Iraq: Military expenditure (current USD)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Iraq's military expenditure (current USD) rose 1.8% on 2024 (from 6.34 billion to 6.45 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2024), the average change was +20.7% and a typical year strayed about 33.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 114.6% in 1974 and the biggest yearly fall was 37.8% in 2016. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 9% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Iraq had the 40th highest value of the 150 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Iraq in the 2025 ranking

• Switzerland — 36th of 150: 7.59 billion
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 37th of 150: 7.4 billion
• Czechia — 38th of 150: 7.05 billion
• Philippines — 40th of 150: 6.38 billion
• Austria — 41st of 150: 6.35 billion
• Morocco — 42nd of 150: 6.33 billion

What this measures

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)

Limitations: SIPRI strives to compile reliable, consistent military expenditure data by assessing multiple sources, but accuracy depends on the quality and transparency of those sources. Challenges arise from two key issues: whether reported figures reflect actual spending and how closely they match SIPRI’s definition. While data is generally accurate in developed and many developing countries, weak governance, corruption, and secret transfers in others can lead to major discrepancies. SIPRI sometimes makes estimates, when sources conflict or lack coverage, introducing uncertainty, especially for countries like China or the UAE.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 44 values

Military expenditure (current USD) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 278.25 million (2021)
• Algeria — 25.44 billion (2025)
• Bahrain — 1.47 billion (2025)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 2.5 billion (2025)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 7.4 billion (2025)
• Israel — 48.28 billion (2025)
• Jordan — 2.56 billion (2025)
• Kuwait — 8.09 billion (2025)
• Lebanon — 828.3 million (2025)
• Libya — 1.57 billion (2023)
• Malta

More public sector data for Iraq

• Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 55 million (2025)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 8.45 trillion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 2.45% (2025)
• Battle-related deaths (number of people) — 396 (2024)
• Armed forces personnel, total — 459,000 (2020)
• Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) — 4.4% (2020)
• Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) — 5.53% (2025)
• Statistical performance indicators (SPI): Pillar 1 data use score (scale 0-100) — 60 (2024)
• Statistical performance indicators (SPI): Pillar 3 data products score (scale 0-100) — 66.53 (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Iraq's military expenditure (current USD)?

6.45 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 5,331% from 118.73 million in 1960 (6.34% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 9.6 billion in 2015 and the lowest 118.73 million in 1960.

How does Iraq rank?

40th highest of 150 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in military expenditure (current USD) unusual for Iraq?

In 2025, Iraq's military expenditure (current USD) rose 1.8% on 2024 (from 6.34 billion to 6.45 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2024), the average change was +20.7% and a typical year strayed about 33.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.XPND.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://www.sipri.org/databases Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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