Nearly every country in the world has an agency charged with gathering, processing, and analyzing information from around the world. They maintain national security and protect their countries’ interests in all aspects – economic, political, and military. But which countries have the best intelligence agencies in the world?
Little information about intelligence agencies is public.
Some of these agencies have agreements to share information with others for greater impact. Others are extremely secretive and make it a point to share with no one.
Countless countries have spies scattered across the globe to gather intelligence. But information about who these spies are and exactly how they operate, is – naturally – highly classified.
Still, it is possible to estimate which countries maintain the best intelligence agencies in the world.
Who operates most effectively? Most secretly? Whose spies are the most deadly? The most ruthless? Who has the best technology? Keep reading to find out.
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency. This agency provides critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan.
Authorities founded the agency after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48, which had revealed critical intelligence shortcomings. The ISI consists of officers from different branches of the armed forces – the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The current head of ISI is General Faiz Hameed. He has held the position of Director General since June 2019. This is the only position of the entire agency that is overt. Since 1971, only three-star army generals have occupied the post. Ostensibly, the agency reports directly to the Prime Minister and the Army Chief.
In the 1980s, the ISI gained global fame during the Soviet-Afghan War. Working closely with the CIA, the agency helped prop up the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet Union. Since then, it has been embroiled directly and indirectly in terrorism controversies in the region.
In the 1990s, the ISI provided intelligence and strategic support to the Taliban during the Afghan Civil War to counter India’s influence in the region. Officially, it changed allegiances after 2001, though reports have indicated continued support of the Taliban.
According to intelligence experts, what gives the ISI an edge is its unpredictability and lack of transparency. Both these traits naturally draw international criticism. Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto once characterized the agency as a “state within a state”.
Not only does the US maintain one of the top armies in the world. It can also boast several of the best intelligence agencies. What sets them apart is their use of carefully guarded, cutting-edge technology.
In total, the United States’ Intelligence Community (IC) consists of 16 separate agencies. The most notable and recognizable among them are the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The CIA focuses on gathering, analyzing, and providing overseas intelligence for the President and Cabinet of the United States. It was created in 1947, as a successor to the World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS). In particular, the CIA relies on the use of human intelligence – meaning spies.
In contrast, the NSA’s main advantage is its technical prowess. The agency is responsible for intercepting and deciphering foreign signals while protecting the information systems of the United States – at least in theory. In 2013, it was the center of an international scandal. That year, whistle-blower Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA had eavesdropped on millions of Americans, as well as foreign allies.
Finally, the FBI provides the link between intelligence agencies and law enforcement in the country. Contrary to common misconception, it is not a pure intelligence agency.
Mossad is an abbreviation for HaMossad leModiʿin uleTafkidim Meyuḥadim, which translates as ‘Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations’. It is the national intelligence agency of Israel.
Founded in 1951, it operated in secret until the mid-1990s. The agency’s main areas of focus are intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism.
What makes Mossad stand out is that it is entirely separate from Israel’s democratic institutions. No law defines its roles or purpose. What’s more, it’s exempt even from the constitutional laws of Israel. The agency answers only to the Prime Minister. Consequently, international observers have described it as a deep state.
The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) of the United Kingdom has a long history. It actually dates back to 1909, making it one of the oldest intelligence services in the world. More commonly, the SIS is famous under its alias, MI6 – the agency for which James Bond works in Ian Fleming’s famous novels.
Like most other services on this list, MI6 focuses on external threats, from nuclear weapons to organized crime. Internal threats to national security are within the purview of a different agency, MI5.
The organization’s headquarters are in London and its annual budget is estimated at £3 billion.
The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), is Germany’s foreign Federal Intelligence Service. Its headquarters – the world’s largest of any intelligence agency – are located in Berlin. Overall, the BND has over 300 locations within Germany and abroad. It answers directly to the German Chancellor’s Office.
Since its foundation during the Cold War in 1956, the West German BND cooperated closely with the CIA. During these years, intelligence experts regarded it second only to the the American agency.
Today, the BND is an early-warning system to alert German leaders to foreign threats to national security. It excels in technology, relying heavily on electronic surveillance and wiretapping. From terrorism and organized crime to drug and weapons trafficking, the BND gathers both military and civil intelligence.
Like other intelligence agencies in the region, France’s General Directorate for External Security (DGSE) emerged just after World War II, in 1947. Its structure grew from several earlier intelligence agencies – some dating back to the era of Napoleon, others to the war that had just ended.
