The World’s Largest Combat Tank Fleets in 2025
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Once dominant on the battlefield, tanks have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, especially as Ukrainian forces have used drones to destroy Russian armored vehicles.
According to U.S. European Command estimates, Russia has lost approximately 3,000 tanks in Ukraine in 2024.
Still, these war machines remain central to many nations’ military capabilities.
In this graphic, we show the total tank fleet by country, based on data from Global Firepower. The figures are current through 2025 and include estimates where official numbers were unavailable. Armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles are not included.
China’s Expanding Military Forces
Over the past few decades, China has dramatically expanded its military forces. While NATO members reduced defense spending after the Cold War, China increased its military budget by 566%, becoming the second-highest military spender globally—behind only the United States.
That investment has fueled a rapid buildup of its armored capabilities. Since 2023, China has surpassed Russia, North Korea, and the U.S. to field the largest tank fleet in the world, with 6,800 tanks.
| Rank | Country | Number of Combat Tanks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China |
6,800 |
| 2 |  Russia |
5,750 |
| 3 |  United States |
4,640 |
| 4 |  North Korea |
4,344 |
| 5 |  India |
4,201 |
| 6 |  Egypt |
3,620 |
| 7 |  Pakistan |
2,627 |
| 8 |  Türkiye |
2,238 |
| 9 |  South Korea |
2,236 |
| 10 |  Iran |
1,713 |
| 11 |  Algeria |
1,485 |
| 12 |  Jordan |
1,458 |
| 13 |  Vietnam |
1,374 |
| 14 |  Greece |
1,344 |
| 15 |  Israel |
1,300 |
| 16 |  Ukraine |
1,114 |
| 17 |  Iraq |
1,025 |
| 18 |  Morocco |
903 |
| 19 |  Taiwan |
888 |
| 20 |  Saudi Arabia |
840 |
Russia and the United States follow with 5,750 and 4,640 tanks, respectively.
North Korea ranks fourth with 4,344 tanks, just ahead of India’s 4,201.
Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye each maintain fleets of over 2,000 tanks. Several Middle Eastern and North African nations, including Iran, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia, also appear in the top 20.
Tanks in the Modern Battlefield
Despite emerging vulnerabilities to drones and precision weapons, tanks remain a vital element of combined arms warfare. Their ability to deliver heavy firepower, absorb damage, and support infantry in complex terrain continues to make them indispensable in many military doctrines.
Modern tanks, like the U.S. M1A2 Abrams or China’s Type 99, are being upgraded with active protection systems, improved sensors, and hybrid propulsion technologies to meet new threats.
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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic showing the top 15 largest defense budgets in 2024.