Military personnel in Iran
Iran: Military personnel was 610,000 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
610,000
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
8th
of 194 countries
All-time high
654,000
in 1988
All-time low
5,000
in 1917
Years of data
168
1855–2022
Military personnel in Iran, 1855–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iran recorded 610,000 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 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 5,000, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1855 | 18,000 | — |
| 1856 | 18,000 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 18,000 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 18,000 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 18,000 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 19,000 | +5.6% |
| 1861 | 19,000 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 19,000 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 19,000 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 19,000 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 19,000 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 20,000 | +5.3% |
| 1867 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 30,000 | +50.0% |
| 1877 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 25,000 | -16.7% |
| 1886 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 25,000 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 30,000 | +20.0% |
| 1906 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 59,000 | +96.7% |
| 1915 | 59,000 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 59,000 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 5,000 | -91.5% |
| 1918 | 46,000 | +820.0% |
| 1919 | 43,000 | -6.5% |
| 1920 | 40,000 | -7.0% |
| 1921 | 37,000 | -7.5% |
| 1922 | 33,000 | -10.8% |
| 1923 | 30,000 | -9.1% |
| 1924 | 28,000 | -6.7% |
| 1925 | 40,000 | +42.9% |
| 1926 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 97,000 | +142.5% |
| 1934 | 97,000 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 95,000 | -2.1% |
| 1936 | 94,000 | -1.1% |
| 1937 | 92,000 | -2.1% |
| 1938 | 90,000 | -2.2% |
| 1939 | 32,000 | -64.4% |
| 1940 | 120,000 | +275.0% |
| 1941 | 124,000 | +3.3% |
| 1942 | 65,000 | -47.6% |
| 1943 | 80,000 | +23.1% |
| 1944 | 86,000 | +7.5% |
| 1945 | 90,000 | +4.7% |
| 1946 | 101,000 | +12.2% |
| 1947 | 91,000 | -9.9% |
| 1948 | 92,000 | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 114,000 | +23.9% |
| 1950 | 114,000 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 123,000 | +7.9% |
| 1952 | 132,000 | +7.3% |
| 1953 | 132,000 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 132,000 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 128,000 | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 128,000 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 138,000 | +7.8% |
| 1958 | 147,000 | +6.5% |
| 1959 | 157,000 | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 208,000 | +32.5% |
| 1961 | 185,000 | -11.1% |
| 1962 | 200,000 | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 205,000 | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 210,000 | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 210,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 210,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 225,000 | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 245,000 | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 255,000 | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 265,000 | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 285,000 | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 310,000 | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 385,000 | +24.2% |
| 1976 | 420,000 | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 350,000 | -16.7% |
| 1978 | 350,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 415,000 | +18.6% |
| 1980 | 305,000 | -26.5% |
| 1981 | 260,000 | -14.8% |
| 1982 | 240,000 | -7.7% |
| 1983 | 240,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 335,000 | +39.6% |
| 1985 | 345,000 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 345,000 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 350,000 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 654,000 | +86.9% |
| 1989 | 604,000 | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 440,000 | -27.2% |
| 1991 | 465,000 | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 528,000 | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 528,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 528,000 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 530,000 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 540,000 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 575,000 | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 460,000 | -20.0% |
| 1999 | 460,000 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 513,000 | +11.5% |
| 2001 | 513,000 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 520,000 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 540,000 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 480,000 | -11.1% |
| 2005 | 420,000 | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 545,000 | +29.8% |
| 2007 | 545,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 545,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 523,000 | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 523,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 610,000 | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 610,000 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 610,000 | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 610,000 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000, 26.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 610,000 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 91,500, 6.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 5 |
| 1860s | 19,400 | 19,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 1870s | 24,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 1880s | 27,500 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 1890s | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 10 |
| 1900s | 27,500 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 1910s | 39,100 | 5,000 | 59,000 | 10 |
| 1920s | 36,800 | 28,000 | 40,000 | 10 |
| 1930s | 71,700 | 32,000 | 97,000 | 10 |
| 1940s | 96,300 | 65,000 | 124,000 | 10 |
| 1950s | 133,100 | 114,000 | 157,000 | 10 |
| 1960s | 205,300 | 185,000 | 225,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 328,000 | 245,000 | 420,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 367,800 | 240,000 | 654,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 505,400 | 440,000 | 575,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 514,400 | 420,000 | 545,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 523,000 | 523,000 | 523,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 610,000 | 610,000 | 610,000 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 281.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 78.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 27,934 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 78.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 95.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.2091 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Iran?
- Military personnel in Iran was 610,000 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 654,000 in 1988.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 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 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).