The four cases where the difference is largest.
| Country | Authorised | Actually serving | Shortfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 1,535,000 (decree, Aug 2026) | ~1,134,000 | ~400,000 |
| India | 1,495,645 sanctioned | 1,376,729 | 118,916 (8%) |
| Japan | 247,154 | 217,701 | 29,453 (12%) |
| United States | 1,302,800 (FY2026 NDAA) | 1,285,084 | 17,716 (1.4%) |
Russia has raised its authorised end strength six times since 2022. Japan filled just 72% of its recruiting target in FY2025.