List of highest military decorations by country

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.

Country Image Name Date first awardedNumber awardedNotesArgentina Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat18Last awarded in 1982Armenia National 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.Order of the Combat CrossEstablished 22 April 1994 Awarded for absolute courage, selflessness and skill in defending the Fatherland. It is divided into First and Second degrees.AustraliaThe Victoria Cross for Australia16 January 20095Replaced The Victoria CrossAustriaThe Military Merit DecorationAzerbaijan National Hero of Azerbaijan7 June 1992 Highest 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.Shah Ismail OrderEstablished 6 December 1993Highest military award of AzerbaijanBangladesh Bir Sreshtho 15 December 1973 7 Belarus Hero of Belarus21 November 199613Highest title that can be awarded to a citizen of Belarus. Can be conferred for military or civilian service.Order of Military GloryEstablished 13 April 1995 The 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.Belgium Military Decoration for gallantry or exceptional devotion 22 December 1873Botswana Conduct Valour Cross (CVC)Established 1979 Brazil Order of Military Merit 1934 820 Bulgaria Order of Bravery Established 1 January 1880 Canada The Victoria Cross of Canada Established 2 February 1993 0 Replaced the Victoria CrossChina Order of August First12 June 201710Colombia Order of San Mateo Croatia Order of Duke Domagoj1995566551Established in 1995, this is Croatia's highest award for bravery and the 8th highest national medal.Cuba Hero of the Republic of Cuba1980 This 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.Order Camilo CienfuegosEstablished 1979 Awarded to members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, and to the military of "friendly countries".Czech Republic Medal of Heroism Established 1990 Created 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.Denmark The Valour Cross18 November 20111Egypt Order of the Sinai StarEstablished 1972200Estonia The Cross of Liberty 24 February 19193,156None has been awarded since 1925Finland Mannerheim Cross22 July 1941197191Highest gallantry award of Finland and the most distinguished military award, however next in official precedence to the Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty. Awarded in two classes.Still active de jure, although none have been awarded since 1945. Last living recipient died in November 2020.Order of the Cross of LibertyEstablished 4 March 1918Highest military order of Finland, with its Grand Cross as its highest decoration; Mannerheim Cross is also awarded by the Order of the Cross of Liberty.France The Legion of Honour 15 July 1804 Conferred in five classes for military or civilian merit.Germany The Cross of Honour for Valour 6 July 200928Georgia Order of National HeroEstablished 24 June 2004 Highest 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.Vakhtang Gorgasali Order (1st Class)Established 1992 The 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.Greece Medal 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 Valour1913Hungary Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary 1764-1918, 1938–1946, 2011- India Param Vir Chakra3 November 194721Highest wartime military decoration.Ashoka Chakra195286Highest peacetime military decoration.Iran Zolfaghar Established 1856, renamed 1925 Revived in 2019 when Major General Qasem Soleimani received the decoration, the first time it had been awarded since 1979.Ireland Military Medal for GallantryEstablished 1944 Israel Medal of Valor 19 January 194840Replacement for the Hero of Israel.None has been awarded since 1975.ItalyGrand Cross of the Military Order of Italy14 August 1815 The highest italian military order. Initially intended as an award for distinguished command actions in wartime, it was soon extended to reward also non-wartime, non-combat related merits of high-ranking officers. Gold Medal of Military Valour21 May 17932606including 6 double and one triple awards to individuals, 24 double and one triple awards to military unit and 2 double awards to citiesThe highest italian military medal awarded for battlefield acts of valour. It can be awarded individually or as a collective award "to the flag" of a deserving military unit.Latvia Order 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.Lithuania Order 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.Luxembourg Military Medal3 August 1945Malaysia Grand Knight of ValourEstablished 29 July 196030Mexico Decoration for Heroic Valor Mongolia Order of SukhbaatarEstablished 16 May 1941 Morocco Order of Ouissam AlaouiteEstablished 11 January 1913 Myanmar Aung San Thiriya, 1st Class19486Namibia Namibian Cross for Bravery: Gold The Order of the Mukorob is also presented by the President of Namibia for meritorious military service.Netherlands Military William Order30 April 18155,875New ZealandThe Victoria Cross for New Zealand26 July 20071Replaced The Victoria Cross.North Korea Hero 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 1950 Awarded for acts of individual gallantry in combat.Norway The 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."Direktiv for bruk og bæring av dekorasjoner, ordener og medaljer i Forsvaret ". Forsvaret.no. Retrieved 2013-08-16 Oman Military Order of Oman1970 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.Peru Order of the Sun of Peru Established 8 October 1821, discontinued 1825, re-established 1921 Also the highest civilian award of Peru.Philippines Medal of Valor 15 November 1935 41 Poland Order of Virtuti Militari22 June 1792 Conferred in five classes. A wartime-only award.Portugal Order of the Tower and Sword 1459 The Order of the Tower and Sword, as awarded by the Portuguese government today, comes in six classesRomania Order of Michael the Brave Instated 26 September 1916 Disbanded 1948 Reinstated 23 July 20002,184None has been awarded since 1944.Russia Hero of the Russian Federation Honorific 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. George 26 November 1769 (O. S.), revived on 20 March 1992 Highest military decoration of the Russian Federation.Senegal Cross of Military Valor Established 1 February 1968 Serbia Order of Karađorđe's Star Established 1 January 1904 Originated 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.Singapore Bintang Temasek Established 24 July 1970 Singapore'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.Somalia Order of the Somali Star 12 February 1961 Highest distinction award for military gallantry of Somalia.South Africa Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard Established 2003 Introduced to replace the Honoris Crux Gold. The bilingual title is in Sesotho and English.South Korea Order of Military Merit (Taegeuk class) Spain Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand1 January 1812336Sri Lanka Parama Weera Vibhushanaya 1991 31 Established in 1981. Recipients can use the post-nominal letters PWV.Sweden Order of the Sword1748 Dormant 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.Switzerland Award Ribbon for Exceptional Service Swiss 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) Order of National GloryEstablished 8 November 1937 Tanzania Medal for Bravery Thailand Order of RamaEstablished 22 July 1918 Conferred in six classes for military merit.Turkey Medal of Honor 1967 Uganda Order of Katonga 20042Awarded only twice; first to Muammar Gaddafi in 2004, and posthumously to Julius Nyerere in 2007.Ukraine Hero of Ukraine 26 November 1998 692 Highest 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 Order of the Gold Star Highest military order of Ukraine, awarded alongside the honorary title Hero of Ukraine.United Kingdom The Victoria Cross 26 June 185713571354 Order of the Bath 18 May 1725 Second highest national order of the United Kingdom. It is conferred on both civilians and military personnel, with different insignia (Military illustrated).United States Medal of Honor26 March 186334683449Different types from each of the branches of the US military.