Which Country Has No Military?
Which Country Has No Military? Read the article below to know about the countries without military force, reason behind having no military force and how do countries without military protect themselves.
A military force is an armed organization that belongs to a sovereign state and its duty is to protect their nation. The military is well-organized, heavily armed and consists of branches like the army, navy, and air force.
But do you know some countries have no military forces? Countries without military forces lack a standing army or a full military establishment.
No Military countries depend on their police forces, other friendly countries, or defense pacts around the world.
Most of these countries without military forces are small islands and peaceful countries that rely on other countries to protect them.
Which Country Has No Military?
Countries which have no militaries rely on diplomacy, police units, defense agreements, or allied countries for protection and national security. There are 36 countries without military force in the world.
| S No. | Country/Territory | Defense Arrangement |
| 1 | Vanuatu | Small paramilitary force trained and supported by Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US |
| 2 | Solomon Islands | Police trained and supported by Australia and New Zealand |
| 3 | Tuvalu | No military formed at founding. Police supported by Australia |
| 4 | Palau | No military formed at founding. Defense is the responsibility of the United States until at least 2044 |
| 5 | Micronesia | No military formed at founding. Defense is the responsibility of the US |
| 6 | Panama | The military was dissolved in 1990 and abolished in the 1994 constitution. Has limited paramilitary special units |
| 7 | Mauritius | The military dissolved in 1968, but has a small paramilitary Special Mobile Force. Primary security partner is India |
| 8 | Grenada | The military disbanded in 1983. Member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) |
| 9 | Dominica | The military disbanded in 1981. Member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) |
| 10 | Costa Rica | Military abolished in 1948. Specialized police units are trained by the US and Colombia |
| 11 | Saint Lucia | Member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) |
| 12 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) |
| 13 | Vatican City | Internal security provided by Swiss Guard and police. Would be defended by Italy in wartime |
| 14 | Puerto Rico | Defense is the responsibility of the US |
| 15 | Cayman Islands | Defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| 16 | Montserrat | Defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| 17 | Falkland Islands | Defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| 18 | Sint Maarten | Defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands |
| 19 | Aruba | Defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| 20 | Samoa | Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand |
| 21 | Niue | Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand |
| 22 | Iceland | Defense is the responsibility of NATO, particularly the US, Norway, and Denmark |
| 23 | San Marino | Defense is the responsibility of Italy |
| 24 | Andorra | Defense is the responsibility of France and Spain |
| 25 | New Caledonia | Defense is the responsibility of France |
| 26 | French Polynesia | Defense is the responsibility of France |
| 27 | Monaco | Defense is the responsibility of France |
| 28 | Faroe Islands | Defense is the responsibility of Denmark |
| 29 | Greenland | Defense is the responsibility of Denmark |
| 30 | Hong Kong | Defense is the responsibility of China |
| 31 | Macau | Defense is the responsibility of China |
| 32 | Cook Islands | Defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| 33 | Nauru | Defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| 34 | Marshall Islands | The Constitution prohibits the military. Defense is the responsibility of the US |
| 35 | Kiribati | The Constitution prohibits the military. Defense assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand |
| 36 | Liechtenstein | The army was abolished in 1868. Assistance from Switzerland and Austria if needed |
Check: Which Country Has No Traffic?
Why Do Some Countries Choose Not to Have an Army?
Some countries without a military lack an army because it costs a lot of money to run a military, and most countries with small economies cannot afford it.
In these nations, the citizens spend all their efforts in improving health care services, providing education, and developing economically.
There are some cases when the decision has been taken due to geographic factors since island nations or microstates do not pose a risk of being attacked by invaders.
Other countries without military forces which did away with their armies due to wars and political shifts.
How Do Countries Without Military Force Survive?
Countries Without Military Force depend on alliances, treaties, and diplomacy for their survival.
-
They are generally covered by other states or groups such as NATO and have close political links with neighboring nations.
-
They are also internally secured by their police services, coast guards, and paramilitaries.
-
The factors of small population size, peaceful foreign policy, and minimal risk of confrontation enable them to live peacefully without an army.
-
Other sources of safety and sustenance include tourism and commerce.
Read: Which Country has No Roads?
Conclusion
Some countries around the globe do not keep standing armies but rather rely on diplomacy, police, or treaties for protection. This demonstrates how even countries without standing armies can be secured through diplomatic means. Although most nations have their own army, there are peaceful nations that thrive despite lacking a military force.
Source
Alisha Louis is a US Content Specialist with a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) graduate degree. With over 3 years of experience and a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she specializes in covering trending news and educational developments across the United States. Her articles combine journalistic POV with engaging narratives, making complex topics accessible and relevant for global audiences. Dedicated to delivering timely and trustworthy content, Alisha brings a fresh, insightful perspective to every piece she writes.
-1779358877338_t.webp)