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Top 10 Intelligence Agencies in the World

Want to know top 10 intelligence agencies in the world? Well you have landed on the right article 

Any country’s Intelligence agencies play a huge role in maintaining their national security. A country’s intelligence agency mainly acts as a nervous system in that country’s defense system.

The actual role of any intelligence agency is not clear to many people. Well, they have many tasks to do but the main role of this agency is to ensure security

To their country against both internal and external threats. They also collect secretive information and then analyze it. After that, they gathered all the important information for maintaining social security and law enforcement.

So, almost all countries have their own secret Intelligence agencies to protect their country. Here, a certain number of people mainly work in a team to identify any issues.

They generally work in a confidential influence under a certain protocol. So, this article is important for you if you have thought of joining your country’s intelligence agency. However, we have provided information regarding the intelligence agencies in the world.

Top 10 Intelligence Agencies In The World (2022)

1. Central Intelligence Agency – The United States

It is one of the most popular Intelligence Agencies in the world. The CIA is mainly the foreign Intelligence agency of The United State of America.

 It was founded in the year 1947, so it is one of the oldest agencies worldwide. The headquarter of the CIA is situated in Virginia, USA.

The people who work under this agency mainly collect important and valuable information from overseas along with the minimal information in the USA.

The role of this agency is to monitor the foreign developments

Central Intelligence Agency – The United States is one of the best intelligence agency in the worldThat could threaten the USA, particularly in relation to nuclear weapons and terrorism.

It also helps the government to manage cyber warfare and counterintelligence. In addition to gathering information, the CIA conducts covert military operations.

details:-

  • Budget: For the National Intelligence Program- $62.3 billion
  • For Military Intelligence Program- $23.3 billion.

2. Mossad- Israel

It is one of the most powerful agencies in the world that serves Israel. It is considered to be the most feared foreign intelligence agency worldwide.

 It started its journey in the year 1949 and the headquarter of the agency is located in Tel Aviv, Israel.

This agency has almost 7000 employees and their work is to handle secret operations, gather information, and counter-terrorism.

Mossad has its own counter-terrorism unit called Metsada and Kidon.

The Government mainly uses the highly-trained soldiers of Kidon for their highly sensitive mission. Mossad primarily works with foreign intelligence, gathering information on foreign developments that could pose a threat to Israeli security and interest.

details:-

  • Budget: $2.73 billion.

3. Secret Intelligence Agency- The United Kingdom

The British Secret Intelligent Services is also one of the oldest one among all the intelligence agencies worldwide.

People also know this agency as M16 which was established in the year 1909. The headquarter of this agency is located in London, UK.

It gives the government a worldwide secret power to promote and protect the country’s national security and economic well-being.

The job of this agency is to focus on the information

That is related to nuclear weapons, organized crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, and many more that could pose a threat to the UK National Security.

 It mainly coordinates with other foreign agencies like the CIA so that they can help them in their missions.

details:-

  • Budget: £3.02 billion in the year 2018.

4. GCHQ and NSA

GCHQ mainly stands for Government Communication Headquarters which was founded in the year 1919. Its headquarter is situated in Cheltenham, UK.

It is mainly a security organization that collects intelligence information for the Government and the armed forces of the UK through signals intelligence.

This agency has other two child wings: one is GCHQ Bude (Composite Signal Organization) and the NCSC (National Cyber Security Center).

The GCHQ Bude is mainly responsible for large-scale intelligence activities 

Along with satellite collection. On the other hand, NCSC advises the UK government on threat assessment and cyber security. Another intelligence agency NSA stands for National Security Agency which was born in the year 1952.

The headquarter of this agency is in Maryland in the USA. It is one of the most widely circulated intelligence agencies in the world. It is responsible for assisting the various US federal security agencies in collecting

And analyzing security-related information from both abroad and at home. It also involves extensive surveillance through hacking and secret programs. 

details:-

  • Budget: £3.02 billion in the year 2017–2018 (GCHQ)

5. Foreign Intelligence Services (SVF RF) Russia

The Foreign Intelligence Services mainly serves Russia which was replaced in the year 1991 by the Russian Foreign Agency KGB.

It is a major part of Russia’s National Security system that is mainly there to protect every individual, society, and its states from foreign threats.

The headquarter of this agency is in Moscow. This agency has different responsibilities

Such as collecting strategic intelligence, protecting the Russian Intelligence, etc. 

It mainly plays a more influential role in the Russian Foreign policy instead of in the ministry. It generally cooperates with GRU which is the Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Unit to covert different operations.

6. Ministry of State Security- China

Everyone knows MSS also as Guoanbu which is said to be one of the most secretive intelligence agencies worldwide.

This organization was introduced in the year 1983 and serves the China Government.

The headquarter of this agency is in Beijing and it consists of a total of 17 bureaus including a social research section and a counterintelligence division.

The agency is mainly there for managing the internal opposition

And the revolt of the citizens against their ruling communist party. This organization is highly involved in economic espionage. However, apart from that, they also protect their motherland from outside threats.

details:-

  • Budget: CN¥56 billion in the year 2018.

7. Research And Analysis Wing- India

The abbreviation of the Research And Analysis Wing is RAW which was established in the year 1968 after the Sino-Indian War and the Indian-Pakistan War.

