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NATIONAL FORCES · COMPARISON
Canada vs United States
| Overview | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
Active personnel DefinitionFull-time active military personnel; exclude reserves and paramilitary unless explicitly identified. | 68,714people · 31 Aug 2026Single sourceActual Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force headcount. Excludes Primary Reserve, other reserve components and civilian employees; not authorized strength, trained-effective strength or deployable strength. | 1,321,900Estimate · people · 2026Single source2026 estimate. NATO peacetime military personnel strength; excludes trained reserves held at high readiness. National reporting coverage may differ from regular-force-only headcounts. |
Armed forces personnel DefinitionActive-duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces whose training, organisation, equipment and control allow them to support or replace regular forces. This is not an active-regular-only count. | 72,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. | 1,395,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. |
Combat aircraft DefinitionIn-service fixed-wing combat aircraft; exclude stored, retired and ordered aircraft. In service does not establish readiness. | 66Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. | 2,679Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. |
Defence spending DefinitionAnnual military expenditure in current US dollars. State fiscal year, coverage and conversion basis in notes. | US$31.2bnEstimate · USD · 2025 IISS defence budget assessmentSingle sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2025 economic-table year column; USD 31.2bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [b] Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs | US$1.01tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS defence budget forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 1.01trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [b] National Defense Budget Function (50) Budget Authority. Includes DoD funding, as well as funds for nuclear weapons- related activities undertaken by the Department of Energy. Excludes some military retirement and healthcare costs. 2025 figure does not include supplemental funding for Ukraine or Israel. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
GDP DefinitionAnnual nominal GDP in current US dollars, not purchasing-power parity. | US$2.42tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 2.42trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$31.8tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 31.8trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
Main battle tanks DefinitionIn-service main battle tanks; exclude storage and orders. | 74vehicles · 19 Sept 2025Single sourceCanadian Army Leopard 2 main battle tank fleet listed in the September 2025 official national key-fleets briefing. Recovery, engineer and bridge-laying vehicles are not included in this main-battle-tank row. | 2,640Estimate · vehicles · 2025 edition; census date not statedSingle sourceUS Army in-service Abrams MBT inventory including National Guard holdings; excludes approximately 1,500 additional M1A1/A2 in store and M10 Booker light tanks. |
Major surface combatants DefinitionCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Exclude patrol craft and support vessels. | 12vessels · 1 Jan 2026Single sourceCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the national fleet; excludes aircraft carriers, corvettes, patrol, amphibious and support vessels. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. | 85Estimate · vessels · 20 Jan 2025Single sourceCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the national fleet; excludes aircraft carriers, corvettes, patrol, amphibious and support vessels. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Population DefinitionTotal resident population; retain the source's reference year. | 41,651,653people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. | 341,784,857people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. |
Reserve personnel DefinitionReported reserve personnel, with mobilisation and training definitions stated in notes. | 33,417people · 31 Aug 2026Single sourceActual Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve headcount only. Excludes other reserve components; not Average Paid Strength (full-time-equivalent measure), mobilized strength or the authorized target. | 804,800Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. |
Submarines DefinitionCommissioned submarines; exclude vessels on order and decommissioned vessels. | 4vessels · 1 Jan 2026Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. | 68Estimate · vessels · 20 Jan 2025Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Transport aircraft DefinitionIn-service dedicated fixed-wing military transport aircraft; exclude trainers and orders. | 28Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. | 918Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. |
Nuclear warheads DefinitionWarheads in the military stockpile, deployed or in reserve; exclude retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Independent estimates, labelled as such. | —Not yet documented | 3,700Estimate · warheads · 2026 estimateSingle sourceWarheads in the military stockpile: in the custody of the military and earmarked for use by military forces, deployed or in reserve. Excludes retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. |
EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS
Equipment listed in inventory and operator sources, grouped by force and category. Sourced quantities retain their date, variant coverage and inventory status. Equipment without a documented count is listed by type.
