List of highest military decorations by country

Thislist of highest military decorationsis 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 awarded	Number awarded	Notes
Argentina		Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat		18	Last awarded in 1982
Armenia		National Hero of Armenia	28 July 1994	27	The highest title in Armenia isNational Hero of Armenia,which is awarded alongside anOrder of Fatherlandand may also be conferred on members of the military.
		Order of the Combat Cross	Established 22 April 1994		Awarded for absolute courage, selflessness and skill in defending the Fatherland. It is divided into First and Second degrees.
Australia		TheVictoria Cross for Australia	16 January 2009	5	ReplacedThe Victoria Cross
Austria		TheMilitary Merit Decoration
Azerbaijan		National Hero of Azerbaijan	7 June 1992		Highestnational titleof Azerbaijan, conferred alongside theQizil 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 Order	Established 6 December 1993		Highest military award of Azerbaijan
Bangladesh		Bir Sreshtho	15 December 1973	7
Belarus		Hero of Belarus	21 November 1996	13	Highest title that can be awarded to a citizen ofBelarus.Can be conferred for military or civilian service.
		Order of Military Glory	Established 13 April 1995		The highest order of Belarus is theOrder of the Fatherlandwhich may also be awarded for military service. There is also a separateMedal for Bravery.
Belgium		Military Decoration for gallantry or exceptional devotion	22 December 1873
Botswana		Conduct Valour Cross (CVC)	Established 1979
Brazil		Order of Military Merit	1934	820
Bulgaria		Order of Bravery	Established 1 January 1880
Canada		TheVictoria Cross of Canada	Established 2 February 1993	0	Replaced theVictoria Cross
China		Order of August First	12 June 2017	10
Colombia		Order of San Mateo
Croatia		Order of Duke Domagoj	1995	566 551	Established in 1995, this is Croatia's highest award for bravery and the 8th highest national medal.
Cuba		Hero of the Republic of Cuba	1980		Thishonorary titleis the highest decoration awarded by theRepublic of Cuba,conferred for civilian and military merit in productive labour, defence of the interests of the working class, and contributions toproletarian internationalism.
		Order Camilo Cienfuegos	Established 1979		Awarded to members of theRevolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba,and to the military of "friendly countries".
Czech Republic		Medal of Heroism	Established 1990		Created by the Parliament of theCzechoslovak Federative Republicin 1990, and awarded once before its re-authorization by theCzech Republicin 1992. May also be awarded to civilians.
Denmark		The Valour Cross	18 November 2011	1
Egypt		Order of the Sinai Star	Established 1972	200
Estonia		The Cross of Liberty	24 February 1919	3,156	None has been awarded since 1925
Finland		Mannerheim Cross	22 July 1941	197 191	Still activede jure,although none awarded since 1945. Last living recipient died November 2020.
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 2009	28
Georgia		Order of National Hero	Established 24 June 2004		Highest national order of Georgia, awarded alongside the title ofNational Hero.It is conferred on both civilians and military personnel. TheSt. George's Victory Orderwas established in the same year and is awarded for contributions to victorious battles and general significant victories for Georgia. Before 2004 theOrder of David IV the Builderwas 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. TheMilitary Courage Medalis awarded for heroic and daring actions while carrying out military duties.
Greece		Medal for Gallantry			TheMedal for Gallantryformally replaced theCross of Valouras the top military award in 1974, but it has never been conferred.
		Cross of Valour	1913
Hungary		Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary	1764-1918, 1938–1946, 2011-
India		Param Vir Chakra	3 November 1947	21	Highest wartime military decoration.
		Ashoka Chakra	1952	86	Highest peacetime military decoration.
Iran		Zolfaghar	Established 1856, renamed 1925		Revived in 2019 when Major GeneralQasem Soleimanireceived the decoration, the first time it had been awarded since 1979.
Ireland		Military Medal for Gallantry	Established 1944
Israel		Medal of Valor	19 January 1948	40	Replacement for theHero of Israel. None has been awarded since 1975.
Italy		Gold Medal of Military Valour	21 May 1793
Latvia		Order of Viesturs	Established 11 August 1938, discontinued 1940, re-established 2004		Established in 1938 but discontinued after theSoviet 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 Vytis	Established 30 July 1919, discontinued 1940, re-established 15 January 1991		Presidentialaward conferred for heroic defence of Lithuania's freedom and independence. It was established in 1919 but discontinued after theSoviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940,until it was re-established upon independence in 1991. It is also awarded to civilians.
