Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Iraq
Iraq: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 2.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.4%
Change on year
up 7.7%
World rank
51st
of 167 countries
All-time high
12.5%
in 1974
All-time low
1.6%
in 2022
Years of data
44
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Iraq, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 2.4% for military expenditure in 2025.
The figure is up 7.7% on the previous year and down 54.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Iraq peaked at 12.5% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2022.
That places Iraq 51st out of 167 countries with data for 2025, 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 expenditure (% of GDP) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.1% | — |
| 1961 | 6.9% | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 6.9% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 8.3% | +19.4% |
| 1964 | 8.0% | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 8.9% | +11.5% |
| 1966 | 8.5% | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 8.4% | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 9.2% | +9.4% |
| 1969 | 11.4% | +23.4% |
| 1970 | 11.2% | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 10.5% | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 10.6% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 12.3% | +15.2% |
| 1974 | 12.5% | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 11.7% | -6.6% |
| 1976 | 11.2% | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 9.8% | -12.1% |
| 1978 | 8.1% | -17.3% |
| 1979 | 6.1% | -24.3% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | -10.4% |
| 1981 | 10.8% | +96.5% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | -84.5% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +33.8% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -15.4% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | +18.0% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +22.4% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | -15.0% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -17.5% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +74.6% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | +83.5% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | -34.4% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -29.6% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +17.6% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -27.3% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | -27.5% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +38.0% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | +7.7% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 2.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 2.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.6%, 69% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.3% | 6.9% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.4% | 6.1% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 5.5% | 10.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 1.9% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 48 Tunisia 2.5% compare
- 49 Uzbekistan 2.5% compare
- 50 Sweden 2.5% compare
- 52 Belarus 2.4% compare
- 53 United Kingdom 2.4% compare
- 54 Central African Republic 2.3% compare
More public sector data for Iraq
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 55.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4995 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -20.69 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Iraq?
- Military expenditure in Iraq was 2.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 12.5% in 1974.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2022.
- How does Iraq rank for military expenditure?
- Iraq ranks 51st out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product