List of countries without armed forces

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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" is used in the
sense of independent state; thus, it applies only to 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.
Many of the 19 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.[1] 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.[2][3][4] 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.[5] Andorra has a small army, and can
request defensive aid if necessary, while Iceland had a unique agreement with the
United States that lasted until 2006, which required them to provide defense to
Iceland when needed.[6][7]
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, Dominica, and Grenada, underwent a process of demilitarization.[8][9]
Other countries were formed without armed forces, such as Andorra over 700 years
ago;[7] 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."[10]

Japan is not included in this list because, while the country may officially have no
military according to its constitution, it does have the Japan Self-Defense Forces, a
military force only used for peacekeeping missions when deployed outside Japan.
Contents
[hide]
1 Countries without armed forces
2 See also
3 Notes
4 References
[edit] Countries without armed forces
List 1: Countries with absolutely no military forces.
Country

Comments
References
Andorra has no standing army but signed treaties
with Spain and France for its protection. Its small
[11][12]
Andorra
volunteer army is purely ceremonial in function. The
paramilitary GIPA (trained in counter-terrorism and
hostage management) is part of the national police.
The constitution has forbidden a standing military
since 1949. It does have a public security force,
whose role includes law enforcement and internal
[9][13]
Costa Rica 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.
Has not had a standing army since 1983 due to an
American-led invasion. The Royal Grenada Police
[8]
Grenada
Force maintains a paramilitary special service unit
for internal security purposes. Defense is the
responsibility of the Regional Security System.
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
[14][15][16]
Kiribati
Pacific class patrol boat, the Teanoai. Defense
assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand
under an informal agreement between the three
countries.
Abolished its army in 1868 because it was deemed
too costly. An army is only permitted in times of war,
Liechtenstei but that situation has never occurred. However,
[17]
n
country maintains a police force and a SWAT team,
equipped with small arms to carry out internal
security duties.
Marshall
[2]
Defense is the responsibility of the United States.
Islands
[3]
Federated
Defense is the responsibility of the United States.

States of
Micronesia

Maintains a small paramilitary police force.

Australia is responsible for Nauru's defense under an

informal agreement between the two countries.
Nauru
However, there is a relatively large armed police
force, and an auxiliary police force for internal
security.
Palau
Defense is the responsibility of the United States.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police maintain two small
paramilitary forces consisting of 116 men and
women, the Special Service Unit, and the Coast
Saint Lucia
Guard, both units are responsible for internal security.
Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security
System.
The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force maintain two small paramilitary forces
consisting of 94 men and women, called the Special
Saint
Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are
Vincent and the responsible for internal security purposes. All
Grenadines
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.
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
Samoa
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.
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,
Solomon
there is a relatively large police force, and a Maritime
Islands
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.
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
Tuvalu
Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small
arms, and maintains one Pacific class patrol boat, the
Te Mataili.
Vatican City Maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing.
The Swiss Guard is a unit belonging to the Holy See,
not the Vatican City State. There is no defense treaty

[18][19][20][21][22]

[4]

[8][23][24]

[8][25][26]

[27][28][29]

[30][31][32][33][34]

[35][36][37]

[38][39][40][41]

with Italy, as it would violate the Vatican's neutrality,

but informally the Italian military protects Vatican
City. The Palatine Guard and Noble Guard were
abolished in 1970.
List 2: Countries with no standing army, but having limited military forces.
Country

Comments
The Haitian military was disbanded in June 1995, but
rebels have demanded its reestablishment. The 9,000
strong Haitian National Police maintains some
paramilitary units and a Coast Guard; these units are
considered to be larger than what is required,
Haiti
considering the much smaller militarizes of some
neighboring countries. In April 2012, Haitian President
Michel Martelly demanded the reestablishment of the
Army, due to what he deems necessary for the stability
of Haiti.
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 US
announced it would continue to provide for Iceland's
defense, but without permanently basing forces in the
Icelan country; Naval Air Station Keflavik closed in late 2006
after 55 years. Even though Iceland does not have a
d
standing army, it still maintains a military
expeditionary peacekeeping force, an air defense
system, an extensive militarised coast guard, a police
service, and a tactical police force. There are also
agreements about military and other security
operations with Norway, Denmark, and other NATO
countries.
Mauritius has not has 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
Maurit
National Police Force is responsible for domestic law
ius
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.
Monac Renounced its general military investment in the 17th
century because the advancement in artillery
o
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

References

[42][43][44]

[6][45][46][47][48][49][50]

[51][52][53]

[1][54][55][56]

