List of countries without armed forces

Countries without regular military forces

  States with no military forces

  States with no standing army, but with limited military forces

This is a list of countries without armed forces. The term "country" here means sovereign states and not dependencies (e.g., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Bermuda), whose defense is the responsibility of another country or an army alternative. The term "armed forces" refers to any government-sponsored defense used to further the domestic and foreign policies of their respective government. Some of the countries listed, such as Iceland and Monaco, have no armies, but still have a non-police military force.^[1][2][3]

Many of the 22 countries listed here typically have had a long-standing agreement with a former occupying country; one example is the agreement between Monaco and France, which has existed for at least 300 years.^[4][5] The Compact of Free Association nations of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau have no say in their respective countries' defense matters, and have little say in international relations.^[6][7][8] For example, when the FSM negotiated a defensive agreement with the United States, it did so from a weak position because it had grown heavily dependent on American assistance.^[9] Andorra has a small army, and can request defensive aid if necessary,^[10][11] while Iceland had a unique agreement with the United States that lasted until 2006, which required them to provide defense to Iceland when needed.^[12][13]

The remaining countries are responsible for their own defense, and operate either without any armed forces, or with limited armed forces. Some of the countries, such as Costa Rica, Haiti, and Grenada, underwent a process of demilitarization.^[14][15][16] Other countries were formed without armed forces, such as Samoa over 50 years ago;^[17] the primary reason being that they were, or still are, under protection from another nation at their point of independence. All of the countries on this list are considered to be in a situation of "non-militarization."^[18]

Countries without armed forces

Countries with absolutely no military forces

Country	Comments	Ref(s)
Andorra	Andorra has no standing army but signed treaties with Spain and France for its protection. Its small volunteer army is purely ceremonial in function. The paramilitary GIPA (trained in counter-terrorism and hostage management) is part of the national police.	[19][20]
Costa Rica	The constitution has forbidden a standing military since 1949. It does have a public security force, whose role includes law enforcement and internal security. For this reason Costa Rica is the headquarters for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and also the United Nations' University for Peace.	[16][21]
Dominica	Dominica has not had a standing army since 1981. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System.	[22]
Grenada	Has not had a standing army since 1983 because of an American-led invasion. The Royal Grenada Police Force maintains a paramilitary special service unit for internal security purposes. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System.	[14]
Kiribati	Under the Constitution the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Teanoai. Defense assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand under an informal agreement between the three countries.	[23][24][25]
Liechtenstein	Abolished its army in 1868 because it was deemed too costly. An army is only permitted in times of war, but that situation has never occurred. However, Liechtenstein maintains a police force and a SWAT team, equipped with small arms to carry out internal security duties.	[26][27]
Marshall Islands	Since the country's foundation the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Lomor. Under the Compact of Free Association, defense is the responsibility of the United States.	[6][28][29]
Federated States of Micronesia	Since the country's foundation no military has been formed. The only forces permitted are the police, which maintain a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Independence. Defense is the responsibility of the United States under the Compact of Free Association.	[7][30][31]
Nauru	Australia is responsible for Nauru's defense under an informal agreement between the two countries. However, there is a relatively large armed police force, and an auxiliary police force for internal security.	[32][33][34][35][36]
Palau	Since the country's foundation the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a 30-person Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the President H.I. Remeliik. Defense assistance is provided by the United States under the Compact of Free Association.	[8][37][38]
Saint Lucia	The Royal Saint Lucia Police maintain two small paramilitary forces consisting of 116 people, the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are responsible for internal security. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System.	[14][39][40]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force maintain two small paramilitary forces consisting of 94 people, called the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are responsible for internal security purposes. All Coastguard Commanders with the exception of Lieutenant Commander David Robin have been officers from the Royal Navy. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System.	[14][41][42]
Samoa	Since the country's foundation no military has been formed; however, there is a small police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Nafanua. In accordance to a 1962 Treaty of Friendship, New Zealand is responsible for defense.	[43][44][45]
Solomon Islands	Maintained a paramilitary force until a heavy ethnic conflict, in which Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific countries intervened to restore law and order. Since then no military has been maintained, however, there is a relatively large police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains two Pacific-class patrol boats, the Auki and the Lata. Defense and policing assistance is the responsibility of the RAMSI.	[46][47][48][49][50]
Tuvalu	Since the country's foundation no military has been formed; however, there is a small police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Te Mataili.	[51][52][52]
Vatican City	Maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing. The Pontificial Swiss Guard is an armed unit charged with protecting the Pope, although it is officially under the authority of the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. There is no defense treaty with Italy, as it would violate the Vatican's neutrality, but informally the Italian Armed Forces protect Vatican City. The Palatine Guard and Noble Guard were abolished in 1970.	[53][54][55][56]

