Paramilitary is a military force that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934.
Paramilitaries use combat-capable kit/equipment (such as internal security/SWAT vehicles), or even actual military equipment (such as long guns and armored personnel carriers; usually military surplus resources), skills (such as battlefield medicine and bomb disposal), and tactics (such as urban warfare and close-quarters combat) that are compatible with their purpose, often combining them with skills from other relevant fields such as law enforcement, coast guard, or search and rescue. A paramilitary may fall under the command of a military, train alongside them, or have permission to use their resources, despite not actually being part of them.
List of governmental paramilitary organizations
Africa
Egypt Central Security Forces
Libya (Libyan House of Representatives) Avengers of Blood
Mauritius Special Mobile Force
Nigeria Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Safety and Traffic Cadet Corps Federal Fire Service Nigeria Correctional Service Nigeria Customs Service National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Department of State Services
Sudan Janjaweed (~197x - 2020 but continues in successors units) Rapid Support Forces (2013 partially Janjaweed successor till 2023) Popular Defence Forces
Somaliland SSB
Americas
Canada Canadian Rangers The Emergency Response Team (RCMP) Marine Emergency Response Team
Costa Rica
The Public Force of Costa Rica is responsible for law enforcement duties, acting as both a civilian police force and gendarmerie. In addition to ordinary policing, it is responsible for border patrol, counter-insurgency, riot control, tourism security, and coast guard duties.
Peru The Rondas campesinas are community-based groups in Peru, formed initially to combat cattle rustling and later in response to the Shining Path insurgency. They function primarily as local self-defense and law enforcement entities, especially in rural areas with limited government presence.
United States CIA Special Activities Center, Special Operations Group DOE Federal Protective Forces DOE Office of Secure Transportation FBI SWAT FBI Hostage Rescue Team United States Marshals Service National Lancers SWAT ICE USSS (United States Secret Service)
Venezuela Venezuelan National Guard Bolivarian Militia of Venezuela
Asia
Bangladesh Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Bangladesh Ansar 12 February 1948 Gendarmerie Largest paramilitary force in the world 6.4 million Border Guard Bangladesh 29 June 1792 (As Ramgarh Local Battalion) Border surveillance and internal security personnel 70,000Bangladesh Coast Guard 14 February 1995Marine border and security personnel 3,339Bangladesh National Cadet Corps 23 March 1979Volunteer reserveProvides Basic Military training to students from schools, colleges and universities. 23,968Official website
China (People's Republic of China)
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) People's Armed Police 19 June 1982 Gendarmerie 1.5 million Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps 1954 State-owned enterpriseParamilitary organisation unknown, officially 2.6 million employees Militia of China 1927 Militia for general national defense mobilization 8,000,000 Maritime Militia of China 1949-1950 Naval militia Unknown.
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) National Police Agency 5 July 1972 Law enforcement agency Thunder Squad 1985 Localized Police tactical unit 200 Special Operations Group Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit
Hong Kong
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s)Civil Aid Service 1952 Emergency Response/Search and Rescue Civil Agency 112 full time; 3,634 adult members and 3,232 cadet membersGovernment Flying Service 1993 Paramilitary Law Enforcement related Air support services 335Hong Kong Police Force Police forceFor subdivisions, see Structure of the Hong Kong Police Force. Disciplined officers: 33,210 (2023)Auxiliary officers: 4,501 (2021), Unsworn: 4,735 (2023)Special Duties Unit23 July 1974Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit Over 120Counter Terrorism Response Unit July 2009Anti-terrorism patrol-type Police tactical unit 141
India
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Assam Rifles 1835Border Guarding and law enforcement forceIndo-Myanmmar Border and Internal security 65,678 CRPF27 July 1937A central police force whose job is to assist state government, police or other agencies at time of their needsInternal security 313,678ITBP1962Border Guarding and Law enforcement force which operates on the Indo - Chinese bordersBorder guarding and Himmalyan security 89,432Sashastra Seema Bal20 December 1963Border guarding force of India deployed along its borders with Nepal and BhutanBorder guarding 94,261BSF1 December 1965Largest border guarding force anywhere in the worldIndo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders290,000CISF10 March 1969Guard Sensitive National AssetsInternal protection and security 190,000NSG16 October 1984Counter-terrorism force This force recruits its personnel from the police, paramilitary and Army from all around the India with the maximum service tenure of five years.10,000
Indonesia Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Detachment 88 Police tactical unit 1,300 Mobile Brigade Corps Police tactical unit 34,250 International Business Publications USA, US-Indonesia Diplomatic and Political Relations Handbook, 2008
Japan
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) National Police Agency Law enforcement agency 7,995 (2020)行政機関職員定員令(昭和44年5月16日政令第121号)(最終改正、令和2年3月30日政令第75号) - e-Gov法令検索 Special Assault Team 1977 Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit Approx. 300
