Military personnel in Iran
Iran: Military personnel was 610,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
610,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
8th
of 194 countries
All-time high
654,000 people
in 1988
All-time low
5,000 people
in 1917
Years of data
168
1855–2022
Military personnel in Iran, 1855–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Iran recorded 610,000 people for military personnel in 2022.
The figure is up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Iran peaked at 654,000 people in 1988 and was at its lowest, 5,000 people, in 1917.
Iran ranks 8th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1855 | 18,000 people | — |
| 1856 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 18,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 19,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1861 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 19,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 20,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1867 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 30,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1877 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 25,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1886 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 30,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1906 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 59,000 people | +96.7% |
| 1915 | 59,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 59,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 5,000 people | -91.5% |
| 1918 | 46,000 people | +820.0% |
| 1919 | 43,000 people | -6.5% |
| 1920 | 40,000 people | -7.0% |
| 1921 | 37,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1922 | 33,000 people | -10.8% |
| 1923 | 30,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1924 | 28,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1925 | 40,000 people | +42.9% |
| 1926 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 97,000 people | +142.5% |
| 1934 | 97,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 95,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1936 | 94,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1937 | 92,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1938 | 90,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1939 | 32,000 people | -64.4% |
| 1940 | 120,000 people | +275.0% |
| 1941 | 124,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1942 | 65,000 people | -47.6% |
| 1943 | 80,000 people | +23.1% |
| 1944 | 86,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1945 | 90,000 people | +4.7% |
| 1946 | 101,000 people | +12.2% |
| 1947 | 91,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1948 | 92,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 114,000 people | +23.9% |
| 1950 | 114,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 123,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1952 | 132,000 people | +7.3% |
| 1953 | 132,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 132,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 128,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 128,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 138,000 people | +7.8% |
| 1958 | 147,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1959 | 157,000 people | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 208,000 people | +32.5% |
| 1961 | 185,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1962 | 200,000 people | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 200,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 200,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 205,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 210,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 210,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 210,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 225,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 245,000 people | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 255,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 265,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 285,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 310,000 people | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 385,000 people | +24.2% |
| 1976 | 420,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 350,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1978 | 350,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 415,000 people | +18.6% |
| 1980 | 305,000 people | -26.5% |
| 1981 | 260,000 people | -14.8% |
| 1982 | 240,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1983 | 240,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 335,000 people | +39.6% |
| 1985 | 345,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 345,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 350,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 654,000 people | +86.9% |
| 1989 | 604,000 people | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 440,000 people | -27.2% |
| 1991 | 465,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 528,000 people | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 528,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 528,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 530,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 540,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 575,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 460,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1999 | 460,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 513,000 people | +11.5% |
| 2001 | 513,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 520,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 540,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 480,000 people | -11.1% |
| 2005 | 420,000 people | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 545,000 people | +29.8% |
| 2007 | 545,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 545,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 523,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 523,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 610,000 people | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 610,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 610,000 people | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 610,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 26.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 610,000 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 91,500 people, 6.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 18,000 people | 18,000 people | 18,000 people | 5 |
| 1860s | 19,400 people | 19,000 people | 20,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 24,000 people | 20,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 27,500 people | 25,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 25,000 people | 25,000 people | 25,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 27,500 people | 25,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 39,100 people | 5,000 people | 59,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 36,800 people | 28,000 people | 40,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 71,700 people | 32,000 people | 97,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 96,300 people | 65,000 people | 124,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 133,100 people | 114,000 people | 157,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 205,300 people | 185,000 people | 225,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 328,000 people | 245,000 people | 420,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 367,800 people | 240,000 people | 654,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 505,400 people | 440,000 people | 575,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 514,400 people | 420,000 people | 545,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 523,000 people | 523,000 people | 523,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 610,000 people | 610,000 people | 610,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Iran?
- Military personnel in Iran was 610,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 654,000 people in 1988.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 people in 1917.
- How does Iran rank for military personnel?
- Iran ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 168 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.