Military spending in Iraq
Iraq: Military spending was 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6.46 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 4.9%
World rank
43rd
of 172 countries
All-time high
31.81 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1984
All-time low
40.59 million constant 2022 US$
in 1933
Years of data
92
1932–2023
Military spending in Iraq, 1932–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Iraq stood at 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and down 57.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Iraq peaked at 31.81 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1984 and was at its lowest, 40.59 million constant 2022 US$, in 1933.
Iraq ranks 43rd of 172 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Iraq, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 43.15 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1933 | 40.59 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1934 | 54.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.3% |
| 1935 | 61.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1936 | 87.43 million constant 2022 US$ | +42.9% |
| 1937 | 104.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.8% |
| 1938 | 121.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.7% |
| 1939 | 123.38 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1940 | 136.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1941 | 147.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1942 | 168.26 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1943 | 172.76 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 196.92 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 1945 | 243.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1946 | 225.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1947 | 206.05 million constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 1948 | 200.56 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1949 | 254.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.8% |
| 1950 | 214.34 million constant 2022 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1951 | 223.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 292.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.0% |
| 1953 | 385.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.8% |
| 1954 | 438.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1955 | 434.45 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1956 | 512.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.9% |
| 1957 | 428.50 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1958 | 411.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 371.18 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1960 | 386.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 517.24 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.9% |
| 1962 | 542.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 821.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +51.4% |
| 1964 | 932.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1965 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.9% |
| 1966 | 1.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1967 | 1.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.7% |
| 1968 | 1.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.5% |
| 1969 | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.0% |
| 1970 | 2.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 2.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 3.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +46.7% |
| 1974 | 5.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +74.6% |
| 1975 | 7.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | +37.7% |
| 1976 | 5.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -32.0% |
| 1977 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 5.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 8.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +55.1% |
| 1980 | 9.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 1981 | 15.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +62.7% |
| 1982 | 21.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +38.4% |
| 1983 | 28.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | +34.5% |
| 1984 | 31.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1985 | 26.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.5% |
| 1986 | 26.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 28.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1988 | 24.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.4% |
| 1989 | 21.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1990 | 17.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.4% |
| 1991 | 15.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.5% |
| 1992 | 5.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -66.9% |
| 1993 | 4.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -15.7% |
| 1994 | 3.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1995 | 3.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -22.0% |
| 1996 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | -33.6% |
| 1997 | 2.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 2.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 2.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 2.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 2.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 1.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 2005 | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.6% |
| 2006 | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 2.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +37.7% |
| 2008 | 3.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +36.2% |
| 2009 | 4.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.4% |
| 2010 | 5.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +26.4% |
| 2011 | 10.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +79.1% |
| 2012 | 12.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +24.2% |
| 2013 | 15.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.7% |
| 2014 | 16.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2015 | 18.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 16.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 2017 | 16.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 14.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -14.0% |
| 2019 | 13.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 9.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | -26.1% |
| 2021 | 7.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -21.8% |
| 2022 | 6.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 2023 | 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 5.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 79.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 40.59 million constant 2022 US$ | 123.38 million constant 2022 US$ | 8 |
| 1940s | 195.26 million constant 2022 US$ | 136.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 254.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 371.33 million constant 2022 US$ | 214.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 512.19 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 386.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 31.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 17.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 18.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 40 Vietnam 6.74 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 41 Finland 6.73 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 42 Romania 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 44 Philippines 6.33 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 45 Chile 6.31 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 46 Morocco 6.18 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
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 military spending in Iraq?
- Military spending in Iraq was 6.46 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 31.81 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1984.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.59 million constant 2022 US$ in 1933.
- How does Iraq rank for military spending?
- Iraq ranks 43rd out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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
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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.