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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Iran

Armed forces personnel in Iran in 2020 — 650,000 people. Ranked 10 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 6.6%.

2020 650,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 10of 170
Period maximum 868,000 people1997
Period minimum 440,000 people1990

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Iran, 1985–2020400,000600,000800,0001M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 610,000 people1989: 604,000 people1990: 440,000 people1991: 465,000 people1992: 528,000 people1993: 528,000 people1994: 528,000 people1995: 763,000 people1996: 863,000 people1997: 868,000 people1998: 820,000 people1999: 785,600 people2000: 753,000 people2001: 553,000 people2002: 560,000 people2003: 580,000 people2004: 460,000 people2005: 585,000 people2006: 585,000 people2007: 563,000 people2008: 563,000 people2009: 563,000 people2010: 563,000 people2011: 563,000 people2012: 563,000 people2013: 563,000 people2014: 563,000 people2015: 563,000 people2016: 563,000 people2017: 563,000 people2018: 650,000 people2019: 650,000 people2020: 650,000 people
Change over the period: +40,000 (+6.56%) Average annual rate: 0.18 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iran

Iran 650,000 people
World 27.41M people
Middle East & North Africa 4.83M people
Southern Asia computed 5.48M people
Lower-middle-income countries computed 9.31M people
Armed forces personnel — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 650,000 +0 +0%
2019 650,000 +0 +0%
2018 650,000 +87,000 +15.45%
2017 563,000 +0 +0%
2016 563,000 +0 +0%
2015 563,000 +0 +0%
2014 563,000 +0 +0%
2013 563,000 +0 +0%
2012 563,000 +0 +0%
2011 563,000 +0 +0%
2010 563,000 +0 +0%
2009 563,000 +0 +0%
2008 563,000 +0 +0%
2007 563,000 −22,000 −3.76%
2006 585,000 +0 +0%
2005 585,000 +125,000 +27.17%
2004 460,000 −120,000 −20.69%
2003 580,000 +20,000 +3.57%
2002 560,000 +7,000 +1.27%
2001 553,000 −200,000 −26.56%
2000 753,000 −32,600 −4.15%
1999 785,600 −34,400 −4.2%
1998 820,000 −48,000 −5.53%
1997 868,000 +5,000 +0.58%
1996 863,000 +100,000 +13.11%
1995 763,000 +235,000 +44.51%
1994 528,000 +0 +0%
1993 528,000 +0 +0%
1992 528,000 +63,000 +13.55%
1991 465,000 +25,000 +5.68%
1990 440,000 −164,000 −27.15%
1989 604,000 — —
1985 610,000 — —

Southern Asia, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

IN India 3.07M PK Pakistan 943,000 IR Iran 650,000 LK Sri Lanka 317,000 BD Bangladesh 227,000 AF Afghanistan 165,000 NP Nepal 112,000
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for Iran

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Iran by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Iran by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

Iran by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Iran by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

Iran by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Iran by year
All indicators for Iran