Iraq Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Iraq's military spending was 1.87% in 2025, ranked 64th globally. This represents a 20.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 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.
Iraq’s military expenditure has fallen sharply from an all‑time peak of 12.49 % of GDP in 1974 to a trough of 1.64 % in 2022, before rising modestly to 1.87 % in 2025, placing it 64th globally. Over the 44‑year series, the share of resources devoted to defence has been on a long‑term downward trajectory, reflecting the country’s post‑invasion reconstruction, fluctuating security demands and fiscal constraints. The 2025 level is virtually identical to the spending shares of Czechia (1.88 %) and Germany (1.86 %), both of which maintain relatively modest defence budgets within advanced economies. Iraq’s recent uptick follows a period of intensified internal security operations and a modest increase in oil revenues, yet the figure remains well below the historical peak and the regional average for middle‑income states. Continued diversification of the economy and sustained political stability could either curb further increases or, if security threats intensify, push the share of GDP allocated to the military upward again.
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 |
Detected Pattern
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
Iraq's military spending was 1.87% in 2025. Ranked 64th globally. This represents a 20.5% decrease from the previous year.
Iraq's military spending peaked at 12.49% in 1974.
The lowest military spending in Iraq was 1.64% in 2022.
Iraq ranks 64th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iraq's military spending is projected to reach 1.87% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Iraq in 2025 was 1.87%. This ranks 64th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_military-spending,
title = {Iraq Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}