North Macedonia Military - 2024

Military and security forces

Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM or ARNM): joint force with air, ground, reserve, special operations, and support forces (2024)

note: the Police of Macedonia maintain internal security, including migration and border enforcement, and report to the Ministry of the Interior

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021)
1.2% of GDP (2020)
1.2% of GDP (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,000 active-duty personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era and increasing amounts of more modern Western-origin equipment from countries such as France, Turkey, and the US (2023)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2023)

note: as of 2023, women made up about 10% of the military's full-time personnel

Military - note

the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) is responsible for the defense of the country’s territory and independence, fulfilling North Macedonia’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to EU, NATO, and UN peace and security missions; the ARSM has participated in multinational missions and operations in Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Eastern Europe (NATO), Iraq (NATO), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN); a key area of focus over the past decade has been improving capabilities and bringing the largely Soviet-era-equipped ARSM up to NATO standards; it has increased its participation in NATO training exercises since becoming the 30th member of the Alliance in 2020 and currently has small numbers of combat troops deployed to Bulgaria and Romania as part of NATO’s Enhance Forward Presence mission implemented because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine

the ARSM is a joint force led by a general staff with subordinate commands for operations, logistics, reserves, special operations, and training; the Operational Command includes the active air and ground combat forces, which include a mechanized infantry brigade, an air brigade with a small combat helicopter squadron, and a ground air defense unit; the Special Operations Command has battalions of rangers and special forces, while the Reserve Forces Command has an infantry brigade (2024)