This list of highest military decorations is an index to articles that describe the highest military decoration awarded by each country in the world.

Note that some countries do not have separate civilian and military awards systems, and as such some countries' highest military awards may also be civilian awards.

CountryImageNameDate first awardedNumber awardedNotes
ArgentinaCross to the Heroic Valour in Combat18Last awarded in 1982
ArmeniaFatherland ArmeniaNational Hero of Armenia28 July 199427The highest title in Armenia is National Hero of Armenia, which is awarded alongside an Order of Fatherland and may also be conferred on members of the military.
1st degree combat cross Arm.Order of the Combat CrossEstablished 22 April 1994Awarded for absolute courage, selflessness and skill in defending the Fatherland. It is divided into First and Second degrees.
AustraliaThe Victoria Cross for Australia16 January 2009[1]5Replaced The Victoria Cross
AustriaThe Military Merit Decoration
AzerbaijanGold Star medal of AzerbaijanNational Hero of Azerbaijan7 June 1992Highest national title of Azerbaijan, conferred alongside the Qizil Ulduz ("Gold Star") Medal. Awarded for outstanding services of national importance to Azerbaijan in defence and strengthening of the state system and creation of important national values.
Şah İsmayıl ordeniShah Ismail OrderEstablished 6 December 1993Highest military award of Azerbaijan
BangladeshBir Sreshtho15 December 1973 7
BelarusMedal Hero of BelarusHero of Belarus21 November 199613Highest title that can be awarded to a citizen of Belarus. Can be conferred for military or civilian service.
Orden Voinskoy SlavyOrder of Military GloryEstablished 13 April 1995The highest order of Belarus is the Order of the Fatherland which may also be awarded for military service. There is also a separate Medal for Bravery.
BelgiumMilitary Decoration for gallantry or exceptional devotion22 December 1873
BotswanaConduct Valour Cross (CVC)Established 1979
Brazil
Order of Military Merit1934820
Bulgaria
Order of BraveryEstablished 1 January 1880
CanadaThe Victoria Cross of CanadaEstablished 2 February 19930Replaced the Victoria Cross
ChinaOrder of August First12 June 201710
ColombiaOrder of San Mateo
CroatiaOrder of Duke DomagojOrder of Duke Domagoj1995566[nb 1]
551[nb 2]		Established in 1995, this is Croatia's highest award for bravery and the 8th highest national medal.
CubaHero of the Republic of CubaHero of the Republic of Cuba1980This honorary title is the highest decoration awarded by the Republic of Cuba, conferred for civilian and military merit in productive labour, defence of the interests of the working class, and contributions to proletarian internationalism.
Orden cubana de Cienfuegos (cropped)Order Camilo CienfuegosEstablished 1979Awarded to members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, and to the military of "friendly countries".
Czech RepublicCzechMedalOfHonorMedal of HeroismEstablished 1990Created by the Parliament of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic in 1990, and awarded once before its re-authorization by the Czech Republic in 1992. May also be awarded to civilians.
DenmarkThe Valour Cross18 November 2011[2]1
EgyptOrder of the Sinai Star medalOrder of the Sinai StarEstablished 1972200
EstoniaThe Cross of Liberty24 February 19193,156None has been awarded since 1925
FinlandMannerheimkruis der Eerste en Tweede KlasseMannerheim Cross22 July 1941197[nb 1]
191[nb 2]		Still active de jure, although none awarded since 1945. Last living recipient died November 2020.
FranceThe Legion of Honour15 July 1804Conferred in five classes for military or civilian merit.
GermanyThe Cross of Honour for Valour6 July 200928
GeorgiaNational Hero of Georgia PS work 1Order of National HeroEstablished 24 June 2004Highest national order of Georgia, awarded alongside the title of National Hero. It is conferred on both civilians and military personnel. The St. George's Victory Order was established in the same year and is awarded for contributions to victorious battles and general significant victories for Georgia. Before 2004 the Order of David IV the Builder was the highest military and civilian order.
GEO Vakhtang Gorgasal Order 1rank BARVakhtang Gorgasali Order (1st Class)Established 1992The highest purely military decoration of Georgia. It is divided into three degrees. The Military Courage Medal is awarded for heroic and daring actions while carrying out military duties.
GreeceMedal for Gallantry The Medal for Gallantry formally replaced the Cross of Valour as the top military award in 1974, but it has never been conferred.
Cross of Valour1913
HungaryOrder of Saint Stephen of Hungary1764-1918, 1938–1946, 2011-
India
Param Vir Chakra3 November 194721Highest wartime military decoration.