Countries with no standing army but limited military

Countries with no standing army, but having limited military forces

Country	Comments	Ref(s)
Haiti	The Haitian military was disbanded in June 1995, but rebels have demanded its re-establishment. The 12,000-strong Haitian National Police maintains some paramilitary units and a Coast Guard; these units are considered to be larger than what is required, considering the much smaller militaries of some neighboring countries. In April 2012, former Haitian President Michel Martelly demanded the re-establishment of the Army, which he deems necessary for the stability of Haiti.	[57][58][59]
Iceland	Has not had a standing army since 1869, but is an active member of NATO. There was a defense agreement with the United States, which maintained an Iceland Defense Force and a military base in the country from 1951 to 2006. However, the U.S. announced it would continue to provide for Iceland's defense, but without permanently basing forces in the country; Naval Air Station Keflavik closed in late 2006 after 55 years. Even though Iceland does not have a standing army, it still maintains a military expeditionary peacekeeping force, an air defence system, an extensive militarised coast guard, a police service, and a tactical police force. There are also agreements regarding military and other security operations with Norway, Denmark, and other NATO countries.	[12][60][61][62][63][64][65]
Japan	Japan has no military officially according to Article 9 of its Constitution, it does have the Japan Self-Defense Forces. While officially an extension of the police, it is in fact a military force for national territorial defense that may only be deployed outside Japan for UN peacekeeping missions.[66][67] In 2015, this agreement was extended to allowing Japan's allies to decide to allow the J.S.D.F. to fight alongside them if they are attacked by a common enemy.
Mauritius	Mauritius has not had a standing army since 1968. All military, police, and security functions are carried out by 10,000 active duty personnel under the command of the Commissioner of Police. The 8,000 member National Police Force is responsible for domestic law enforcement. There is also a 1,500 member Special Mobile Force, and a 500-member National Coast Guard, which are both considered paramilitary units. Both units are equipped with small arms.	[68][69][70]
Monaco	Renounced its general military investment in the 17th century because the advancement in artillery technology had rendered it defenseless, but still self-identifies as having limited military forces. Although defense is the responsibility of France, two small military units are maintained; one primarily protects the Prince and judiciary, while the other is responsible for civil defense and fire fighting. Both units are well-trained and equipped with small arms. In addition to the military, an armed national police force is maintained for internal security purposes.	[4][71][72][73]
Panama	Abolished its army in 1990, which was confirmed by a unanimous parliamentary vote for constitutional change in 1994. The Panamanian Public Forces include the National Police, National Borders Service, National Aeronaval Service, and Institutional Protection Service, which have some warfare capabilities.	[74][75][76]
Vanuatu	The Vanuatu Police Force maintain a paramilitary force, called the Vanuatu Mobile Force for internal security purposes. The Vanuatu Mobile Force is manned by almost 300 men and women, who are well-equipped with small arms.	[77][78][79]

See also

• List of countries by military expenditures
• List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel
• List of militaries that recruit foreigners

Notes

References

• Barbey, Christophe (2001). La non-militarisation et les pays sans armée : une réalité (in French). Flendruz [Vaud, Switzerland]: APRED. 
• Barbey, Christophe (2015). Non-militarisation: Countries without Armies: Identification Criteria and First Findings. Working Papers from the Åland Islands Peace Institute. Mariehamn [Finland]: The Åland Islands Peace Institute.