Venezuela Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 52nd
MPR SCORE: 586
MPR Index: 0.2385 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.359 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +0.7217 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Venezuela ranks 52nd in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR). Despite having one of the largest standing armed forces in Latin America, Venezuela’s military power has been severely degraded by economic collapse, corruption, and political instability. While the country retains considerable manpower and equipment on paper, its warfighting effectiveness is diminished by poor maintenance, low morale, and deteriorating logistical infrastructure. Venezuela’s current military doctrine centers on asymmetric warfare, with a strategic emphasis on irregular resistance, internal control, and regime preservation rather than conventional battlefield strength.
Strengths: Large Force and Asymmetric Strategy
Despite its limitations, Venezuela retains several advantages that give it strategic weight in South America:
Large Manpower Pool
Venezuela maintains over 100,000 active personnel across its army, air force, and navy, with access to large paramilitary reserves and pro-government militias (e.g., Colectivos).
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) remain a key institution with loyalty to the government and deep involvement in national governance.
Strategic Geography and Internal Control
Venezuela’s rugged terrain, dense jungles, and urban centers favor defensive and guerrilla tactics in the event of foreign intervention.
Military presence in border zones (especially near Colombia and Brazil) allows the regime to deter external threats and manage insurgency or smuggling activity.
Asymmetric Warfare Doctrine
Following U.S. pressure and regional isolation, Venezuela shifted doctrine toward "Integral Defense of the Nation", which emphasizes:
Guerrilla warfare
Civilian mobilization
Prolonged resistance through attrition
The doctrine echoes Cuban and Iranian models of internal regime protection rather than conventional battlefield dominance.
Why Venezuela Ranks Only 52nd in 2025
Despite its size and doctrine, Venezuela suffers from critical structural failures that limit its military effectiveness in real war scenarios:
1. Severe Economic Degradation and Maintenance Collapse
Military hardware—originally sourced from Russia, China, and Iran—is now largely non-operational due to lack of parts, fuel, and trained maintenance crews
Air force assets (Su-30MK2s, helicopters) and naval vessels suffer from grounding, obsolescence, and black-market cannibalization
Budgetary collapse prevents training, modernization, or mobilization on a meaningful scale
2. No Strategic or Technological Edge
Venezuela has no missile deterrent, no nuclear program, and no credible force projection capabilities
Electronic warfare, cyber capabilities, and modern C4ISR systems are almost nonexistent
The country lacks a domestic defense industry capable of replacing or upgrading its Soviet-era systems
3. Politicized Command and Doctrinal Rigidity
The military’s primary role is to preserve the Maduro regime, not prepare for external conflict
Leadership is heavily politicized, with promotions based on loyalty rather than competence
Troop morale is low due to economic hardship, desertions, and distrust among ranks
This results in low scores in Command, Leadership, Force Readiness, and Advanced Warfare categories of the MPR.
Conclusion
Venezuela remains a militarized state, but not a militarily powerful one. Its doctrine of asymmetric defense and regime survival gives it utility in resisting regime change or foreign-backed coups, but not in executing sustained or decisive military campaigns.
The country’s ranking of 52nd in the 2025 MPR reflects its large but hollowed-out military, lack of modern capabilities, and focus on internal control over external warfighting. In any conventional war scenario, Venezuela would struggle to mount more than a prolonged, irregular defense.
Military Strength and Force Projection:
Active Military Personnel: 120,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 100,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 220,000+ (National Guard and militias)
Army Personnel: 80,000
Navy Personnel: 30,000
Air Force Personnel: 10,000
Ground Forces:
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 700+ (T-72B1)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 1,500+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 600+
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 100+
Air Force:
Combat Aircraft: 80+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 100+
Transport Aircraft: 20+
Aircraft Breakdown:
Su-30MK2 Fighter Jets: 24
F-16 Fighting Falcons: 18 (modernized)
C-130 Hercules: 6 (transport)
Naval Forces:
Submarines: 2 (Type 209)
Frigates: 6 (Lupo-class)
Corvettes: 6
Patrol Vessels: 40+
Fast Attack Craft: 10+
Missile Capabilities:
Venezuela possesses a limited missile capability, primarily focusing on coastal defense. It relies on a mix of Russian and domestically produced missile systems for defense, though its missile forces are not equipped with strategic-level capabilities.
Strategic Partnerships:
Venezuela has defense partnerships with Russia, China, and Iran, receiving military equipment and training support. Its relations with Russia have provided advanced weaponry, including tanks, aircraft, and air defense systems. Venezuela also engages in military cooperation with Cuba and maintains regional alliances for joint exercises.
Venezuela – Military History & Combat Experience
Venezuela’s military history is rooted in its role during Latin America’s independence wars, and more recently in its evolution into a regime protection force under the Bolivarian government. While it has not fought a conventional war in the modern era, the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB) have extensive experience in internal security, counterinsurgency, and politicized civil-military operations. Its doctrine today prioritizes asymmetric warfare, regime stability, and deterrence through unconventional means.
War of Independence (1810–1823): Venezuela played a pivotal role in the Spanish American wars of independence. Revolutionary forces, led by figures like Simón Bolívar, established a legacy of nationalist military pride that still influences Venezuelan military culture.