Luxembourg		Military Medal	3 August 1945
Malaysia		Grand Knight of Valour	Established 29 July 1960	30	TheGrand Knight of Valour(Malay:Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa)is the highest federal award which can be presented inMalaysia.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 theOrder of the Royal Family of Malaysia(D.K.M.) awarded to Malaysian Royalty.|
Mexico		Decoration for Heroic Valor
Mongolia		Order of Sukhbaatar	Established 16 May 1941
Morocco		Order of Ouissam Alaouite	Established 11 January 1913
Myanmar		Aung San Thiriya, 1st Class	1948	6
Namibia		Namibian Cross for Bravery: Gold			TheOrder of the Mukorobis also presented by thePresident of Namibiafor meritorious military service.
Netherlands		Military William Order	30 April 1815	5,875
New Zealand		TheVictoria Cross for New Zealand	26 July 2007	1	ReplacedThe Victoria Cross.
North Korea		Hero of the Republic	Established 30 June 1950	6116	Honorific title, originally created asHero of the Korean People's Republic.Awarded for extreme heroic exploits during war. The recipient is also awarded with theOrder of the National Flag 1st Class,which was the highest order until theOrder of Kim Il-sungwas 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 Sword	28 November 1941	285	A new sword is awarded each time a person, who already has the War Cross, distinguishes him- or herself in battle.
Pakistan		Nishan-e-Haider(Left)Hilal-e-Kashmir(Right)	16 March 1957	11	On 30 November 1995, the Government of Pakistan initiated the gazette notification to declare itsHilal-e-Kashmirequivalent toNishan-e-Haider. All awards have been madeposthumously.
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 Militari	22 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 classes
Romania		Order of Michael the Brave	Instated 26 September 1916 Disbanded 1948 Reinstated 23 July 2000	2,184	None 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 theKingdom of Serbiaand later awarded by theKingdom of Yugoslavia.It continued to be awarded by theYugoslav government-in-exilebut was suppressed by thecommunist government of Yugoslavia,during which time theOrder of Freedomwas the highest military decoration. It was reinstated by theRepublic of Serbiain 2010 as a military and civilian decoration, and also continues to be awarded as adynastic orderby theformer 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 thepost-nominal lettersBT.
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 theHonoris Crux Gold.The bilingual title is in Sesotho and English.
South Korea		Order of Military Merit (Taegeuk class)
Spain		Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand	1 January 1812	336
Sri Lanka		Parama Weera Vibhushanaya	1991	31	Established in 1981. Recipients can use thepost-nominal lettersPWV.
Sweden		Order of the Sword	1748		Dormant between 1975 and February 2023, when it was re-introduced. During this time theMedal of Meritwas 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 Glory	Established 8 November 1937
Tanzania		Medal for Bravery
Thailand		Order of Rama	Established 22 July 1918		Conferred in six classes for military merit.
Turkey		Medal of Honor	1967
Uganda		Order of Katonga	2004	2	Awarded only twice; first toMuammar Gaddafiin 2004, and posthumously toJulius Nyererein 2007.
Ukraine		Hero of Ukraine	26 November 1998	692	Highest national title that can be conferred by thePresident of Ukraine,granted to recipients of the civilianOrder of the Stateand the militaryOrder of the Gold Star
		Order of the Gold Star			Highest military order of Ukraine, awarded alongside the honorary titleHero of Ukraine.
United Kingdom		The Victoria Cross	26 June 1857	1357 1354
		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 Honor	26 March 1863	3468 3449	Different types from each of the branches of the US military. In the image, from left to right: TheArmy,theCoast Guard/Navy/Marine Corps,and theAir Force.
Uruguay		Medal of Military Merit	Established 1991		Introduced to replace theOrder of Military Merit of the Companions of Artigas,which was discontinued in 1985.
Vietnam		Hero of the People's Armed Forces	Established 1955		State Honourable Titleawarded 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.
		TheMilitary Exploit Order	15 May 1947		Highest militaryOrder,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.
Zimbabwe		TheGold Cross of Zimbabwe	Established October 1980	3	Replaced theGrand Cross of Valour

See also

• List of military decorations
• List of highest civilian awards by country
• List of wound decorations by country