Countries Without a Military 2024

A military is a highly organized, heavily armed fighting force authorized, funded, and maintained by the government of a sovereign state. A military is intended primarily for warfare, but can also perform humanitarian work such as supplying food, water, and medical care to those in need. In most modern countries, the military is used strictly for defense (and said humanitarian work). However, as conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrate, a country's military can also take on an offensive role. Large militaries are often seen as a sign of power and can provide a sense of security for a country's citizens and allies. The United States spends more on its military than any other country in the world.

Despite the importance most countries place upon their militaries—some even enforce mandatory military service—many other countries have no standing military or armed forces. AS a rule, countries without militaries fall into one of three categories:

1. Countries that have been demilitarized
2. Countries whose founders did not establish a military
3. Countries that are former colonies/dependencies of nations that do have militaries and are still under the protection of those countries. For example, Monaco is a former French colony that still relies upon France for its defense.

List of Countries and Territories with No Military

According to the CIA World Factbook, 39 countries and territories do not have a military. Per the CIA’s definition, several of these states do not have a "regular military force," but their national police forces act as de facto military forces. For example, Costa Rica’s military was abolished in 1948, but its "Public Force" (police) includes paramilitary units trained by the United States and Colombia and takes on the responsibility of protecting the country’s borders.