Internal Counterinsurgency (1960s–1990s): During the Cold War, the Venezuelan military fought against leftist guerrilla movements in rural areas. These operations gave the army extensive experience in jungle warfare, border control, and low-intensity internal conflict, helping shape a defensive doctrine focused on domestic threats.
Coup Attempts and Political Intervention (1992): In 1992, future president Hugo Chávez led a failed military coup against the government, followed by a second attempt months later. These events underscored the military’s deep involvement in national politics and marked a turning point in the politicization of the officer corps.
Civil-Military Fusion under Chávez and Maduro (2000s–Present): Under the Bolivarian regime, the military became central to governance, with officers holding key positions in civilian institutions. The armed forces have been used extensively to suppress protests, control the economy, and manage border security, rather than to prepare for conventional warfare.
Border Clashes and Regional Tensions: Venezuela has experienced periodic tensions and minor clashes with Colombia and Guyana, often linked to territorial disputes or security crackdowns. These have not escalated into full-scale conflict but have reinforced a posture of heightened border militarization.
Asymmetric Warfare Doctrine: Venezuela has adopted a “People’s War” defense strategy that relies on irregular militias, decentralized defense units, and urban warfare tactics. This reflects a shift away from traditional force-on-force doctrine toward guerrilla-style defense aimed at deterring foreign intervention.
Venezuela’s modern military experience is centered around regime defense, domestic control, and irregular warfare preparation, not external combat. Its force is ideologically driven, structurally politicized, and increasingly reliant on militias and non-traditional units, with limited exposure to high-intensity or conventional warfare in the 21st century.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~29.2 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~11.6 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 912,050 km²
Land Boundaries: 5,267 km
Bordering Countries: Brazil, Colombia, Guyana
Coastline: 2,800 km (Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean)
Climate: Tropical; hot and humid; more temperate in highlands
Terrain: Andes mountains, central plains (llanos), Amazon basin lowlands, Caribbean coastline
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, gold, iron ore, diamonds, bauxite, hydropower
Proven Oil Reserves: ~303 billion barrels (largest globally)
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~6.3 trillion cubic meters
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$1.2 billion USD (est.)
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.8%
GDP (PPP): ~$410 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$14,000
External Debt: ~$154 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Declining in real terms; limited modernization amid economic collapse, but key sectors remain prioritized by the state
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for males (up to 2 years); includes conscripts and volunteers
Primary Defense Focus: Regime protection, internal control, border surveillance, deterrence against Colombia and U.S. influence
Military Industry Base: Limited; reliant on Russian, Chinese, and Iranian assistance; some domestic munitions and vehicle repair capabilities
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Developing with foreign support; focused on surveillance and domestic opposition monitoring
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: 8 Operational Strategic Defense Regions (REDI) and 24 Tactical Zones (ZODI) under the Strategic Operational Command (CEOFANB)
Missile Inventory Highlights: Buk-M2, S-125 Pechora-2M, Igla-S MANPADS, Chinese HQ-9 (reported), ATGMs, limited coastal missile batteries
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Large but poorly trained militia reserves; activation capacity within 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~500,000+ (includes Bolivarian Militias and reserve corps)
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: Operated by ABAE (Venezuelan Space Agency); includes VENESAT-1 and VRSS-2 remote sensing satellite
Military Satellite Inventory: Dual-use satellites with Chinese and Russian assistance; limited ISR capability
Intelligence Infrastructure: Military Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM), Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), General Staff Intelligence Division
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Iran, Russia, China, Cuba
Airports (Total): ~444 (civilian and military)
Major Military Airports: Palo Negro AB, El Libertador AB, Maracaibo, Ciudad Bolívar
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~50 vessels
Major Ports: Puerto Cabello, La Guaira, Maracaibo
Naval Infrastructure: Mix of aging frigates, missile boats, and patrol vessels; limited submarine force and under-maintained amphibious assets
Naval Replenishment Capability: Limited; focused on coastal and EEZ defense
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~682 km (mostly inactive or under construction)
Roadways: ~100,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~800,000 barrels per day (down from 3+ million in 2010s)
Energy Imports: Major crude exporter but imports refined fuels due to refinery failures
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Substantial crude reserves; refined product availability severely limited
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Limited to small arms, uniforms, and light munitions; imports dominate high-tech systems
Military Installations (Domestic): Extensive nationwide network; includes jungle warfare training centers and coastal fortifications
Military Installations (Overseas): None officially; reports of limited expeditionary cooperation with allies (Cuba, Nicaragua)
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Russian military technicians and Iranian defense advisers reported
Defense Alliances: ALBA defense cooperation, bilateral security pacts with Iran, Russia, China, and Cuba
Strategic Airlift Capability: IL-76, C-130, and Y-8 aircraft; aging fleet with reduced operational readiness
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low; industrial base in decline, sanctions and internal dysfunction limit scalability
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Minimal; foreign-dependent for advanced systems; focus on asymmetric warfare and internal control
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: PDVSA (oil), Bolipuertos (ports), Conviasa (airlift), state-run logistics hubs, and state-captured private industry
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Caracas
Founding Date: July 5, 1811 (independence from Spain declared)
System of Government: Federal presidential republic under centralized executive control
