Burmese Defense Service (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay); People's Militia; Border Guard Forces; Ministry of Home Affairs: People's Police Force (2021)
note: the Burmese military controls the People's Militia, Border Guard Forces, and the Ministry of Home Affairs
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces (2021)
Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency (2019)
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies widely; approximately 400,000 total active troops (est. 360,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force) (2021)
information is limited and estimates for the size of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4000 Air Force) (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Burmese military inventory is comprised mostly of older Chinese and Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a smaller mix of more modern acquisitions; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military hardware; Burma has a limited defense industry, including a growing shipbuilding capability (2020)
the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos (2020)