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) People's Border Guards Border surveillance and internal security personnel Worker-Peasant Red Guards January 1959 Paramilitary militia 5 million
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) National Police Agency 1 August 1991 Law enforcement agency 126,227 Special Operations Unit Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit
Malaysia Pasukan Gerakan Am as Paramilitary Force People's Volunteer Corps of Ministry of Home Affairs 69 Komando PGK as Multi Spectrum Special Force
Nepal Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Armed Police Force 24 October 2001 Counter-insurgency Specialised Police Force 35,000
Pakistan
Civil Armed Forces- (Under the Federal Ministry of interior during Peace time but falls under the Ministry of Defense during war time. Led by officers from the Pakistani Military) Pakistan Rangers (Punjab and Sindh) Frontier Corps (Kpk and Balochistan) Gilgit Baltistan Scouts Paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Defense Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Pakistan Coast Guard Defense Security Force Pakistan National Guard – Mujahid Force and Janbaaz Force Federal Law Enforcement Agencies (solely under the federal ministry of Interior and led by the officers of the Police Service of Pakistan): Frontier Constabulary Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Narcotics Force Airports Security Force National Highways & Motorway Police Pakistan Railways Police
Philippines Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit 25 July 1987 Auxiliary unit 60,000 (2007) Special Action Force
Sri Lanka Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s)Special Task Force1983Elite Paramilitary – Special Operations Forces8000(approx)
Thailand Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Border Patrol PoliceMarine Paramilitary Task ForceParamilitary Marine Regiment, Royal Thai NavyAlso known as Thahan Phran MarinesThahan PhranAlso known as Thai RangersVillage ScoutsVolunteer Defense Corps10 February 1954Security ForcesUnknown
Vietnam Vietnam Militia and Self-Defence Force
Europe Albania RENEA
Estonia Estonian Defence League
Finland Border Guard Police Rapid Response Unit
France Action Division of DGSE National Gendarmerie Marseille Naval Fire Battalion of the French Navy Paris Fire Brigade of the French Army
Georgia Mkhedrioni Monadire
Italy Name Active Since Type Comments Size Ref(s) Arma dei Carabinieri 13 July 1814 Gendarmerie 110.000 (2023) Guardia di Finanza 1 October 1774 Gendarmerie 68.000 (2015)
Lithuania Lithuanian Riflemen's Union State Border Guard Service Public Security Service
Netherlands Special Intervention Service
Poland BOA KGP
Portugal Guarda Nacional Republicana (National Republican Guard)
Russia Paramilitary security in Russia Registered Cossacks of the Russian Federation Kadyrovtsy Fakel (allegedly) Wagner Group (since 2023) Redut (since 2022) Africa Corps
Turkey Village Guards
Ukraine Noman Çelebicihan Battalion Freedom of Russia Legion Sheikh Mansur Battalion (since 2022)
United Kingdom The London Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Command CO19. The London Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command - SO15. The London Metropolitan Police Aviation Security Operational Command Unit - SO18.
Middle East
Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Basij
Iraq Peshmerga Popular Mobilization Forces
Israel Magav
Syria National Defence Forces
Oceania
Australia Australian Border Force
List of private paramilitary organizations
Africa
Somalia Raskamboni Front Sudan Rapid Support Forces (since 2023)
Americas
Colombia AUC AAA CONVIVIR Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá (ACCU) Los Paisas Black Eagles Los Rastrojos Libertadores del Vichada Bloque Meta ERPAC
See also Right-wing paramilitarism in Colombia.
Mexico Zapatista Army of National Liberation Popular Revolutionary Army
United States
3 Percenters Arizona Border Recon Hutaree Idaho Light Foot Militia Michigan Militia Militia of Montana Missouri Citizens Militia New York Light Foot Militia Oath Keepers Ohio Defense Force Texas Light Foot Militia Fruit of Islam, paramilitary wing of the Nation of Islam The Sea Organization, more commonly known as the Sea Org, paramilitary wing of the Church of Scientology. The Sea Org is not exclusively located in the United States.
Asia
Cambodia Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) (Cholana Kangtoap Serei Cheat Kampouchea): Rebel group in Cambodia Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia
India
Hindutva
Abhinav Bharat Hindu Munnani Hindu Sena Hindu Yuva Vahini Ranvir Sena Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sri Ram Sena
Islamism
Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent Darsgah-Jihad-O-Shahadat Indian Mujahideen Islamic State – Hind Province Popular Front of India Students' Islamic Movement of India
Khalistan
Babbar Khalsa Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan Dashmesh Regiment International Sikh Youth Federation Khalistan Commando Force Khalistan Liberation Force Khalistan Tiger Force Khalistan Zindabad Force
Northeast India
United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia
Kamtapur Liberation Organisation United Liberation Front of Asom Kangleipak Communist Party Kuki National Army Kuki National Front Maoist Communist Party of Manipur People's Liberation Army of Manipur United National Liberation Front
Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council
National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Naxalite–Maoist
Communist Party of India (Maoist) People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (India) People's Liberation Front of India Tritiya Prastuti Committee
Indonesia Pancasila Youth Free Aceh Movement: Regional separatist group in Aceh, Indonesia. Also known as Aceh Security Disturbance Movement.
Malaysia