Iraq: Armed forces

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Iraq

Armed forces personnel

 Latest value 459,000
 Year 2020
 Measure people
 Data availability 1985 - 2020
 Average 491,239
 Min - Max 177,600 - 1,390,000
 Source International Institute for Strategic Studies
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2020 is 459000 people, an increase from 341000 people in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 162240 people, based on data from 167 countries. Historically, the average for Iraq from 1985 to 2020 is 491239 people. The minimum value, 177600 people, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 1390000 people was recorded in 1990. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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 Recent values Iraq: Armed forces
 2020 459,000
 2019 341,000
 2018 336,000
 2017 209,000
 2016 209,000
 2015 209,000
 2014 209,000
 2013 177,600




Definition: Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Military spending 6.18 2024 billion U.S. dollars
 Military spending, percent of GDP 2.36 2024 percent
 Military spending, percent of government spending 4.87 2024 percent
 Armed forces 459,000 2020 people
 Armed forces, percent of labor force 4.40 2020 percent
 Arms exports 20.00 1989 SIPRI TIVs
 Arms imports 23,000,000.00 2024 SIPRI TIVs
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