In the mid-1960s, the agency saw criticism after it became public that it contributed to the kidnapping and presumed murder of a Moroccan revolutionary living in Paris.
Today, its primary focus is on gathering intelligence from foreign sources to assist in military and strategic decisions for the country. It is especially renowned for economic espionage.
The DGSE headquarters are located in Paris’ 20th arrondissement. In total, it employs more than six thousand people.
G.U. is the Russian acronym for the country’s military intelligence service, the Main Directorate. The more commonly used acronym GRU corresponds to its former name, Main Intelligence Directorate. The acronym for the latter is still in widespread use. It answers to the general chief of staff and the Russian defense minister.
Officially, the agency’s scope includes supplying military intelligence to the president and government. More saliently, though, its published aims also include ensuring Russia’s economic, and technological security.
In this framework, the GRU has run several global hacking campaigns. Targets have included institutions from anti-doping bodies to nuclear power companies. Most notoriously, international exports believe that the GRU was involved in cyber attacks during the 2016 US presidential election.
Russia runs two other prominent intelligence and security services – the Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, and the Federal Security Service, or FSB. Both emerged from the Soviet-era KGB.
The current intelligence agency of China, the Ministry of State Security, has existed since 1983.
Its gathers intelligence on those that could be seen as enemies with the goal of overthrowing or otherwise dismantling the socialist government of China. As such, it plays a major role in censoring China’s internet, cutting off the country’s population from the outside world.
In addition, the MSS is heavily involved in economic espionage. International analysts believe that Chinese telecommunications provider Huawei also contributes to gathering intelligence.
The MSS has over 100,000 intelligence personnel operating both within China and scattered throughout the world. Headquarters are located Beijing. Overall, the MSS has 17 known bureaus or divisions, including a counterintelligence division and a social research division.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) gathers intelligence on threats to Canada’s national security. Since its foundation in 1984, it has conducted operations, both covert and overt, domestically and abroad.
From its headquarters in Ottawa, the CSIS answers to Parliament and the Minister of Public Safety. It works closely with intelligence agencies from other countries, including the United States. In 2020-21, it has a budget of $651 million.
The agency has faced criticism several times. In the 1990s, it was accused of spying on Canadian citizens.
More recently, the CSIS has been criticized for fostering homophobia and racism.
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service has its founding date in 1952. For more than twenty years, the existence of the agency was a secret even within the Australian government. The public only learned about it in 1972, when the Daily Telegraph ran an exposé about spy recruitment at universities.
ASIS forms part of the Australian Intelligence Community. Similar to the CIA, it collects foreign intelligence, counter-intelligence, and liaising with the intelligence agencies of other countries. In particular, its focus lies on gathering intelligence from the Asian and Pacific regions using agents stationed in a wide variety of areas.
Finally, India’s intelligence agency is the Research and Analysis Wing or RAW. Despite its inconspicuous name, RAW is one of the premier intelligence agencies in the world.
Founded in 1968, RAW’s main objective is to gather foreign intelligence, particularly about India’s neighbor, Pakistan. Throughout the years, Pakistan has continued to be a primary target of its intelligence gathering efforts.
Estimates say that RAW employs more than eight thousand field agents in various locations throughout the world. The agency also coordinates with other intelligence agencies. In particular, it regularly communicates with the CIA and Mossad in regard to monitoring Pakistan’s nuclear program.
Pictures are courtesy of creative commons.
Note: This post was originally published on May 5 2010. We have since updated it.
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ISI is best cuz it is fighting various war fronts in many places, including whole border line between india and more active in border with afganistan, wazirstan,
YEeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaaaaa.................Pakistan is the best......................................oppss i think im smelling something is burning
IsI The Best !!! (TDumped Three Super Powers)
1- Putting breaks to the british(only super power of that era) invasion of northern pakistan (af-pak boardering area) back in 1920 lead by the (later) british prime minister winston churchill, and that area & the people now are inegral part of pakistan & IsI.
2- Victory medal for breaking USSR, helping 20 estates to get freedom (Russian stataes), later impact was reunion of germany, and liberalisation of eastern europe from USSR hold.
3- Most recently and to the date, countering with the 42 Nato countries + India + Israel plannin g to destruct Pakistan and to date stand winner on ground ...
