Top 22 countries without a standing army: who defends them

Most countries that want to preserve their independence and sovereignty rely on national defense. However, not every country in the world today (the United Nations recognizes 192 countries) has a standing army or armed forces.

Countries that do not have armies have one thing in common: they do not have conflicts or wars because they are supported and sponsored by the most powerful countries and organizations in the world. This is because the independence and territorial integrity of these countries are often questioned, writes KnowInsider.

22 countries that do not have their own army:

1. Andorra
2. Aruba
3. Cayman Islands
4. Costa Rica
5. Grenada
6. Greenland
7. Iceland
8. Kiribati
9. Liechtenstein
10. Marshall Islands
11. Mauritius
12. Monaco
13. Nauru
14. Niue
15. Palau
16. Panama
17. Samoa
18. San Marino
19. Solomon Islands
20. Tuvalu
21. Vanuatu
22. Vatican City.

Who defends them

Some countries broke away from larger countries and became so small and resource-poor that they did not need formal military force. Other countries have arrangements with neighboring militaries to provide assistance when needed.

Often, these countries are simply autonomous parts of larger players on the political map, and are protected by the armed forces of the countries with which they are aligned.