List of sovereign states without armed forces

This is a list of the 25 countries that do not maintain any armed forces. The term "country" is used in the sense of independent state; thus, it applies only to sovereign states and not dependencies whose defence is the responsibility of another country.

Country	Comments
Template:Country data flagcountry	Defense of the country is the responsibility of France or Spain. Similar treaties with both, June 3, 1993.
Template:Country data flagcountry	The constitution forbids a standing military in times of peace since 1949. Seat of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Seat of the United Nations University of Peace.
Template:Country data flagcountry	No standing army since 1981, after the army attempted a coup.
Template:Country data flagcountry	No standing army since 1983, after the American-led invasion.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Disbanded on June, 1995, but rebels have demanded its re-establishment. The National Police maintains some military units.
Template:Country data flagcountry	No standing army, but is a member of NATO. There is a defence agreement with the U.S., which maintains, along with other NATO countries, a base in the country. Maintains an expeditionary Peacekeeping army.
Template:Country data flagcountry	The only forces permitted are the police and the coast guard.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Abolished their army in 1868 because it was too costly. Depends on Switzerland for defence. Army does not exist in times of peace.
Template:Country data flagcountry	. Have no army since its independence on 1965. Was invaded by mercenaries in 1988, and rescued by India. No known permanent defence treaty.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
Template:Country data flagcountry	A multicultural country without an army.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Renounced its military investment in the 17th century because the expansion of ranges of artillery had rendered it defenceless. Defence is the responsibility of France.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Under an informal agreement, defence is the responsibility of Australia.
Template:Country data flagcountry	The only country with an anti-nuclear constitution. Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Abolished their army in 1990, confirmed by a parliamentary unanimous vote for constitutional change in 1994. Some units within the Public Force (Police, Coast Guard, Air Service and Institutional Security) have limited warfare capabilities.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Maintains a ceremonial guard, a police and a border force.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Has known a heavy ethnic conflict between 1998 and 2001, in which Australia and other Pacific countries finally intervened to restore peace and order. No standing army.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Maintains a small defence force for internal purposes.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Maintains a special service unit.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Maintains a special service unit.
Template:Country data flagcountry	No standing army. Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Has no army, but its police force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit.
Template:Country data flagcountry	Has a small mobile military force.
Template:Country data flagcountry	The ceremonial Swiss Guard acts as a security police force.

Countries without an army

Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco and Palau have no say in defence matters and little say in international relations. Niue and the Cooks islands have cooperative agreements. Andorra can call for help. Iceland has a defence agreement. All the others (19 countries) stand fully responsible and independent, without an army, for defence matters.

Seven of them (Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Panama) went through a process of demilitarisation. All the 20 others, including Andorra 700 years ago, were born without an army. They are all said to be in a situation of "non-militarisation".

See also

• List of countries by military expenditures
• List of countries by number of active troops
• List of countries by size of armed forces

Reference

• C. Barbey, "La non-militarisation et les pays sans armée : une réalité", APRED, Switzerland, 2001. APRED