Ashoka Chakra195286Highest peacetime military decoration.
IranZulfaqar MedalZolfagharEstablished 1856, renamed 1925Revived in 2019 when Major General Qasem Soleimani received the decoration, the first time it had been awarded since 1979.[3]
IrelandIRE Military Medal for Gallantry with Honour ribbon barMilitary Medal for GallantryEstablished 1944
IsraelMedal of Valor19 January 194840[4]Replacement for the Hero of Israel.
None has been awarded since 1975.[4]
ItalyGold Medal of Military Valour21 May 1793
LatviaViestura ordenisOrder of ViestursEstablished 11 August 1938,
discontinued 1940,
re-established 2004		Established in 1938 but discontinued after the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940. It was re-established in 2004. It is also awarded to civilians, in which case the ribbon is without swords.
LithuaniaCross of VytisOrder of the Cross of VytisEstablished 30 July 1919,
discontinued 1940,
re-established 15 January 1991		Presidential award conferred for heroic defence of Lithuania's freedom and independence. It was established in 1919 but discontinued after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940, until it was re-established upon independence in 1991. It is also awarded to civilians.
LuxembourgMilitary Medal3 August 1945[5]
MalaysiaGrand Knight of ValourEstablished 29 July 196030The Grand Knight of Valour (Malay: Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa)[6][7][8] is the highest federal award which can be presented in Malaysia. It was created on 29 July 1960 and was gazetted on 11 August 1960. The award is the highest ranking in the list of the Malaysian Federal Ranking of Awards, and is ranked higher than the Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia (D.K.M.) awarded to Malaysian Royalty.|
MexicoDecoration for Heroic Valor
MongoliaMN Order Sukhe BatorOrder of SukhbaatarEstablished 16 May 1941
MoroccoOuissam Alaouite Grand Cordon Extraordinary grade AEA CollectionsOrder of Ouissam AlaouiteEstablished 11 January 1913
MyanmarAung San Thiriya, 1st Class19486
NamibiaNamibian Cross for Bravery: GoldThe Order of the Mukorob is also presented by the President of Namibia for meritorious military service.
NetherlandsMilitary William Order30 April 18155,875
New ZealandThe Victoria Cross for New Zealand26 July 2007[9]1Replaced The Victoria Cross.
North KoreaHero of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaHero of the RepublicEstablished 30 June 19506116Honorific title, originally created as Hero of the Korean People's Republic. Awarded for extreme heroic exploits during war. The recipient is also awarded with the Order of the National Flag 1st Class, which was the highest order until the Order of Kim Il-sung was created in 1972.
Soldier's Medal of Honour (first class)Established 1 July 1950Awarded for acts of individual gallantry in combat.[10][11]
NorwayThe War Cross with Sword28 November 1941285A new sword is awarded each time a person, who already has the War Cross, distinguishes him- or herself in battle.[12]
Pakistan Nishan-e-Haider (Left) Hilal-e-Kashmir (Right)16 March 195711On 30 November 1995, the Government of Pakistan initiated the gazette notification to declare its Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider.

All awards have been made posthumously.

