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Iraq Military Spending

Military expenditure as % of GDP  MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS

1.87% −0.48% (-20.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #64 Global Peak 12.49% (1974) Source World Bank

Iraq Military Spending (1960–2025)

Overview

Iraq's military spending stood at 1.87% in 2025, a decline of +0.48% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.87% by 2025. Iraq ranked 64th globally.

Data & projection

Year Military Spending YoY change Rank
2027* trend 1.57% - -
2026* trend 1.72% - -
2025* trend 1.87% - -
2025 1.87% −0.48% #64
2024 2.36% +0.09% #110
2023 2.26% +0.62% #110
2022 1.64% −0.62% #91
2021 2.26% −0.85% #116
2020 3.11% −0.13% #130
2019 3.24% +0.49% #134
2018 2.75% −1.16% #129
2017 3.91% +0.36% #141
2016 3.55% −1.86% #135
2015 5.41% +2.46% #144
2014 2.95% −0.37% #126
2013 3.32% +1.42% #133
2012 1.90% −0.40% #104
2011 2.30% −0.41% #110
Show all years (1960-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +51.0% GDP growth 8.0% C/A balance 20.2%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Iraq's military spending?

Iraq's military spending was 1.87% in 2025. Ranked 64th globally. This represents a 20.5% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest military spending in Iraq?

Iraq's military spending peaked at 12.49% in 1974.

What was the lowest military spending in Iraq?

The lowest military spending in Iraq was 1.64% in 2022.

How does Iraq rank in military spending?

Iraq ranks 64th globally in military spending as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for military spending?

The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected military spending of Iraq in 2025?

Iraq's military spending is projected to reach 1.87% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the military spending of Iraq in 2025?

The military spending of Iraq in 2025 was 1.87%. This ranks 64th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Iraq Military Spending. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/iraq/military-spending
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_iraq_military-spending, title = {Iraq Military Spending}, url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/military-spending}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }