Military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq
Iraq: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 11,555 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq, 2004–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq is 11,555 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 44.8% on the previous year and up 123.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq peaked at 42,675 constant 2024 US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3,850 constant 2024 US$, in 2006.
That places Iraq 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10,987 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 2005 | 11,694 constant 2024 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 3,850 constant 2024 US$ | -67.1% |
| 2007 | 8,056 constant 2024 US$ | +109.3% |
| 2008 | 6,681 constant 2024 US$ | -17.1% |
| 2009 | 5,573 constant 2024 US$ | -16.6% |
| 2010 | 5,160 constant 2024 US$ | -7.4% |
| 2011 | 5,561 constant 2024 US$ | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 5,056 constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2013 | 42,124 constant 2024 US$ | +733.1% |
| 2014 | 31,158 constant 2024 US$ | -26.0% |
| 2015 | 42,675 constant 2024 US$ | +37.0% |
| 2016 | 26,712 constant 2024 US$ | -37.4% |
| 2017 | 33,178 constant 2024 US$ | +24.2% |
| 2018 | 17,532 constant 2024 US$ | -47.2% |
| 2019 | 20,938 constant 2024 US$ | +19.4% |
| 2020 | 11,555 constant 2024 US$ | -44.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 11,555 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,504 constant 2024 US$, 59% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 11,555 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 42,323 constant 2024 US$, 27% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +733.1% | 5,056 constant 2024 US$ | 42,124 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,807 constant 2024 US$ | 3,850 constant 2024 US$ | 11,694 constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
| 2010s | 23,009 constant 2024 US$ | 5,056 constant 2024 US$ | 42,675 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,555 constant 2024 US$ | 11,555 constant 2024 US$ | 11,555 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 116 Cape Verde 12,336 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 117 Pakistan 12,198 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 118 North Macedonia 11,646 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 120 Moldova 11,273 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 121 Mauritania 10,935 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 122 Iran 10,059 constant 2024 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 per armed forces personnel in Iraq?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Iraq was 11,555 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 42,675 constant 2024 US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,850 constant 2024 US$ in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Iraq ranks 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 123.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. 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.