ABSTRACT
24 million people serve in the regular armed forces – about 10 percent fewer than in the 1980s, during the Cold War. In addition, there are about 54 million reservists and 9 million state paramilitary personnel. These numbers do not fully show relative military strength. Advanced technology and better training means some forces pack a much harder punch than numbers alone imply. Insurgent forces are usually smaller than their opponents, but compensate through superior commitment and training.
