Introduction
Submarines are the ultimate stealth weapon. A modern nuclear-powered attack submarine can operate for months without surfacing, hunt surface ships and other submarines, launch cruise missiles at land targets, and insert special forces. A ballistic-missile submarine is the most survivable leg of a nuclear deterrent, capable of holding an adversary's cities at risk from unpredictable locations. Few weapons combine stealth, range, and destructive potential like the submarine.
Why This Ranking Matters
The submarine force size alone does not tell the whole story — a small fleet of advanced nuclear-powered boats may be more capable than a large fleet of older diesel-electric vessels. The United States, Russia, and China operate nuclear-powered fleets. Many other countries operate quieter diesel-electric submarines optimized for coastal defense. The AUKUS pact, which will give Australia nuclear-powered submarines, represents one of the biggest strategic shifts in submarine warfare of the past decade.
Full Ranking Table
| Rank | Country | Submarines | Power Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 🇨🇳 China | 79 | 64.39 |
| #2 | 🇺🇸 United States | 68 | 110.15 |
| #3 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 65 | 84.41 |
| #4 | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 36 | 34.53 |
| #5 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 22 | 13.45 |
| #6 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 22 | 19.72 |
| #7 | 🇮🇷 Iran | 19 | 17.77 |
| #8 | 🇮🇳 India | 17 | 40.11 |
| #9 | 🇹🇷 Turkey | 12 | 13.1 |
| #10 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 11 | 9.54 |
| #11 | 🇬🇷 Greece | 11 | 7.36 |
| #12 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 11 | 8.58 |
| #13 | 🇫🇷 France | 10 | 11.73 |
| #14 | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 9 | 19.43 |
| #15 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 8 | 8.69 |
| #16 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 8 | 16.57 |
| #17 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 6 | 7.31 |
| #18 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 6 | 9.57 |
| #19 | 🇦🇺 Australia | 6 | 4.69 |
| #20 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 6 | 2.16 |
| #21 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 6 | 11.5 |
| #22 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 6 | 8.19 |
| #23 | 🇵🇪 Peru | 6 | 2.87 |
| #24 | 🇮🇱 Israel | 5 | 8.33 |
| #25 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 5 | 3.92 |
| #26 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 4 | 3.8 |
| #27 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 4 | 5.74 |
| #28 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 4 | 2.42 |
| #29 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 4 | 11.19 |
| #30 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 4 | 3.35 |
| #31 | 🇨🇱 Chile | 4 | 3.4 |
| #32 | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 4 | 8.4 |
| #33 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 3 | 2.65 |
| #34 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 3 | 3.06 |
| #35 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2 | 5.55 |
| #36 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 2 | 1.63 |
| #37 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 2 | 2.93 |
| #38 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 2 | 4.57 |
| #39 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1 | 18.88 |
| #40 | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 1 | 3.2 |
| #41 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 0 | 10.03 |
| #42 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 0 | 11.24 |
| #43 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 0 | 7.47 |
| #44 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 0 | 1.65 |
| #45 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 0 | 2.72 |
| #46 | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 0 | 2.13 |
| #47 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 0 | 1.55 |
| #48 | 🇷🇴 Romania | 0 | 2.88 |
| #49 | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 0 | 3.9 |
| #50 | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 0 | 2.31 |
| #51 | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 0 | 3.82 |
| #52 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 0 | 1.35 |
| #53 | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 0 | 9.0 |
| #54 | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 0 | 3.35 |
| #55 | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 0 | 2.92 |
| #56 | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 0 | 1.36 |
| #57 | 🇦🇴 Angola | 0 | 3.45 |
| #58 | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 0 | 5.64 |
| #59 | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 0 | 2.69 |
| #60 | 🇴🇲 Oman | 0 | 1.84 |
| #61 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 0 | 4.13 |
| #62 | 🇸🇾 Syria | 0 | 5.08 |
| #63 | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 0 | 2.27 |
Analysis: The Top 5
1. 🇨🇳 China
First place in 2026 goes to China, with 79 on this metric. Its overall Power Index of 64.39 reflects a broader balance of capabilities; this specific ranking is one facet of a larger strategic picture. For the complete military breakdown, see the China country profile.
2. 🇺🇸 United States
Second place in 2026 goes to United States, with 68 on this metric. Its overall Power Index of 110.15 reflects a broader balance of capabilities; this specific ranking is one facet of a larger strategic picture. For the complete military breakdown, see the United States country profile.
3. 🇷🇺 Russia
Third place in 2026 goes to Russia, with 65 on this metric. Its overall Power Index of 84.41 reflects a broader balance of capabilities; this specific ranking is one facet of a larger strategic picture. For the complete military breakdown, see the Russia country profile.
4. 🇰🇵 North Korea
Fourth place in 2026 goes to North Korea, with 36 on this metric. Its overall Power Index of 34.53 reflects a broader balance of capabilities; this specific ranking is one facet of a larger strategic picture. For the complete military breakdown, see the North Korea country profile.
5. 🇯🇵 Japan
Fifth place in 2026 goes to Japan, with 22 on this metric. Its overall Power Index of 13.45 reflects a broader balance of capabilities; this specific ranking is one facet of a larger strategic picture. For the complete military breakdown, see the Japan country profile.
Key Takeaways
Rankings like this one are useful precisely because they force comparison. A country in the top 10 of one metric may be near the bottom of another — and understanding that asymmetry is the whole point. Use this ranking alongside our other leaderboards and our head-to-head comparison tool to build a complete picture of where each nation stands. The rankings will be updated annually as new data becomes available from our open-source providers.