Military expenditure (current USD) in Iran
Iran: Military expenditure was 7.89 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.89 billion current USD
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
35th
of 168 countries
All-time high
19.73 billion current USD
in 1992
All-time low
98.68 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Iran, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Iran stood at 7.89 billion current USD.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Iran peaked at 19.73 billion current USD in 1992 and was at its lowest, 98.68 million current USD, in 1960.
Iran ranks 35th of 168 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 expenditure in Iran, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 98.68 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 105.94 million current USD | +7.4% |
| 1962 | 109.90 million current USD | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 128.71 million current USD | +17.1% |
| 1964 | 155.45 million current USD | +20.8% |
| 1965 | 200.00 million current USD | +28.7% |
| 1966 | 256.11 million current USD | +28.1% |
| 1967 | 331.02 million current USD | +29.3% |
| 1968 | 437.29 million current USD | +32.1% |
| 1969 | 566.01 million current USD | +29.4% |
| 1970 | 620.13 million current USD | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 402.31 million current USD | -35.1% |
| 1972 | 371.95 million current USD | -7.5% |
| 1973 | 480.86 million current USD | +29.3% |
| 1974 | 3.88 billion current USD | +706.4% |
| 1975 | 5.95 billion current USD | +53.5% |
| 1976 | 7.19 billion current USD | +20.8% |
| 1977 | 7.62 billion current USD | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 8.11 billion current USD | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 4.99 billion current USD | -38.5% |
| 1980 | 4.87 billion current USD | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 8.12 billion current USD | +66.6% |
| 1982 | 9.70 billion current USD | +19.5% |
| 1983 | 10.55 billion current USD | +8.7% |
| 1984 | 9.93 billion current USD | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 10.71 billion current USD | +7.9% |
| 1986 | 11.74 billion current USD | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 15.26 billion current USD | +30.0% |
| 1988 | 18.89 billion current USD | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 16.30 billion current USD | -13.7% |
| 1990 | 16.47 billion current USD | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 17.55 billion current USD | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 19.73 billion current USD | +12.4% |
| 1993 | 1.45 billion current USD | -92.7% |
| 1994 | 1.70 billion current USD | +17.6% |
| 1995 | 2.50 billion current USD | +46.9% |
| 1996 | 3.55 billion current USD | +42.0% |
| 1997 | 4.64 billion current USD | +30.7% |
| 1998 | 5.48 billion current USD | +18.0% |
| 1999 | 6.65 billion current USD | +21.4% |
| 2000 | 8.33 billion current USD | +25.2% |
| 2001 | 10.38 billion current USD | +24.6% |
| 2002 | 3.24 billion current USD | -68.7% |
| 2003 | 3.72 billion current USD | +14.6% |
| 2004 | 5.24 billion current USD | +41.1% |
| 2005 | 6.80 billion current USD | +29.6% |
| 2006 | 8.75 billion current USD | +28.8% |
| 2007 | 9.33 billion current USD | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 11.08 billion current USD | +18.8% |
| 2009 | 12.58 billion current USD | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 13.56 billion current USD | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 14.28 billion current USD | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 16.49 billion current USD | +15.5% |
| 2013 | 12.00 billion current USD | -27.3% |
| 2014 | 9.90 billion current USD | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 10.59 billion current USD | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 12.26 billion current USD | +15.8% |
| 2017 | 13.93 billion current USD | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 11.80 billion current USD | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 4.92 billion current USD | -58.3% |
| 2020 | 3.35 billion current USD | -31.9% |
| 2021 | 5.70 billion current USD | +70.2% |
| 2022 | 7.46 billion current USD | +30.9% |
| 2023 | 7.39 billion current USD | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 7.89 billion current USD | +6.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 7.89 billion current USD is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.38 billion current USD, 5.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 7.89 billion current USD is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.04 billion current USD, 2.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +706.4% | 480.86 million current USD | 3.88 billion current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 238.91 million current USD | 98.68 million current USD | 566.01 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.96 billion current USD | 371.95 million current USD | 8.11 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.61 billion current USD | 4.87 billion current USD | 18.89 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.97 billion current USD | 1.45 billion current USD | 19.73 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.95 billion current USD | 3.24 billion current USD | 12.58 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.97 billion current USD | 4.92 billion current USD | 16.49 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.36 billion current USD | 3.35 billion current USD | 7.89 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More public sector data for Iran
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 2 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Iran?
- Military expenditure in Iran was 7.89 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 19.73 billion current USD in 1992.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.68 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Iran rank for military expenditure?
- Iran ranks 35th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)