Aircraft Carriers by Country 2026

The United States Has the Largest Carrier Fleet

The United States operates the world’s largest aircraft carrier fleet by a massive margin. As of 2025, the U.S. has 20 carriers in active service, including 11 traditional aircraft carriers and 9 helicopter carriers. That is nearly three times more total carriers than China, which ranks second globally with 7.

American carriers form the backbone of the country’s global naval power projection. Unlike most navies, the United States maintains multiple carrier strike groups capable of operating across several regions of the world at the same time. The fleet includes some of the largest and most technologically advanced warships ever built, including the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class supercarriers.

China Has the Second-Largest Carrier Fleet

China has rapidly expanded its carrier fleet over the past two decades and now operates 7 carriers in total, including 3 aircraft carriers and 4 helicopter carriers. Although still far behind the United States, China has firmly established itself as the world’s second-largest carrier power.

Much of China’s naval expansion has focused on increasing its ability to project military power farther from its coastline. The country’s newer carriers are larger and more advanced than its earlier models, reflecting Beijing’s long-term effort to build a blue-water navy capable of operating across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Most Carrier Nations Operate Small Fleets

Outside the United States and China, most countries operate relatively small carrier fleets. Japan and France each maintain 4 carriers, while India, the United Kingdom, Italy, Egypt, South Korea, and Australia each operate 2. Several other countries—including Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and Thailand—maintain just a single carrier.

For many nations, even one carrier represents a major military investment. Aircraft and helicopter carriers require enormous spending on construction, aircraft, crew training, maintenance, and escort ships. As a result, only a limited number of countries possess the industrial capacity, naval infrastructure, and defense budgets needed to sustain carrier operations over the long term.

Aircraft Carriers and Helicopter Carriers Serve Different Roles

Traditional aircraft carriers are designed primarily to launch and recover fixed-wing combat aircraft. These ships act as mobile air bases capable of supporting fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, electronic warfare operations, and long-range strike missions far from home territory. Countries such as the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and France all operate this type of carrier.

Helicopter carriers are generally smaller and focus more heavily on troop transport, amphibious assault, disaster relief, anti-submarine warfare, and helicopter operations. Some modern helicopter carriers can also operate short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft such as the F-35B. In practice, many navies increasingly rely on helicopter carriers because they are less expensive and more flexible for regional operations than full-sized fleet carriers.

Active Aircraft Carrier Fleets by Country