National security is of paramount importance for countries worldwide. It is no surprise that countries invest heavily in building strong armed forces to safeguard their borders, deter potential threats, and assert their influence.
Notably, we are often of military strength in terms of the number of active soldiers, advanced weaponry, and the capability to deploy forces internationally. But we often forget about the reserve military personnel.
These reserves are important as they serve as a backup defence and can help expand military operations when needed.
Reserve military manpower includes people who have undergone military training and can be called up when needed, though they aren’t part of the regular armed forces.
They are usually tapped into during emergencies, conflicts, or when extra support is needed for active-duty troops.
Their importance comes from being a quick source of additional manpower, boosting a country’s defence capabilities without the high expenses of keeping a large full-time army.
Countries worldwide maintain reserve forces, but the size, structure, and utilization of these forces vary significantly depending on geopolitical considerations, historical experiences, and national defence policies.
According to a recent index by Global Firepower, which ranks 145 countries based on their reserve military manpower, Egypt stands at the 15th position with a reserve force of 480,000 personnel. Morocco is second in Africa, with 150,000 reserve troops, placing it at the 32nd position globally.
Below are the top 5 African countries with the highest reserve military manpower in 2024:
| Rank | Country | Reserve personnel | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Egypt |
480,000 |
15th |
|
2 |
Morocco |
150,000 |
32nd |
|
3 |
Algeria |
135,000 |
34th |
|
4 |
Eritrea |
130,000 |
37th |
|
5 |
Sudan |
85,000 |
47th |
