Military spending per military personnel in Iran
Iran: Military spending per military personnel was 15,669 constant 2022 US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
15,669 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
131st
of 170 countries
All-time high
87,204 constant 2022 US$
in 1978
All-time low
1,617 constant 2022 US$
in 1933
Years of data
168
1855–2022
Military spending per military personnel in Iran, 1855–2022
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per military personnel in Iran is 15,669 constant 2022 US$, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in Iran peaked at 87,204 constant 2022 US$ in 1978 and was at its lowest, 1,617 constant 2022 US$, in 1933.
That places Iran 131st out of 170 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in Iran, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1855 | 6,018 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1856 | 7,448 constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1857 | 7,945 constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1858 | 9,712 constant 2022 US$ | +22.2% |
| 1859 | 11,611 constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1860 | 13,860 constant 2022 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1861 | 13,620 constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1862 | 14,275 constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1863 | 15,045 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1864 | 16,972 constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1865 | 15,281 constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1866 | 16,697 constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1867 | 20,471 constant 2022 US$ | +22.6% |
| 1868 | 24,461 constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1869 | 21,034 constant 2022 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1870 | 15,398 constant 2022 US$ | -26.8% |
| 1871 | 13,478 constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1872 | 10,481 constant 2022 US$ | -22.2% |
| 1873 | 8,847 constant 2022 US$ | -15.6% |
| 1874 | 5,828 constant 2022 US$ | -34.1% |
| 1875 | 6,221 constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1876 | 27,386 constant 2022 US$ | +340.2% |
| 1877 | 25,595 constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1878 | 29,663 constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1879 | 29,692 constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 27,804 constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1881 | 27,427 constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1882 | 30,134 constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1883 | 28,961 constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1884 | 30,846 constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1885 | 32,847 constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1886 | 34,434 constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1887 | 8,809 constant 2022 US$ | -74.4% |
| 1888 | 21,034 constant 2022 US$ | +138.8% |
| 1889 | 24,577 constant 2022 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1890 | 27,390 constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1891 | 25,186 constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1892 | 28,239 constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1893 | 28,599 constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 29,984 constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1895 | 30,670 constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 31,294 constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 32,165 constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1898 | 35,632 constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1899 | 33,697 constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1900 | 35,309 constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1901 | 34,933 constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1902 | 35,887 constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 36,645 constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1904 | 35,453 constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1905 | 30,224 constant 2022 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1906 | 30,589 constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 29,916 constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1908 | 17,181 constant 2022 US$ | -42.6% |
| 1909 | 17,742 constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1910 | 16,001 constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1911 | 16,239 constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1912 | 14,675 constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1913 | 15,546 constant 2022 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1914 | 5,967 constant 2022 US$ | -61.6% |
| 1915 | 6,212 constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 5,635 constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1917 | 54,171 constant 2022 US$ | +861.4% |
| 1918 | 5,020 constant 2022 US$ | -90.7% |
| 1919 | 4,243 constant 2022 US$ | -15.5% |
| 1920 | 3,420 constant 2022 US$ | -19.4% |
| 1921 | 4,301 constant 2022 US$ | +25.7% |
| 1922 | 4,502 constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1923 | 4,677 constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1924 | 4,706 constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1925 | 3,395 constant 2022 US$ | -27.9% |
| 1926 | 3,342 constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1927 | 3,234 constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1928 | 3,301 constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 3,207 constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1930 | 3,080 constant 2022 US$ | -4.0% |
| 1931 | 1,945 constant 2022 US$ | -36.8% |
| 1932 | 3,928 constant 2022 US$ | +101.9% |
| 1933 | 1,617 constant 2022 US$ | -58.8% |
| 1934 | 2,419 constant 2022 US$ | +49.5% |
| 1935 | 2,709 constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1936 | 2,868 constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1937 | 3,307 constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1938 | 4,333 constant 2022 US$ | +31.0% |
| 1939 | 11,694 constant 2022 US$ | +169.9% |
| 1940 | 3,472 constant 2022 US$ | -70.3% |
| 1941 | 3,300 constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1942 | 6,029 constant 2022 US$ | +82.7% |
| 1943 | 4,994 constant 2022 US$ | -17.2% |
| 1944 | 4,956 constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1945 | 5,421 constant 2022 US$ | +9.4% |
| 1946 | 4,502 constant 2022 US$ | -16.9% |
| 1947 | 5,444 constant 2022 US$ | +20.9% |
| 1948 | 6,001 constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 1949 | 5,960 constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1950 | 5,659 constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1951 | 5,145 constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1952 | 5,020 constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 4,571 constant 2022 US$ | -8.9% |
| 1954 | 3,604 constant 2022 US$ | -21.1% |
| 1955 | 6,383 constant 2022 US$ | +77.1% |
| 1956 | 6,465 constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 6,809 constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1958 | 8,378 constant 2022 US$ | +23.1% |
| 1959 | 7,846 constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1960 | 5,323 constant 2022 US$ | -32.2% |
