Nepal Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 90th
MPR SCORE: 306
MPR Index: 0.0979 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8549 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.379 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Nepal ranks 89th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Its military, the Nepalese Army, is structured primarily for internal security, border control, and disaster response. While Nepal does not field a large or technologically advanced military, its armed forces are widely respected for their discipline, professionalism, and history of participation in international peacekeeping missions.

Nepal’s geopolitical position between China and India demands a highly non-aligned defense policy, and its military avoids entanglement in regional power struggles. The Nepalese Army has historically played a stabilizing role during civil unrest, and its long-standing tradition of Gurkha service contributes to the global reputation of Nepalese soldiers as elite, combat-proven fighters. Though lacking in strategic depth and air/naval power, the Nepalese Army remains an effective institution within the context of Nepal’s security environment.

Strengths

1. Highly Disciplined Ground Force

The Nepalese Army is widely regarded as one of the most disciplined and professional forces in South Asia, rooted in a strong Gurkha military tradition. It maintains high unit cohesion, operational discipline, and morale even in austere conditions.

2. International Peacekeeping Contributions

Nepal consistently ranks among the top troop-contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping operations, providing well-trained infantry and engineering units across Africa and the Middle East. These missions enhance its global military reputation and experience.

3. National Disaster and Crisis Response

The Nepalese Army plays a lead role in natural disaster response, including earthquakes, landslides, and floods. Its ability to quickly deploy across mountainous terrain makes it central to national emergency management and public trust.

Why Nepal Is Still Ranked 89th

1. Lack of Air and Naval Forces

Nepal has no combat aircraft, limited airlift capability, and no naval force, given its landlocked geography. This prevents any form of strategic projection or aerial deterrence, placing it at a disadvantage in regional defense.

2. Limited Modern Equipment

Most military hardware is basic, with a focus on infantry support weapons, light vehicles, and small arms. Nepal lacks modern mechanized units, missile systems, or C4ISR infrastructure to support high-intensity combat operations.

3. Political Oversight and Budget Constraints

Defense policy is tightly controlled by civilian leadership, and the military operates with a modest defense budget. Long-standing neutrality policies have deprioritized defense modernization in favor of internal stability and peacekeeping.

Conclusion

Nepal’s military plays a crucial role in internal stability, humanitarian operations, and international peacekeeping, despite its limited size, technological capacity, and strategic depth. The Nepalese Army’s professionalism, Gurkha legacy, and diplomatic balance between regional powers provide it with institutional credibility and moral authority, even if it lacks offensive or deterrent strength. Its low ranking reflects these material limitations, not its operational effectiveness within its defined mission scope.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 95,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 45,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 62,000 (Armed Police Force, including border guards)
Army Personnel: 90,000
Navy Personnel: None (landlocked)
Air Force Personnel: 5,000

Ground Forces

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 150+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 200+

Air Force

Combat Aircraft: None
Helicopters: 30+
Transport Aircraft: 10+

Aircraft Breakdown:

Mi-17 Helicopters: 20 (transport helicopters)
Bell 206 Helicopters: 10 (utility helicopters)

Naval Forces

As a landlocked nation, Nepal does not have a navy and has no significant maritime capabilities. The Nepalese Army is entirely focused on land and air operations, with special attention given to disaster relief efforts and humanitarian assistance.

Missile Capabilities

Nepal does not possess advanced missile systems, nor does it have the capability to develop or maintain significant missile technology. Its military doctrine is primarily defensive and focused on maintaining internal stability and peacekeeping missions.

Strategic Partnerships

Nepal maintains a policy of non-alignment but has strong defense relationships with both India and China. Nepal’s close military ties with India, due to historical and geographical reasons, provide some level of security and strategic depth. The country also contributes to international peacekeeping missions under the United Nations, further enhancing its international military reputation.

Military History & Combat Experience

Nepal’s military history is characterized by a blend of monarchical wars, civil conflict, and global service through Gurkha units. While Nepal has not engaged in modern international warfare, its forces have accumulated decades of real-world combat experience in diverse roles.

Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816):
A major 19th-century conflict between the Gorkha Kingdom and the British East India Company, leading to the Treaty of Sugauli. Although Nepal ceded territory, the bravery and skill of Gurkha soldiers earned them a permanent role in the British and Indian armies, beginning a long legacy of international military service.
Royal Nepal Army Role in Civil Conflicts (1950–1990):
The Royal Nepal Army was used domestically to suppress political unrest, royalist uprisings, and ethnic clashes during Nepal’s transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional rule. These operations shaped its identity as a protector of internal order.
Nepalese Civil War – Maoist Insurgency (1996–2006):
A decade-long internal conflict between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels, resulting in over 17,000 deaths. The army fought extensively in counterinsurgency operations, using mountain warfare tactics, road patrols, and siege operations to contain rebel zones. The war ended with a peace deal and the abolition of the monarchy, transitioning Nepal into a republic.
Peacekeeping Deployments (2000s–present):
The Nepalese Army has served in UN missions in Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, and Haiti, gaining operational experience in logistics coordination, civilian protection, and stability operations. Peacekeeping remains a cornerstone of Nepal’s external military engagement.

While Nepal has not fought foreign wars in recent decades, its soldiers—especially in Gurkha units abroad and UN deployments—have acquired extensive real-world experience, enhancing the army’s skills in discipline-based operations, mountain terrain warfare, and non-combat missions. Its military identity is rooted in professional resilience rather than strategic aggression.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~31.9 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~11.2 million
Geographic Area: 147,516 km²
Land Boundaries: 2,926 km
Bordering Countries: China, India
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Climate: Varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical in south
Terrain: Tarai plain, hill region, Himalayas including Mount Everest
Natural Resources: Quartz, timber, hydropower, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$480 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.3%
GDP (PPP): ~$115 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$3,600
External Debt: ~$12 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable; focused on internal security and disaster relief

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Border security, disaster response, internal stability
Military Industry Base: Limited; small arms production and light vehicle repair
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Basic
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Eastern, Mid, Western, and Far Western Divisions
Missile Inventory Highlights: MANPADS, mortars, light artillery
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~45,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: Launched NepaliSat-1 (CubeSat) in 2019
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Directorate of Military Intelligence, National Investigation Department
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: India, China, regional organizations
Airports (Total): ~48
Major Military Airports: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bharatpur

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: None
Major Ports: None
Naval Infrastructure: Not applicable
Naval Replenishment Capability: Not applicable

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: ~60 km (under development)
Roadways: ~30,000 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: High dependence on Indian refined petroleum
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Limited emergency reserves

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: Ammunition, uniforms, light vehicle assembly
Military Installations (Domestic): Kathmandu, Pokhara, Surkhet, Itahari
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Indian military advisors, UN peacekeepers
Defense Alliances: None formal; bilateral defense cooperation with India and China
Strategic Airlift Capability: Short-range fixed-wing and helicopter fleet
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low

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