List of countries without armed forces

This is a list of the 27 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, or an army alternative.

Country	Comments
	Defence of the country is the responsibility of France or Spain. Similar treaties with both, June 3, 1993.
	Defence is provided by New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands' government.
	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.
	No standing army since 1981, after the army attempted a coup. Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
	No standing army since 1983, after the American-led invasion. Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
	Disbanded on June, 1995, but rebels have demanded its re-establishment. The National Police maintains some military units.
	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 force, Coast Guard and an Armed Police unit.
	The only forces permitted are the police and the coast guard.
	Abolished their army in 1868 because it was too costly. Depends on Switzerland for defence. Army does not exist in times of peace.
	Has no army since its independence on 1965. Was invaded by mercenaries in 1988, and rescued by India. No known permanent defence treaty.
	Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
	A multicultural country without an army since 1968.
	Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
	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.
	Under an informal agreement, defence is the responsibility of Australia.
	Defence is provided by New Zealand.
	The only country with an anti-nuclear constitution. Defence is the responsibility of the United States.
	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.
	Maintains a ceremonial guard, a police and a border force.
	Has known a heavy ethnic conflict between 1998 and 2006, in which Australia and other Pacific countries finally intervened to restore peace and order. No standing army.
	Maintains a small defence force for internal purposes.
	Maintains a special service unit.
	Maintains a special service unit.
	No standing army. Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand.
	Has no army, but its police force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit.
	Has a small mobile military force.
	The largely ceremonial Swiss Guard acts as a security police force.

Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco and Palau have no say in defence matters and little say in international relations. Andorra can call for help. Iceland has a defence agreement with the USA. The Cook Islands and Niue both have a basic agreement with New Zealand that it should be responsible for their defence. 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, mostly because they were (some still are) under protection from a more powerful nation by the time they became independent. They are all said to be in a situation of "non-militarisation".

Reference

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

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Reference