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.
Abolished its army in 1990, which was confirmed by a
unanimous parliamentary vote for constitutional
change in 1994. The Panamanian Public Forces,
Panam
includes the National Police, National Borders Service,
a
National Aeronaval Service, and Institutional
Protection Service, which have some warfare
capabilities.
The Vanuatu Police Force maintain a paramilitary
force, called the Vanuatu Mobile Force for internal
Vanuat
security purposes. The Vanuatu Mobile Force is
u
manned by almost 300 men and women, who are well
equipped with small arms.
[edit] See also
List of countries by military expenditures
List of countries by number of troops
[edit] Notes
1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[57][58][59]

[60][61][62]

^ a b "Monaco signs new treaty with france". Monaco Consulate. Archived from the
original on 2007-10-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20071021034944/http://www.monacoconsulate.com/news_1024.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b "Background Note: Marshall Islands". United States Department of State.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26551.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b "Inspection of Embassy Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia (ISP-I-02-09)".
United States Department of State. http://oig.state.gov/oig/lbry/isprpts/eap/11982.htm.
Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b "PALAU". Encyclopedia of the Nations.
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Palau.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ Hara, Kimie. "Micronesia and the Postwar Remaking of the Asia Pacific: "An
American Lake"". Japan Focus. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08.
http://web.archive.org/web/20080208105155/http://www.japanfocus.org/products/details/2493
. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
^ a b "Iceland Defense Force". Global Security.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/idf.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b "Andorra Defense Forces - 1990". CIA World Factbook. 1990.
http://www.theodora.com/wfb1990/andorra/andorra_military.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b c d "Treaty Establishing the Regional Security System (1996)". United States
Department of State. http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/70686.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ a b "Costa Rica". World Desk Reference.
http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/CR/defense.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ "Non-militarization". Demilitarization.
http://www.demilitarisation.org/Countrieswithoutarmy.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ CIA - The World Factbook
^ El Sometent | Tourism
^ El Espritu del 48. "Abolicin del Ejrcito".
http://www.elespiritudel48.org/docu/h013.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-09. (Spanish)
^ "Kiribati Defense Forces - 1991". CIA World Factbook.
http://www.theodora.com/wfb1991/kiribati/kiribati_military.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/kiribati

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.

^ http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opkiribatiassist/index.htm
^ "Background Note: Liechtenstein". United States Department of State.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/9403.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ "Nauru". The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/nr.html. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
^ Guns in Nauru: Facts, Figures and Firearm Law
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nr.html
^ http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/nauru.html
^ http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/nauru
^ http://www.rslpf.com/hist.htm
^ http://www.nationmaster.com/country/st-saint-lucia/mil-military
^ http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/namerica/stvincentgrenadines.html
^ http://www.security.gov.vc/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=42&Itemid=51
^ "Samoa". The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/ws.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1842.htm
^ http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/samoa
^ "Australian defence presence in solomon islands". Australian Government
Department of Defense. http://www.defence.gov.au/minister/NelsonMintpl.cfm?
CurrentId=5664. Retrieved 2008-02-27.[dead link]
^ The Solomons Islands 1998-2003, britains-smallwars.com/.
^ http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/solomon-islands
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bp.html
^ http://www.ramsi.org/
^ "Country Context". World Health Organization.
http://www.wpro.who.int/countries/tuv/. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Paclaw/Tuvalu/Police%20Act.pdf
^ http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Paclaw/Tuvalu/Police%20Act.pdf
^ "Vatican City". World Desk Reference.
http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/VA/defense.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.miwsr.com/2012/downloads/2012-008.pdf
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vt.html
^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Popes-Soldiers-Military-History/dp/0700617701
^ "Haiti". World Desk Reference.
http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/HT/defense.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=503312&Itemid=1
^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/01/haiti-soldiers-demandreinstatement-army
^ U.S. Department of State: Iceland
^ A press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
^ An English translation of the Norwegian-Icelandic MoU at the website of the
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
^ Norway Post: Norway and Iceland to sign defence agreement
^ Aftenposten: Norway to help defend Iceland
^ Danmarks Radio
^ "Background Note: Mauritius". United States Department of State.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2833.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ http://www.nationmaster.com/country/mp-mauritius/mil-military
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mp.html
^ http://www.pompiers.gouv.mc/321/wwwnew.nsf/1909!/x1Fr?OpenDocument&1Fr

55.

56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.

^
http://www.pompiers.gouv.mc/321/wwwnew.nsf/1909$/db4c6e6016593114c1257163004604b
2fr?OpenDocument&1Fr
^ http://www.palais.mc/monaco/palais-princier/francais/maison-souveraine/lacompagnie-des-carabiniers/la-compagnie-des-carabiniers-de-s-a-s-le-prince.70.html
^ "The Panama Defense Forces". Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+pa0104). Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pm.html
^ http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/panama/panama_military.html
^ Vanuatu | Freedom House
^ The Vanuatu Police Force
^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nh.html

[edit] References
Barbey, C. (2001). La non-militarisation et les pays sans arme : une ralit.
Switzerland: APRED.
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