627 matching equipment types
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||
| B-2 Spirit | — | 202025 |
| Boeing B-52 Stratofortress | — | 58US Air Force (USAF) · 2025 46US Air Force • Global Strike Command · 2025 18Air Force Reserve Command · 2025 72Air Force · 2026Wikipedia |
| Boeing F-15EX Eagle II | — | 6US Air Force (USAF) · 2025 8Air Force · 2026Wikipedia |
| Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | — | 12Naval Aviation Reserve · 2025 319Naval Aviation · 2025 549Navy · 2026Wikipedia |
| F-15 Eagle | — | 82Air National Guard · 2025 8Air Force · 2026Wikipedia |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | — | 8262025 |
| F-22 Raptor | — | 165US Air Force (USAF) · 2025 20Air National Guard · 2025 183Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| F-35 Lightning II | In service | 398US Air Force (USAF) · 2025 85Naval Aviation · 2025 186Marine Corps Aviation · 2025 60Air National Guard · 2025 16Air Force Reserve Command · 2025 302Air Force · 2025Wikipedia 45Navy · 2026Wikipedia 112Marine Corps · 2026Wikipedia |
| Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II | — | 71US Air Force (USAF) · 2025 46Air National Guard · 2025 42Air Force Reserve Command · 2025 162Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| Lockheed AC-130 | — | 28Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) · 2025 31Air Force · 2022Wikipedia |
| McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II | — | 14Marine Corps Aviation · 2025 |
| McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet | 792026 | — |
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||
| Leopard 1 | In service | — |
| Leopard 2 | 722026 | — |
| M1 Abrams | — | 780US Army · 2025 2,640United States Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| M915 (truck) | — | In service |
| Stingray light tank | — | In service |
| Armoured vehicles | ||
| Alvis Saracen | — | In service |
| Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle | — | 276United States Army · 2023Wikipedia |
| Assault Amphibious Vehicle | — | In service |
| BAE Caiman | — | In service |
| Bison and Coyote armoured vehicles | 2112025Wikipedia | In service |
| Bradley | — | 400US Army · 2025 2,000United States Army · 2024Wikipedia 2,310United States Army · 2024Wikipedia |
| Bradley Fighting Vehicle | — | In service |
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Air defence | ||
| AN/TWQ-1 Avenger | — | 4532025 |
| NASAMS | — | In service |
| Patriot | — | 4682025 |
| Phalanx CIWS | — | In service |
| RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile | — | In service |
| RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | — | In service |
| RIM-162 ESSM | In service | In service |
| RIM-174 Standard ERAM | — | In service |
| RIM-67 Standard | — | In service |
| RIM-7 Sea Sparrow | — | In service |
| THAAD | — | ≥45US Army · 2025 ≥45United States Army · 2025 |
| Anti-aircraft guns | ||
| M45 quad mount | — | In service |
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||
| Accuracy International Arctic Warfare | In service | — |
| Accuracy International AWM | — | In service |
| AMD-65 | — | In service |
| AR-M1 | — | In service |
| Barrett M82 | In service | In service |
| Barrett MRAD | — | In service |
| Benelli M3 | In service | — |
| Benelli M4 | — | In service |
| Beretta APX | — | In service |
| Beretta M12 | — | In service |
| Beretta M9 | — | In service |
| Beretta Px4 Storm | In service | — |
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Remote weapon stations | ||
| CROWS | — | In service |
| Protector RWS | In service | In service |
| Equipment | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Radar & sensors | ||
| Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight | — | In service |
| Aimpoint CompM2 | — | In service |
| Aimpoint CompM4 | — | In service |
| AN/FPS-117 | 10Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) · 2025 10aircraft of Canada's air forces · 2025 | 14Strategic Defenses – Early Warning · 2025 |
| AN/PEQ-15 | — | In service |
| AN/PEQ-2 | — | In service |
| AN/PVS-4 | In service | In service |
| AN/PVS-7 | In service | In service |
| AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar | — | In service |
| ARTHUR | In service | — |
| C79 optical sight | In service | In service |
| EL/M-2084 | 102019Wikipedia | — |
Coverage is incomplete. “Not documented” means no linked inventory evidence, not zero equipment. Methodology ↗
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 IISS population assessment | 39,187,155 people | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | superseded |
A shared land boundary is represented in the Natural Earth dataset. Approximate separation between the dataset’s country label points: 2,300 km.
Generalized geography from Natural Earth 1:110m, version 5.1.1. Label-point distance is calculated on a sphere and rounded to the nearest 100 km; it is not a capital-to-capital distance, route, border distance or operational range. Dataset boundaries do not imply recognition of territorial claims.
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m, v5.1.1 · Public domain · Research catalogue highlighted
Scores out of 100 on the ForceTally Index. Each bar splits in proportion to the two scores. A point at the centre of the chart means no sourced figure for that part.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cited source 2022-11-03 | 31 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 495 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 127 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 28 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 183 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 218 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 57 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 151 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 29 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-20 | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Cited source 2025-06-27 | 162 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 13 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 478 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 95 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 36 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 11 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 27 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 7 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 510 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 15 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 5 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 1,501 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | ≥4,400 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 824 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 991 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 5 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 64 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | ≥900 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 36 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 5,000 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 2,640 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 325 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 15 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 650 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 60 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 125,000 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 368 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 4,383 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 25,000 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 1,837 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |