Loading the evidence…
Preparing your view.
Preparing your view.
NATIONAL FORCES · COMPARISON
Croatia vs Serbia
| Overview | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
Active personnel DefinitionFull-time active military personnel; exclude reserves and paramilitary unless explicitly identified. | 14,300Estimate · people · 2026 annual estimateSingle source2026 estimate. NATO peacetime military personnel strength; excludes trained reserves held at high readiness. National reporting coverage may differ from regular-force-only headcounts. | 28,150Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational full-time active military personnel; the separately reported reserve, gendarmerie and paramilitary totals are excluded. |
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. | 20,000people · 2020 annual observationSingle source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. | 32,000people · 2020 annual observationSingle source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. |
Defence spending DefinitionAnnual military expenditure in current US dollars. State fiscal year, coverage and conversion basis in notes. | US$1.7bnEstimate · 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 1.70bn. 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] Includes military pensions | US$2.53bnEstimate · 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 2.53bn. 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. |
GDP DefinitionAnnual nominal GDP in current US dollars, not purchasing-power parity. | US$113bnEstimate · 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 113bn. 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$112bnEstimate · 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 112bn. 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. |
Population DefinitionTotal resident population; retain the source's reference year. | 3,876,200people · 2025 annual observationSingle source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. | 6,549,143people · 2025 annual observationSingle source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. |
Reserve personnel DefinitionReported reserve personnel, with mobilisation and training definitions stated in notes. | 21,000Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. | 50,150Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. |
Combat aircraft DefinitionIn-service fixed-wing combat aircraft; exclude stored, retired and ordered aircraft. In service does not establish readiness. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
Main battle tanks DefinitionIn-service main battle tanks; exclude storage and orders. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
Major surface combatants DefinitionCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Exclude patrol craft and support vessels. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
Nuclear warheads DefinitionWarheads in the military stockpile, deployed or in reserve; exclude retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Independent estimates, labelled as such. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
Submarines DefinitionCommissioned submarines; exclude vessels on order and decommissioned vessels. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
Transport aircraft DefinitionIn-service dedicated fixed-wing military transport aircraft; exclude trainers and orders. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
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.
321 matching equipment types
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||
| Mikoyan MiG-29 | — | 3Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 14Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia 14Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | 62024 | — |
| Rafale | 122025Wikipedia | In service |
| Soko J-22 Orao | — | 17Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia 17Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia |
| Support aircraft | ||
| Air Tractor AT-802 | 62014Wikipedia | — |
| Antonov An-2 | — | 1Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 |
| Antonov An-26 | — | 4Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 1Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia 1Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2024Wikipedia |
| C295 | — | 1Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 |
| Canadair CL-415 | 62023Wikipedia | — |
| Yakovlev Yak-40 | — | 2Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 2Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 |
| Zlín Z 42 | 42024Wikipedia | — |
| Trainer aircraft | ||
| Pilatus PC-9 | 17Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 | — |
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||
| Leopard 2 | 2Army · 2025 | — |
| M-84 | 44Army · 2025 44Croatian Army · 2025 | 195Army · 2025 |
| Armoured vehicles | ||
| ATF Dingo | — | 22026Wikipedia |
| BOV (armoured personnel carrier) | 422026Wikipedia | ≥822026Wikipedia |
| BOV M11 | — | In service |
| BOV M16 Miloš | — | ≥40Army · 2025 |
| Bradley | 22Army · 2025 89Croatian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Bradley Fighting Vehicle | 22Army · 2025 | — |
| BRDM-2 | — | 46Army · 2025 |
| BTR-50 | 7Army · 2025 7Croatian Army · 2025 | 12Army · 2025 |
| BTR-80 | — | 66Army · 2025 |
| BVP M-80 | 100Army · 2025 74Croatian Army · 2026Wikipedia | 320Army · 2025 |
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Air defence | ||
| 2K12 Kub | — | 77Army · 2025 9Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 9Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 |
| 9K31 Strela-1 | In service | In service |
| 9K35 Strela-10 | 3Croatian Army · 2026Wikipedia | In service |
| AK-630 | In service | — |
| HQ-17 | — | In service |
| HQ-22 | — | 4Air Force and Air Defence · 2025 |
| HQ-9 | — | In service |
| M53/59 Praga | — | In service |
| Mistral (missile) | In service | 182026Wikipedia |
| Pantsir missile system | — | In service |
| PASARS-16 | — | ≥26Army · 2025 |
| S-125 Neva/Pechora | — | In service |
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||
| AGS-17 | — | In service |
| AK-47 | — | In service |
| APS underwater rifle | — | In service |
| AR-M1 | — | In service |
| Barrett M82 | In service | In service |
| Barrett M95 | — | In service |
| Benelli M3 | — | In service |
| Benelli M4 | — | In service |
| Beretta Px4 Storm | — | In service |
| Colt 933 | — | In service |
| CZ 75 | — | In service |
| DShK | — | In service |
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Remote weapon stations | ||
| Protector RWS | In service | — |
| Equipment | Croatia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Radar & sensors | ||
| AN/FPS-117 | 52019Wikipedia | — |
| AN/PVS-7 | In service | — |
| ELCAN Specter | In service | In service |
| Giraffe radar | — | 182026Wikipedia |
| Ground Master 200 | — | 6Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2023Wikipedia 6Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2023Wikipedia |
| Ground Master 400 | — | 4Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2023Wikipedia 4Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2023Wikipedia |
| P-12 radar | — | In service |
| P-14 radar | — | In service |
| P-18 radar | — | 5Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2026Wikipedia 5Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2026Wikipedia |
| P-40 radar | — | 3Serbian Air Force and Air Defence · 2026Wikipedia 32026Wikipedia |
| Communications & electronic warfare | ||
| Krasukha | — | 42026Wikipedia |
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 assessment | 17 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 53 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 10 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 22 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 21 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 100 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 3 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 13 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 80 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 89 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 80 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 16 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 50 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 300 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 32 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 74 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 45 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 12 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 8 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 12 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 162 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 15 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 20 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 32 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 5 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 12 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 420 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 40 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 54 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
A shared land boundary is represented in the Natural Earth dataset. Approximate separation between the dataset’s country label points: 400 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 2025-01-06 | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 1 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 66 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 320 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 2 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 14 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 1 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | ≥26 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 32 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 8 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 3 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 195 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 18 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 18 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 4 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 5 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 1 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 12 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 46 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 4 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 1 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 67 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 77 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 9 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 78 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 24 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-01 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |