India vs Pakistan: A Comparison Of Military Strength Between Arch-Rivals

New Delhi: 

India is ranked as the fourth strongest military in the world, just behind the US, Russia and China, according to the Global Firepower Index, a data platform that analyses statistics to determine a nation’s conventional war-fighting capabilities.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, a neighbour with which India went to war several times since independence and is fighting state-sponsored terrorism, is positioned at number nine in the index. 

India is the second most populated country in the world and Pakistan ranks at number five. India has over 65 million people available manpower. Meanwhile, Pakistan has more than 10 million. A large young population that has reached military age and is available for service, favours India compared to Pakistan’s available manpower. 

In the 2023-24 Union Budget, India allocated 13 per cent of its budget to defence at 5.94 trillion rupees ($73.8 Billion), while Pakistan has a defence budget of $6.34 Billion.