The Agency serves the Indian Government and the headquarter is in New Delhi. The main motto of this agency is to protect their country

from any foreign attacks like terrorism, nuclear weapon attacks, etc. The agency has the responsibility to monitor developments in foreign countries that can directly affect India.

This organization always connects with other organizations Mossad and the CIA so that they can monitor the nuclear program of Pakistan. 

details:-

  • Budget: classified

8. Federal Intelligence Services BND- Germany

BND mainly stands for Bundesnachrichtendienst which is a foreign intelligence agency of Germany.

It is also the largest intelligence headquarter which was born in the year in the year 1956 during the Cold War.

The main headquarter is located in Berlin and this agency mainly reports to the German Chancellery.

This agency has 300 locations in Germany and other foreign countries.

The primary role of the organization is to collect both civil and military intelligence. They have the responsibility to detect any foreign threat to German interests and the national security of the country.

Apart from that, they also need to collect information on nuclear weapons along with other weapons for mass destruction, terrorism, illegal migration, organized crime, illegal human trafficking, drug dealing, etc.

details:-

  • Budget: €1.08 Billion

9. Australian Secret Intelligence Services- Australia

Australian Secret Intelligence Services also known as ASIS now serve the Australian Government.

This intelligence organization came to light in the year 1972. The headquarter of this organization is in Canberra which was mainly formed in the year 1952.

The primary role of this organization is now to collect foreign intelligence which is mainly concerned with the strategic interest of the country and the internal security. 

They also communicate with other agencies in the world so that they can help them in their several missions in the future.

details:-

  • Budget: A$605.1 million

10. General Directorate for External Security- France

It is an external intelligence agency that works under the French Ministry of Armed Forces. The agency was mainly established in the year 1982

And the headquarter of the agency is located in Paris. This agency mainly works with its domestic counterpart

Which is General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). DGSE is considered to be the most influential agency in the whole world. 

This agency operated so many missions in the past years like counter-terrorism, civil wars, etc.It has the responsibility to maintain the national security of France by collecting intelligence and conducting special operations in foreign countries.

It is mainly specialized in collecting knowledge about the intellectual property of the other country.

details:-

  • Budget: US$731,807,192.50

11. ISI- Pakistan

ISI mainly stands for Inter-services Intelligence of Pakistan which is a leading organization in the country.

This intelligence agency was formed in the year 1948 and the headquarter of the agency is at Aabpara which is in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Here, any civilian and the member of armed forces are allowed to join the ISI agency of Pakistan.

The main responsibility of the organization is to collect,

Analyze, and evaluate domestic intelligence along with abroad information, especially in India. They also try to obtain important information for Pakistan’s strategic interests. 

details:-

  • Budget: $300 to $400 Million.

12. Canada Security Intelligence Services

Canada Security Intelligence Services also known as CSIS is the main Intelligence organization in Canada. The country is one of the safest countries worldwide.

 It is so because the Canada Security Intelligence Services serves their country really well. This agency was formed in the year 1984

And the headquarter of this agency is situated in Ottawa. The main role or purpose of this agency is to give protection to their motherland.

So, they mainly handle every single thing that is related to national security.

The other responsibilities include collecting intelligence, running covert operations, and advising the government on external threats. They work with other agencies in the USA, UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and the alliance is called Five Eyes.

details:-

  • Budget: C$649.9 million

13. Naikaku Jōhō Chōsashitsu, Japan

This is an intelligence agency in Japan and also called Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.

The forming year of this intelligence agency is 1986. The headquarter of the organization is in Tokyo, Japan.

The role of the organization is also to protect its nation from foreign threats. However, they mainly collect information,

Then analyze all the national security information properly for the cabinet.

details:-

  • Budget: classified

Conclusion

In this article, we have listed some of the well-known intelligence agencies in the world. We also provide several information about those agencies.

We really hope that through this article you will know how these intelligence agencies work along with their basic information.

I hope you liked our article on top 10 intelligence agencies in the world, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.

frequently asked question

1. Who is the best intelligent agent in the world?

Every country has its own intelligence agency. So, it is quite difficult to tell which is the best. Every intelligence agency serves its country in the best way possible. However top best intelligent agent in the world is,

  • Research and Analysis Wing.
  • Mossad.
  • Central Intelligence Agency.
  • Military Intelligence, Section 6.
  • Australian Secret Intelligence Service.
  • Directorate General for External Security.
  • The Bundesnachrichtendienst.

2. Who is the RAW Chief of India?

The current RAW Chief of India is Samant Goel. He will become the longest-serving spy agent if the Indian Government decides to give him more 1-year extension.


3. Can IAS Join RAW?

Yes definitely. But you cannot join RAW directly. At first, you have to pass the UPSC exam and need to become an IAS officer. Then, you have to give an examination which will be held by RAW. If you clear the examination then you can become a RAW agent.

Also Read: Check out my reviews of the best image editing software, the top choices for video editing software, and my full guide to start a blog for beginners.

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About the Author

Currently working as an Editor in Chief with Ankuraggarwal.in, he is managing all the ins and outs of the content management process and editorial operations. Having an experience of 8 years in the publishing/ e-solution industry, he manages a small freelancing team of fellow editors and has worked with several domains including academics, healthcare, lifestyle and technical writings. He is a stickler for accuracy and loves to read noir-fiction and binge-watch anthologies.

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