33rd, South Africa fourth at 40th, Ethiopia fifth at 47th and Morocco sixth at 56th.

The index is a desk-based estimate. It weighs manpower, equipment counts, finances and geography, and it does not publish its formula in full or verify inventories against official sources. It is useful for comparing countries on one scale and weaker as a statement of readiness. Algeria’s lead over Morocco in the table reflects larger holdings of tanks, aircraft and submarines, not proven combat performance.

The rivalry with Rabat shapes any reading of Algeria military strength. Our analysis of Morocco against Algeria looks at how the two arsenals differ in suppliers and doctrine.

Defence Budget and Spending Trend

SIPRI reports that Algeria spent US$25.4 billion on its military in 2025, up 11% in real terms. That is 8.8% of GDP and 25% of government spending, the second-highest burden in the world after Ukraine on both measures. SIPRI calls Algeria by far the biggest spender in North Africa and in Africa as a whole.

The year before, SIPRI recorded US$21.8 billion, a 12% real-terms increase that it linked to hydrocarbon revenue, and 8.0% of GDP. SIPRI revises its series and uses new constant prices each year, so the dollar figures from the two editions should not be subtracted from each other. The growth rates are the safer guide.

Year	Spending	Change	Share of GDP
2024 (SIPRI)	US$21.8 billion	Up 12%	8.0%
2025 (SIPRI)	US$25.4 billion	Up 11%	8.8%

The draft budget for the following year foresaw about DZD 3,208 billion, roughly US$25 billion, according to The New Arab citing local media in October 2025. That would be almost a quarter of public spending. Neighbouring Morocco spent US$6.3 billion in 2025, up 6.6%, per SIPRI. Across Africa, SIPRI counted US$58.2 billion, so Algeria alone accounts for a little over 40% of the continental total.

Personnel: Active, Reserve and Paramilitary Forces

Estimates of Algeria military strength in manpower terms vary with the method. Global Firepower lists 130,000 active personnel, 150,000 reserves and 150,000 paramilitaries, a combined 430,000. The older defenceWeb profile, published in 2021 and updated in 2024, gives a different structure: an army of 101,000 that includes about 62,000 conscripts, plus roughly 160,000 reservists, 12,000 in the air force, about 10,000 in the navy, 24,000 in the gendarmerie and 10,000 in the Territorial Air Defence Forces.

The land forces are organised in seven military regions, with three armoured divisions, four mechanised divisions and one airborne division, according to the same defenceWeb profile. The gap between the two sources, especially on paramilitary numbers, shows why a single headcount should not be quoted without its source.

Army, Air Force and Navy: Main Equipment

No official inventory exists, so the table combines the Global Firepower totals with the more detailed defenceWeb listing. The defenceWeb entries predate the latest deliveries and show types rather than current stock.

Branch	Global Firepower total	Detail from defenceWeb listing
Army	1,485 tanks; 24,920 armoured vehicles	About 1,500 tanks, mostly older T-54/55 and T-62; T-90S the largest modern group at about 508; Iskander launchers (12)
Air force	620 aircraft; 111 fighters; 300 helicopters; 74 attack helicopters	About 57 Su-30MKA, 35 Su-24, 42 Mi-28NE, 5 Il-78M tankers
Navy	111 assets: 8 frigates, 8 corvettes, 6 submarines, 75 patrol vessels	4 Project 636 and 2 Project 877EKM submarines; MEKO A200 and C28A frigates
Air defence	Not itemised	S-300PMU2 and Pantsyr-S1 among the systems listed

Other sources give different fighter counts. Air Data News listed 63 Su-30s, 30 MiG-29s, 42 Su-24s and 16 Yak-130 trainers in February 2025, so the Su-30 fleet is best described as between about 57 and 63. The fighter picture is covered in the guide to Algerian Air Force aircraft.

Recent Procurement and Modernisation

The Su-57E is the most discussed addition, and it is also the least settled. Air Data News reported in February 2025, citing Algerian state television, that Algeria had acknowledged being the first foreign Su-57 customer, without giving an order size. Russia confirmed in November 2025 that two Su-57s had gone to an unnamed foreign buyer, and Defense News reported in February that a video appeared to show a Su-57 over northern Algeria near Oum El Bouaghi. Leaked Rostec documents suggested 12 Su-57 and 14 Su-34, but the final quantity and price are not public.

The United States has warned about the deal. At a Senate hearing, State Department official Robert Palladino said the purchase could trigger sanctions under CAATSA. Atalayar reported on 14 August that Algeria had begun receiving the jets, but that article names no official announcement, so the status is best treated as reported, not confirmed. Our Algerian Su-57 fleet report tracks the evidence.

Other orders are thinly documented. Defence Industry Europe reported in 2022 that Algeria ordered six Turkish Aerospace Aksungur drones, without an official confirmation from Algiers or the manufacturer. Su-35 aircraft with Algerian insignia have appeared in photographs, although neither Algeria nor Russia has formally acknowledged them.

Defence Industry and Main Suppliers

Algeria buys from three main suppliers. SIPRI’s figures for 2021 to 2025 show Russia at 39% of arms imports, China at 27% and Germany at 18%. Algeria was the 33rd largest recipient of major arms in that period with a 0.9% share, and its imports fell 78% from the 2016 to 2020 level. SIPRI warns that Algeria is often secretive about its arms imports and that unverified reports of Russian deals suggest its estimates may be low.

By the same measure, Morocco ranked 28th with a 1.0% share and imports 12% higher, and SIPRI notes that Morocco’s imports exceeded Algeria’s in the latest period. Morocco’s main suppliers were the United States at 60%, Israel at 24% and France at 10%. The Russian side of the relationship is examined in our report on Russia-Algeria arms deals.

Local production exists but is limited. Older defenceWeb reporting describes licence assembly of about 200 T-90 tanks under a 2014 agreement with Rosoboronexport and local assembly of Fuchs armoured vehicles bought from Germany. These are dated reports of intent, and current output figures have not been published.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Algeria’s military in Africa?

Global Firepower ranks Algeria second in Africa and 27th in the world, behind Egypt at 19th. SIPRI separately identifies Algeria as Africa’s largest military spender, at US$25.4 billion in 2025. Both are estimate-based measures and neither reflects combat experience or the real readiness of equipment.

What is Algeria’s defence budget?

SIPRI puts Algerian military spending at US$25.4 billion in 2025, up 11% in real terms, or 8.8% of GDP. The draft budget for the following year foresaw about DZD 3,208 billion, roughly US$25 billion, according to The New Arab. The figure is about a quarter of government spending.

How many soldiers does Algeria have?

Global Firepower estimates 130,000 active personnel, 150,000 reserves and 150,000 paramilitaries. A defenceWeb profile instead lists an army of 101,000, about 62,000 of them conscripts, plus about 160,000 reservists and separate air, naval and gendarmerie forces. Algiers publishes no official breakdown, so totals differ by source.

Does Algeria operate the Su-57?

Algeria has acknowledged being the first foreign Su-57 customer, according to a report citing Algerian state television, and Russia confirmed delivering two aircraft to an unnamed buyer. No official announcement of induction or order size has been found. The aircraft count and delivery status should be treated as reported, not confirmed.

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Adrian Cole Administrator All articles

Africa defence and security correspondent at DefenceMENA, covering procurement, defence industry and armed forces across the continent.

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