Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq
Iraq: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 1.1% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq is 1.1%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 31.6% on the previous year and down 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq peaked at 7.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2013.
That places Iraq 19th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6.4% | — |
| 1989 | 5.8% | -9.7% |
| 1990 | 7.9% | +37.3% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -66.2% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -16.8% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 2.0% | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 1.7% | -10.4% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -59.7% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +23.1% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | +116.5% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -26.3% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | +56.2% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | +17.8% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -78.9% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +57.1% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | +31.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 1.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 1.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.7%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +116.5% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| 2013 | -78.9% | 2.4% | 0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.1% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.0% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Iraq was 1.1% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2013.
- How does Iraq rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Iraq ranks 19th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.