Africa’s top military powers for 2025 have been unveiled, with Egypt maintaining its dominance, while Nigeria climbs to the third position in the latest Global Firepower Index.

The annual ranking, released by Global Firepower and cited by Business Insider Africa, assesses military strength using over 60 indicators including troop size, defence budget, equipment capabilities, and geographical positioning.

Egypt retains its title as Africa’s strongest military force, despite dropping slightly on the global scale from 15th to 19th.

Algeria follows closely as second in Africa and 26th globally. Nigeria, now ranked third in Africa and 31st globally, has made one of the most notable jumps—up from 4th place on the continent and 39th worldwide last year.

The updated list reflects shifting regional dynamics, with Nigeria’s improved ranking attributed to increased investment in defence, counter-terrorism efforts, and expanding military partnerships.

1. Egypt– Global Rank: 19th | PowerIndex Score: 0.34

2. Algeria –Global Rank: 26th | PowerIndex Score: 0.35

3. Nigeria – Global Rank: 31st | PowerIndex Score: 0.57

4. South Africa – Global Rank: 40th | PowerIndex Score: 0.68

5. Ethiopia – Global Rank: 52nd | PowerIndex Score: 0.93

6. Angola– Global Rank: 56th | PowerIndex Score: 1.09

7. Morocco – Global Rank: 59th | PowerIndex Score:* 1.12

8. Democratic Republic of Congo – Global Rank: 66th | PowerIndex Score: 1.30

9. Libya -Global Rank: 76th | PowerIndex Score: 1.44

10. Sudan – Global Rank: 73rd | PowerIndex Score: 1.47

Experts say the rankings show both strategic advancement and regional instability. Countries like Nigeria and Algeria have focused heavily on modernising equipment and enhancing internal security amid growing threats from insurgent groups. Meanwhile, South Africa, previously ranked 3rd in Africa, has slipped to 4th, reflecting ongoing budgetary and logistical constraints.

Ethiopia, Angola, and Morocco round out the top five, each maintaining robust ground forces, although they trail behind in aerial and naval capabilities compared to North African giants.

The index also sheds light on the continent’s widening military gap with major global powers, despite signs of progress. Africa’s top militaries remain significantly behind global leaders in terms of advanced technology, power projection, and defence industry output.

Nonetheless, the rankings indicate a steady build-up of conventional military capabilities in Africa, with several countries now playing prominent roles in regional peacekeeping and anti-terror operations.

The Global Firepower Index remains one of the most comprehensive annual assessments of military strength worldwide, tracking over 145 countries.