Military spending in Iran
Iran: Military spending was 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
10.44 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
31st
of 172 countries
All-time high
30.73 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1975
All-time low
77.81 million constant 2022 US$
in 1931
Years of data
169
1855–2023
Military spending in Iran, 1855–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Iran stood at 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$.
The figure is up 9.2% on the previous year and down 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Iran peaked at 30.73 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1975 and was at its lowest, 77.81 million constant 2022 US$, in 1931.
That places Iran 31st out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Iran, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1855 | 108.32 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1856 | 134.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1857 | 143.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1858 | 174.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.2% |
| 1859 | 208.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1860 | 263.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.0% |
| 1861 | 258.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1862 | 271.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1863 | 285.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1864 | 322.48 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1865 | 290.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1866 | 333.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1867 | 409.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +22.6% |
| 1868 | 489.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1869 | 420.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1870 | 307.96 million constant 2022 US$ | -26.8% |
| 1871 | 269.57 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1872 | 209.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -22.2% |
| 1873 | 176.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1874 | 116.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -34.1% |
| 1875 | 124.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1876 | 821.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +560.3% |
| 1877 | 767.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1878 | 889.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1879 | 890.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 834.12 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1881 | 822.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1882 | 904.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1883 | 868.84 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1884 | 925.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1885 | 821.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.3% |
| 1886 | 860.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1887 | 220.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -74.4% |
| 1888 | 525.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +138.8% |
| 1889 | 614.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1890 | 684.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1891 | 629.65 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1892 | 705.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1893 | 714.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 749.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1895 | 766.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 782.35 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 804.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1898 | 890.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1899 | 842.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1900 | 882.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1901 | 873.33 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1902 | 897.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 916.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1904 | 886.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1905 | 906.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1906 | 917.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 897.48 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1908 | 515.43 million constant 2022 US$ | -42.6% |
| 1909 | 532.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1910 | 480.04 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1911 | 487.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1912 | 440.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1913 | 466.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1914 | 352.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -24.5% |
| 1915 | 366.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 332.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1917 | 270.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.5% |
| 1918 | 230.94 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1919 | 182.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.0% |
| 1920 | 136.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -25.0% |
| 1921 | 159.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 1922 | 148.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1923 | 140.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1924 | 131.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1925 | 135.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 133.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1927 | 129.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1928 | 132.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 128.28 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1930 | 123.19 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1931 | 77.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -36.8% |
| 1932 | 157.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +101.9% |
| 1933 | 156.90 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1934 | 234.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +49.5% |
| 1935 | 257.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1936 | 269.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1937 | 304.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1938 | 389.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.2% |
| 1939 | 374.20 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1940 | 416.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1941 | 409.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1942 | 391.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1943 | 399.50 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 426.22 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1945 | 487.88 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.5% |
| 1946 | 454.75 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1947 | 495.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1948 | 552.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1949 | 679.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.1% |
| 1950 | 645.13 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1951 | 632.82 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 662.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1953 | 603.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1954 | 475.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.1% |
| 1955 | 817.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +71.7% |
| 1956 | 827.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 939.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1958 | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.1% |
| 1959 | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1961 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1963 | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 1.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1965 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.9% |
| 1966 | 2.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +24.5% |
| 1967 | 3.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +38.3% |
| 1968 | 4.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +34.8% |
| 1969 | 5.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1970 | 5.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1971 | 6.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1972 | 7.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.9% |
| 1973 | 10.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | +35.4% |
| 1974 | 21.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +104.5% |
| 1975 | 30.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +43.0% |
| 1976 | 30.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 27.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1978 | 30.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 16.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -44.8% |
| 1980 | 11.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -28.8% |
| 1981 | 15.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +29.0% |
| 1982 | 15.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 17.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1984 | 22.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +30.0% |
| 1985 | 19.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | -14.3% |
| 1986 | 14.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | -23.3% |
| 1987 | 16.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 1988 | 14.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.7% |
| 1989 | 12.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1990 | 10.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.9% |
| 1991 | 10.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 7.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -21.3% |
| 1993 | 4.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | -45.8% |
| 1994 | 4.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 4.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1996 | 5.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.2% |
| 1997 | 6.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.6% |
| 1998 | 7.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1999 | 7.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 7.38 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 6.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 5.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.2% |
| 2003 | 5.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 7.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +27.2% |
| 2005 | 8.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 10.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 10.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 11.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 11.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 15.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.7% |
| 2011 | 19.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.7% |
| 2012 | 20.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 17.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 16.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 15.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 16.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 18.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 17.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 13.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -19.6% |
| 2020 | 10.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -28.0% |
| 2021 | 9.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 9.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 8.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Iran's 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 1.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1876 | +560.3% | 124.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 821.58 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1888 | +138.8% | 220.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 525.84 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1974 | +104.5% | 10.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 21.49 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1932 | +101.9% | 77.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 157.13 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 153.84 million constant 2022 US$ | 108.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 208.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 5 |
| 1860s | 334.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 258.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 489.22 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 457.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 116.56 million constant 2022 US$ | 890.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 739.77 million constant 2022 US$ | 220.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 925.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 757.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 629.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 890.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 822.52 million constant 2022 US$ | 515.43 million constant 2022 US$ | 917.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 360.91 million constant 2022 US$ | 182.44 million constant 2022 US$ | 487.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 137.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 128.28 million constant 2022 US$ | 159.12 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 234.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 77.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 389.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 471.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 391.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 679.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 806.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 475.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 30.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 22.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 20.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 35,629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 1,936 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 34.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 281.19 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Iran?
- Military spending in Iran was 10.44 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 30.73 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1975.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.81 million constant 2022 US$ in 1931.
- How does Iran rank for military spending?
- Iran ranks 31st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 169 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.