| 1961 | 6,210 constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 1962 | 6,226 constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 6,502 constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 7,681 constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1965 | 8,982 constant 2022 US$ | +16.9% |
| 1966 | 10,917 constant 2022 US$ | +21.5% |
| 1967 | 15,096 constant 2022 US$ | +38.3% |
| 1968 | 20,346 constant 2022 US$ | +34.8% |
| 1969 | 22,699 constant 2022 US$ | +11.6% |
| 1970 | 24,098 constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 26,709 constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1972 | 29,277 constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 36,860 constant 2022 US$ | +25.9% |
| 1974 | 69,314 constant 2022 US$ | +88.0% |
| 1975 | 79,810 constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1976 | 72,402 constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1977 | 79,902 constant 2022 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1978 | 87,204 constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 40,587 constant 2022 US$ | -53.5% |
| 1980 | 39,301 constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 59,457 constant 2022 US$ | +51.3% |
| 1982 | 66,641 constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1983 | 72,446 constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1984 | 67,485 constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 56,186 constant 2022 US$ | -16.7% |
| 1986 | 43,118 constant 2022 US$ | -23.3% |
| 1987 | 47,846 constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1988 | 22,611 constant 2022 US$ | -52.7% |
| 1989 | 20,666 constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 23,005 constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1991 | 21,773 constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 15,093 constant 2022 US$ | -30.7% |
| 1993 | 8,181 constant 2022 US$ | -45.8% |
| 1994 | 7,925 constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 8,756 constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 9,815 constant 2022 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1997 | 11,115 constant 2022 US$ | +13.2% |
| 1998 | 16,519 constant 2022 US$ | +48.6% |
| 1999 | 17,083 constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 14,385 constant 2022 US$ | -15.8% |
| 2001 | 13,359 constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 10,784 constant 2022 US$ | -19.3% |
| 2003 | 10,868 constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 15,558 constant 2022 US$ | +43.2% |
| 2005 | 20,429 constant 2022 US$ | +31.3% |
| 2006 | 18,505 constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 19,412 constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 20,972 constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 22,789 constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 30,018 constant 2022 US$ | +31.7% |
| 2011 | 37,718 constant 2022 US$ | +25.7% |
| 2012 | 38,692 constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 32,917 constant 2022 US$ | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 30,694 constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 30,373 constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 32,268 constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 35,656 constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 33,065 constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 26,582 constant 2022 US$ | -19.6% |
| 2020 | 16,419 constant 2022 US$ | -38.2% |
| 2021 | 15,493 constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 15,669 constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 15,669 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33,699 constant 2022 US$, 46% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 15,669 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 46,799 constant 2022 US$, 33% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per military personnel in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | +861.4% | 5,635 constant 2022 US$ | 54,171 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1876 | +340.2% | 6,221 constant 2022 US$ | 27,386 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1939 | +169.9% | 4,333 constant 2022 US$ | 11,694 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1888 | +138.8% | 8,809 constant 2022 US$ | 21,034 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1932 | +101.9% | 1,945 constant 2022 US$ | 3,928 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1918 | -90.7% | 54,171 constant 2022 US$ | 5,020 constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 8,547 constant 2022 US$ | 6,018 constant 2022 US$ | 11,611 constant 2022 US$ | 5 |
| 1860s | 17,172 constant 2022 US$ | 13,620 constant 2022 US$ | 24,461 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 17,259 constant 2022 US$ | 5,828 constant 2022 US$ | 29,692 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 26,687 constant 2022 US$ | 8,809 constant 2022 US$ | 34,434 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 30,286 constant 2022 US$ | 25,186 constant 2022 US$ | 35,632 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 30,388 constant 2022 US$ | 17,181 constant 2022 US$ | 36,645 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 14,371 constant 2022 US$ | 4,243 constant 2022 US$ | 54,171 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 3,809 constant 2022 US$ | 3,207 constant 2022 US$ | 4,706 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,790 constant 2022 US$ | 1,617 constant 2022 US$ | 11,694 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 5,008 constant 2022 US$ | 3,300 constant 2022 US$ | 6,029 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 5,988 constant 2022 US$ | 3,604 constant 2022 US$ | 8,378 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 10,998 constant 2022 US$ | 5,323 constant 2022 US$ | 22,699 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 54,616 constant 2022 US$ | 24,098 constant 2022 US$ | 87,204 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 49,576 constant 2022 US$ | 20,666 constant 2022 US$ | 72,446 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,926 constant 2022 US$ | 7,925 constant 2022 US$ | 23,005 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,706 constant 2022 US$ | 10,784 constant 2022 US$ | 22,789 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 32,798 constant 2022 US$ | 26,582 constant 2022 US$ | 38,692 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,860 constant 2022 US$ | 15,493 constant 2022 US$ | 16,419 constant 2022 US$ | 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 spending per military personnel in Iran?
- Military spending per military personnel in Iran was 15,669 constant 2022 US$ in 2022, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 87,204 constant 2022 US$ in 1978.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,617 constant 2022 US$ in 1933.
- How does Iran rank for military spending per military personnel?
- Iran ranks 131st out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.5%. 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); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per 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
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.