Listed below are the top 10 countries with the largest combat tank fleet in the world, according to Global Firepower Rankings 2025. (Image: Shutterstock)List of countries by combat tank fleet strength 2025: Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the world has become increasingly unstable. According to an earlier Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, the global military expenditure rose by 37 per cent between 2015 and 2025, with a sharp 9.4 per cent increase recorded just last year.As countries ramp up defence spending, the world appears to be edging closer to a new arms race, running counter to calls for global peace and disarmament.The global nuclear arsenal was estimated at 12,241 warheads as of January 2025, with around 9,614 in active military stockpiles and ready for potential deployment, according to the SIPRI Yearbook 2025.MUST READ | Top 10 global military powers in 2025: Where do India and Pakistan stand?China, which has significantly modernised and expanded its military over recent decades, is now the world’s second-largest defence spender after the United States of America.This growing investment has helped China overtake the US, Russia, and North Korea to become the world leader in tank strength, with a fleet of 6,800 combat tanks, according to the Global Firepower 2025 rankings.Several Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, also feature prominently in the global tank rankings, showing their sustained focus on armoured capabilities.Where does India rank in terms of combat fleet strength in 2025? India’s Arjun Main Battle Tank MK-1A (Twitter/@narendramodi)In 2025, India is ranked 5th globally with a total of 4,201 combat tanks, placing it ahead of Pakistan, which ranks 7th with over 2,000 tanks.Story continues below this adTop 10 countries by combat tank fleet strength in 2025:While there have been significant advances in warfare technology, combat tanks are still considered significant in combined arms warfare due to their capacity to deliver heavy firepower, withstand damage, and support infantry in complex terrain.GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2025 | Top 10 most peaceful countries in the world 2025: Where does India rank in comparison to Pakistan?Below are the top 10 countries with the largest combat tank fleet in the world, as estimated by Global Firepower Rankings 2025:RankCountryEst. total of combat tanks1China6,8002Russia5,7503United States4,6404North Korea4,3445India4,2016Egypt3,6207Pakistan2,6278Türkiye2,2389South Korea2,23610Iran1,713Note: Total tank fleet by country is based on data from Global Firepower. Figures are current as of 2025. Estimates have been used where official data was unavailable.Stay updated with the latest – Click here to read more Top 10 exclusive reports!Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at cherry.gupta@indianexpress.com. ... Read More© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd