Correspondent|ZIMBABWE is not even among the 10 strongest military forces in Africa, as it ranks 13th on the continent and 83rd when it comes to the rest of the world.

This is according to the 2019 Military Strength Ranking compiled by Globalfire Power, which is the trusted source of military rankings worldwide.

The ranking uses 55 different factors including the number and diversity of weapons. Other factors which are considered included: location, natural resources, local industry. financial stability, but not the current political leadership.

Nuclear weapons and stockpiles are not taken directly into account, but receive indirect scores. Nato (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies get a boost, because they share military resources.

The ranking notes that it is not the number of weapons that carries weight, but the diversity of available weapons. Further, landlocked countries are not penalized for having no naval forces in the final computation of the rankings. 

However, a nation’s financial stability is taken into consideration, but the current political/military leaders are not factored in.

The top 15 armies in Africa are (bracket value is world ranking):

1) Egypt (12);

2) Algeria (27);

3) South Africa (32);

4) Nigeria (44);

5) Ethiopia (47);

6) Angola (57);

7) Morocco (60);

8) Sudan (69);

9) DR Congo (72);

10) Libya (77);

11) Zambia (78);

12) Tunisia (80);

13) Zimbabwe (83);

14) Kenya (86); and

15) Uganda (93).

The top 10 armies in the world are:

1) United States;

2) Russia;

3) China;

4) India;

5) France;

6) Japan;

7) South Korea;

8) United Kingdom;

9) Turkey; and

10) Germany.

The weakest 10 in the world are;

128) Gabon;

129) Mauritania;

130) Somalia;

131) El Salvador;

132) Central African Republic;

133) Panama;

134) Sierra Leone;

135) Suriname;

136) Liberia; and

137) Bhutan.

South Africa was ranked the third strongest military in Africa behind Egypt (12th) and Algeria (27th).

According to the ranking Zimbabwe has:

• 30 000 active personnel;
• 0 reserve personnel;
• 5 584 086 manpower at its disposal;
• 3 182 989 people fit-for-service;
• 308 744 citizens reach the eligible age to serve annually;
• 10 aircraft fighters;
• 7 attack aircraft;
• 14 transport aircraft;
• 46 trainer aircraft;
• 42 combat tanks;
• 300 fighting armoured vehicles;
• 0 self-propelled artillery;
• 65 towed artillery;
• 22 rocket projectors;
• 0 frigates;
• 0 submarines;
• 0 patrol vessels; and
• 0 mine warfare vessels.

One final point to note is that Zimbabwe’s military ranking has dropped from its position last year.