Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq

Iraq: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 459,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
459,000
Change on year
up 34.6%
World rank
15th
of 173 countries
All-time high
1.39 million
in 1990
All-time low
177,600
in 2013
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq, 1985–2020

250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1.5M1985200220201985: 1.0M1986: 1.0M1987: 1.0M1988: 1.0M1989: 1.0M1990: 1.4M1991: 475.0k1992: 407.0k1993: 407.0k1994: 425.0k1995: 407.3k1996: 432.5k1997: 442.9k1998: 479.0k1999: 479.0k2000: 479.0k2001: 467.0k2002: 432.0k2003: 432.0k2004: 179.0k2005: 227.0k2006: 495.0k2007: 362.0k2008: 577.0k2009: 659.4k2010: 802.4k2011: 802.4k2012: 802.4k2013: 177.6k2014: 209.0k2015: 209.0k2016: 209.0k2017: 209.0k2018: 336.0k2019: 341.0k2020: 459.0k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2020, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq stood at 459,000.

The figure is up 34.6% on the previous year and down 42.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq peaked at 1.39 million in 1990 and was at its lowest, 177,600, in 2013.

That places Iraq 15th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 1.00 million
1986 1.00 million +0.0%
1987 1.00 million +0.0%
1988 1.00 million +0.0%
1989 1.00 million +0.0%
1990 1.39 million +39.0%
1991 475,000 -65.8%
1992 407,000 -14.3%
1993 407,000 +0.0%
1994 425,000 +4.4%
1995 407,300 -4.2%
1996 432,500 +6.2%
1997 442,900 +2.4%
1998 479,000 +8.2%
1999 479,000 +0.0%
2000 479,000 +0.0%
2001 467,000 -2.5%
2002 432,000 -7.5%
2003 432,000 +0.0%
2004 179,000 -58.6%
2005 227,000 +26.8%
2006 495,000 +118.1%
2007 362,000 -26.9%
2008 577,000 +59.4%
2009 659,395 +14.3%
2010 802,400 +21.7%
2011 802,400 +0.0%
2012 802,400 +0.0%
2013 177,600 -77.9%
2014 209,000 +17.7%
2015 209,000 +0.0%
2016 209,000 +0.0%
2017 209,000 +0.0%
2018 336,000 +60.8%
2019 341,000 +1.5%
2020 459,000 +34.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.00 million 1.00 million 1.00 million 5
1990s 534,470 407,000 1.39 million 10
2000s 430,940 179,000 659,395 10
2010s 409,780 177,600 802,400 10
2020s 459,000 459,000 459,000 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 12 Viet Nam 522,000 compare
  2. 13 Türkiye 512,000 compare
  3. 14 Myanmar 463,000 compare
  4. 16 Thailand 455,000 compare
  5. 17 Colombia 428,000 compare
  6. 18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 343,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq was 459,000 in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 1.39 million in 1990.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 177,600 in 2013.
How does Iraq rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
Iraq ranks 15th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/iraq/

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How this figure is calculated

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
219 places, 7,420 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.