PeruOrder of the Sun RibbonOrder of the Sun of PeruEstablished 8 October 1821,
discontinued 1825,
re-established 1921		Also the highest civilian award of Peru.
PhilippinesPhilippine Medal of Valor ribbonMedal of Valor15 November 193541
PolandOrder of Virtuti Militari22 June 1792Conferred in five classes. A wartime-only award.
Portugal
Order of the Tower and Sword1459The Order of the Tower and Sword, as awarded by the Portuguese government today, comes in six classes
RomaniaOrder of Michael the BraveInstated 26 September 1916
Disbanded 1948
Reinstated 23 July 2000		2,184None has been awarded since 1944.
RussiaHero of the Russian FederationHonorific title for service to the Russian state and nation, usually connected with a heroic feat of valor; precedes all other Russian military and civil orders and medals.
Order of St. George26 November 1769 (O. S.), revived on 20 March 1992Highest military decoration of the Russian Federation.
SenegalCross of Military Valor (Senegal) - ribbon barCross of Military ValorEstablished 1 February 1968
SerbiaOrden Karađorđeve zvezde prvog stepenaOrder of Karađorđe's StarEstablished 1 January 1904Originated in the Kingdom of Serbia and later awarded by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It continued to be awarded by the Yugoslav government-in-exile but was suppressed by the communist government of Yugoslavia, during which time the Order of Freedom was the highest military decoration. It was reinstated by the Republic of Serbia in 2010 as a military and civilian decoration, and also continues to be awarded as a dynastic order by the former royal family.
SingaporeBintang Temasek ribbon (from 1996)Bintang TemasekEstablished 24 July 1970Singapore's highest national honour, awarded only to members of the Armed Forces, Police Force, and Civil Defence Force. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters BT.
SomaliaOrder of the Somali Star12 February 1961Highest distinction award for military gallantry of Somalia.
South AfricaRibbon - Nkwe ya GautaNkwe ya Gauta - Golden LeopardEstablished 2003Introduced to replace the Honoris Crux Gold. The bilingual title is in Sesotho and English.
South KoreaTaeguk Cordon MedalOrder of Military Merit (Taegeuk class)
SpainLaureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand1 January 1812336
Sri LankaParama veera vibhushanayaParama Weera Vibhushanaya199131Established in 1981. Recipients can use the post-nominal letters PWV.
SwedenSvardsordenOrder of the Sword1748Dormant between 1975 and February 2023, when it was re-introduced. During this time the Medal of Merit was the highest decoration awarded for action during combat.
SwitzerlandCHE CdA decorationAward Ribbon for Exceptional ServiceSwiss law has prohibited citizens from accepting honours and titles since 1848; however, the Swiss military maintains a system of awards. Length of service decorations precede the exceptional service ribbon in the order of wear.
Taiwan (Republic of China)The Order of National Glory Awarded to Chiang Kai-ShekOrder of National GloryEstablished 8 November 1937
TanzaniaMedal for Bravery (Tanzania) - ribbon barMedal for Bravery
ThailandOrder of RamaEstablished 22 July 1918Conferred in six classes for military merit.
TurkeyTURKISH ARMED FORCES MEDAL OF HONOURMedal of Honor1967
UgandaOrder of Katonga (Uganda) - ribbon barOrder of Katonga20042Awarded only twice; first to Muammar Gaddafi in 2004, and posthumously to Julius Nyerere in 2007.
UkraineGold star116Hero of Ukraine26 November 1998692Highest national title that can be conferred by the President of Ukraine, granted to recipients of the civilian Order of the State and the military Order of the Gold Star
Medal of Golden Star UkraineOrder of the Gold StarHighest military order of Ukraine, awarded alongside the honorary title Hero of Ukraine.
United KingdomThe Victoria Cross26 June 1857[13]1357[nb 1]
1354[nb 2]
Order of the Bath18 May 1725Second highest national order of the United Kingdom. It is conferred on both civilians and military personnel, with different insignia (Military illustrated).
United StatesMedal of Honor26 March 18633468[nb 1][14]
3449[nb 2]		Different types from each of the branches of the US military.

In the image, from left to right: The Army, the Coast Guard/Navy/Marine Corps, and the Air Force.

UruguayMedalla al Merito Militar OficialMedal of Military MeritEstablished 1991Introduced to replace the Order of Military Merit of the Companions of Artigas, which was discontinued in 1985.
VietnamAHLLVTND2Hero of the People's Armed ForcesEstablished 1955State Honourable Title awarded for outstanding achievements in combat, combat service, preservation of security, social order and safety, loyalty to the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam and possession of revolutionary virtues and qualities.
HCQC1The Military Exploit Order15 May 1947Highest military Order, awarded to individuals who have recorded outstanding and brave exploits in combat, combat service, training, force building, consolidation of the all-people defense and people's security, or have sacrificed their lives heroically, setting bright examples in the whole country.
ZimbabweThe Gold Cross of ZimbabweEstablished October 19803Replaced the Grand Cross of Valour

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Total medals awarded.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Total recipients of the medal.

References

  1. ↑ "Australian SAS soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross". The Australian. News Limited. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  2. ↑ "Dronningen overrækker nyt Tapperhedskors til hjemvendt soldat". Forsvaret.dk. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
  3. ↑ "General Soleimani receives Iran's highest Medal of Honor". Tehran Times. March 11, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Shoval, Lilach. "'Heroes' from Independence War mostly gone, but not forgotten". israelhayom.com. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Actualités - Lëtzebuerger Arméi" (in French). Army.lu. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  6. ↑ Shanmugam, Narendran Indi (31 July 2010). "Grand Knight of Valour". Philatelynews.com. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Grand Knight of Valour". Pos.com.my. 31 July 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Stamp Gallery 2010". Pos.com.my. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  9. ↑ "Willie Apiata receives his VC". The New Zealand Herald. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  10. ↑ Vreeland, Nena (1976). Area Handbook for North Korea. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 327.
  11. ↑ Weiser, Martin (8 January 2016). "Chests Full of Brass: A DPRK Political History in Orders, Medals, Prizes, and Titles". Sino-NK. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Direktiv for bruk og bæring av dekorasjoner, ordener og medaljer i Forsvaret Archived 2013-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". Forsvaret.no. Retrieved 2013-08-16
  13. ↑ Herold, Stephen. "The First Presentation of the Victoria Cross". www.antiquesatoz.com. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Medal of Honor Statistics". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
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