It would be benefit to both Indians and Pakistanis,not to indulge in illiogical patriotism to prove our is best and your is worse.Intelligence Is he most important branch of any country of the world,to judge which one is better has the criteria of following three factors.
!- The economic streangth of agency.
2-number of enemies to dealt with globally,as well as locally.
3-Level of I-Q of its members.
I S I is the number one I Agency because despite its comparatively less available budget (it is estimated RAW budget is 2o time higher ,CIA budget was more then 500 time higher then ISI in the year 2011.where as to number RAW has very few enemies while ISI is remained fighting more then 11 hosille countries.coming on factor no 3,even CIA own confedential analysis ISI Men are much better then CIA and too much much better then RAW.
am a triple agent myself, and i conclude CIA, RAW, Chinese Intelligence and GRU are top four:)
go enjoy!!
oh my God ISI is first.......unbelievable the indians must be very jealous and just starving for 1 position as they r on 11th position....the intellegent 1 agency is ISI so dont be panic just cool down u indians
Proud to be Pakistani ................. Donkey America couldn't attack on Pakistan in last ten years they came for Pakistan in Afghanistan not for Taliban...........and Usama bin Laden .............but there is ISI which playing double game with world ... Donkey America thinking that ISI is working for us ....... it is only dream for Donkey America ....... ISI working Only for ISLAM & PAKISTAN .... thats why i called to ISI that its not Inter Services Intelligence ..... It is Invisible Solders of ISLAM........ :)
all read all comments ...dear this is for all bcz of these bulgy British ..hum alag ho geye ..jiss baat ka ye aaj tak fayeda utha rehe hai ..socho ..pakistan + india + afganistan + bagladesh+ shrilanka ..ye sab abhi bhi ...sath hote to ..sabki maaa ki ..... ! best in all . chahe game mai ho ya , IB mai ...!!! we are all the best ....!!!!
Hay what abou Nigerian intelligence where do they come in.
Reply Har hindu harami hai: Haramzadi ke baje. Thank US and EU forces for being in our region, and protecting your erse. or else ISI would have sorted Raw out by now. Raw better keep sucking US Lollipops and beg them to stay in Afghanistan forever, because the day all US and Nato forces are gone, Pakistan's powerful ISI backed by the real Taliban brothers will make sure all your terrorist embassies in Kabul are blown to pieces and your Raw spies will run holding there toti's. ISI rules kabul, no one has more secret spies in that city than Pakistan's ISI, and no-one messes with us in our mountains and tribal ereas. So keep in mind what I've just told you, after US/nato forces leave Afghanistan, ISI and the real Taliban brothers are going to chase you Indians out all the way to bombay, you will pay for all the pain, hurt and grievance that you have gave Pakistan since 9/11, with the help of America and Israel !
Why do people believe that Osama bin Laden died in Pakistan on 2nd May. Is it because India's 'new dad' Barrack Obama says so.... I mean, who saw Bin Ladens dead body? The US special forces? Mr Obama? Mrs Clinton? Pakistan officials? Or us the viewers? The answer is no one ! We are all going by Obama's and America's words! The same country (US) along with UK who wrongly accused and fought a illegal war in Iraq, after claiming they had WMD. Oh and the crap 45 mins, dossier, both which were proved to be full of lies! "We got him, justice has been done" said Mr Obama, but what justice did we see anything.... I we killed him and buried him at sea .... Lol. The most wanted man ever in the west .... Is killed and chucked in the sea . Ha ha ha ha. Had US special forces really got him, I believe they would have shown him (just like Saddam) to the whole world! But America and the West has the strongest Media, so no-one really questioned this farce story! Pakistan's ISI, did not fail neither did Pakistan's defence system, there was a US helicopter shot down and three outsiders were reported dead in that crash, presumingly (US special forces) Pakistan's Ary news confirmed it but as always there was a goverment cover-up to the real event. The other US special forces still managed to complete what they came to do from Kandahar. They planted Bin Ladens wife and kids and shot a innocent watch gaurd then later pretened that they killed Bin Laden and took his body while leaving his family behind! Pakistan's airforce still managed to caught up with enemy helicopters but were not given the signal to shoot down but instead were directed to escort the (idiots) out of Pakistan airspace. Then after a few months, the same 'so called hero Red Seal team' that captured and killed Osama bin Laden, strangely perished or were murdered in a helicoptor crash and with them went the truth about what really happened on May 2nd in Rawalpindi.