World's Ten Smallest Militaries

# 2 Panama

The Panamanian Public Forces are the national security forces of Panama. It maintains forces, including armed Police and Security forces, and small air and maritime forces. They are assigned with law enforcement and can perform limited military actions. Panama has one of the smallest military forces in the world with around 12,000 military personnel. The country formed its military after the U.S. invasion in 1989. It has zero active and reserve military forces and has 12,000 personnel in paramilitary force.

# 3 Costa Rica

Costa Rica, which is located in Central America has a population of over 4 million, but maintains a small force for law enforcement and foreign peacekeeping. It doesn’t have a permanent standing army and consists of around 9, 800 paramilitary personnel. The country doesn’t have an active and reserve military force. José Figueres Ferrer, President of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rico on December 1, 1948 after the victory in the civil war in the same year.

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