Iran vs Russia: Military personnel
Iran
610,000
in 2022
Russia
1.19 million
in 2022
Iran rank
8th
Russia rank
5th
Military personnel over time
- Iran
- Russia
How they compare
Russia currently reports 1.19 million against 610,000 in Iran, a difference of 580,000.
That makes Russia's figure about 2.0 times Iran's.
Across all 167 years both countries report, Russia has been ahead every year.
Iran ranks 8th and Russia ranks 5th of 194 countries.
Russia has averaged higher in every one of the 18 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran | Russia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 18,000 | 1.26 million | 1.24 million | Russia |
| 1860s | 19,400 | 778,600 | 759,200 | Russia |
| 1870s | 24,000 | 857,500 | 833,500 | Russia |
| 1880s | 27,500 | 853,400 | 825,900 | Russia |
| 1890s | 25,000 | 907,200 | 882,200 | Russia |
| 1900s | 27,500 | 1.34 million | 1.31 million | Russia |
| 1910s | 38,333 | 3.76 million | 3.72 million | Russia |
| 1920s | 36,800 | 1.76 million | 1.73 million | Russia |
| 1930s | 71,700 | 1.09 million | 1.02 million | Russia |
| 1940s | 96,300 | 4.88 million | 4.78 million | Russia |
| 1950s | 133,100 | 4.96 million | 4.83 million | Russia |
| 1960s | 205,300 | 3.46 million | 3.25 million | Russia |
| 1970s | 328,000 | 4.03 million | 3.70 million | Russia |
| 1980s | 367,800 | 3.88 million | 3.51 million | Russia |
| 1990s | 505,400 | 1.71 million | 1.20 million | Russia |
| 2000s | 514,400 | 1.01 million | 493,000 | Russia |
| 2010s | 523,000 | 891,900 | 368,900 | Russia |
| 2020s | 610,000 | 996,667 | 386,667 | Russia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military personnel, Iran or Russia?
- Russia, at 1.19 million against 610,000 in Iran as of 2022.
- What is the difference in military personnel between Iran and Russia?
- 580,000, with Russia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran and Russia?
- 167 years are reported by both, from 1855 to 2022.
- How do Iran and Russia rank globally for military personnel?
- Iran ranks 8th and Russia ranks 5th of 194 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Military personnel. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.