Countries with No Army
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Countries with No Army — Daily trivia Wednesday, May 20, 2026: questions and answers
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Q 01Which microstate is guarded by the Pontifical Swiss Guard rather than a conventional army?
- ASan Marino
- BVatican City
- CLiechtenstein
- DMonaco
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Vatican City
Vatican City does not maintain a military in the conventional sense. Instead, it operates the Pontifical Swiss Guard for the Pope's protection and ceremonial duties, and the Gendarmerie Corps for state policing. Italy handles the overall defense of Vatican City.
Q 02Which Central American nation abolished its army in its 1949 constitution?
- ABelize
- BHonduras
- CCosta Rica
- DPanama
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Costa Rica
Costa Rica abolished its army after a civil war in 1948, solidifying this decision in its 1949 constitution. This move allowed the country to reallocate significant resources towards social programs like education and healthcare.
Q 03Which of these old republics keeps only a small ceremonial military corps and relies on a neighbour for defence?
- AAndorra
- BSan Marino
- CLiechtenstein
- DMonaco
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San Marino
San Marino, one of the world's oldest republics, has no standing army but maintains a small ceremonial military corps and relies on Italy for defense.
Q 04Which country abolished its army in 1990, after the U.S. invasion that toppled Noriega, and enshrined the ban in 1994?
- AHonduras
- BPanama
- CEl Salvador
- DNicaragua
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Panama
Panama's Defense Forces were dismantled after the December 1989 invasion, and the constitution now bars a standing army. Security falls to the National Police, a border service and an aeronaval service, some of which keep light military capabilities.
Q 05Despite being a founding member of NATO, which Nordic island nation does not maintain a standing army?
- ADenmark
- BNorway
- CIceland
- DFinland
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Iceland
Iceland has not had a standing army since 1869, making it unique as the only NATO member without one. Its defense is supported through its NATO membership and a bilateral defense agreement with the United States, alongside its Coast Guard and national police.
Q 06Which country handles the defence of the tiny Pacific republic of Nauru under an informal agreement?
- AAustralia
- BJapan
- CUnited States
- DNew Zealand
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Australia
Nauru, the third-smallest country in the world, keeps only a civilian-controlled police force; Australia handles its defence under an informal understanding between the two governments.
Q 07What kind of body handles security for Mauritius, which has had no standing army since 1968?
- AA national guard
- BA ceremonial guard
- CA foreign legion
- DA paramilitary police force
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A paramilitary police force
Mauritius has no standing army and instead maintains a paramilitary police force, known as the Special Mobile Force (SMF), for its security needs.
Q 08In what year did Grenada disband its military, following a U.S.-led intervention?
- A1979
- B2000
- C1991
- D1983
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1983
Grenada's People's Revolutionary Army was dismantled in the wake of the October 1983 U.S.-led invasion. Defence now falls to the Royal Grenada Police Force and Coast Guard, with regional backup from the Regional Security System.
Q 09Which Caribbean island nation disbanded its defense force in 1981 following two violent coup attempts?
- ADominica
- BAntigua and Barbuda
- CBarbados
- DSaint Lucia
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Dominica
Dominica has not had a standing army since 1981, following the disbandment of its defense forces after two violent coup attempts against then-Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles. Its defense is now the responsibility of the Regional Security System (RSS).
Q 10Which country sent 80 men to the 1866 Austro-Prussian War and famously returned with 81?
- ALiechtenstein
- BSan Marino
- CAndorra
- DMonaco
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Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein's 80 men were sent to guard the Austrian border and saw no fighting. Legend says 81 came back — accounts differ on whether the extra man was an Austrian liaison officer or an Italian farmer. The army was disbanded in 1868.
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