Iraq Military Spending
Iraq spends an estimated 3.5% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $6.4 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1957–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$6.7 billion
Ranked #41 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
3.5%
Ranked #27 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $6.4B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$8.9 billion
Reached in 2015
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Iraq run to 2025.
Iraq Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Iraq is estimated to have spent $6.7 billion on military and defense, representing 3.5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Iraq is the #41 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $6.4 billion to $6.7 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 12.5% in 1974. The historical average military budget is 5.9% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 3.50% | $7,038M |
| 2026(estimate) | 3.50% | $6,718M |
| 2025 | 2.45% | $6,399M |
| 2024 | 2.27% | $6,336M |
| 2023 | 2.26% | $5,071M |
| 2022 | 1.64% | $4,823M |
| 2021 | 2.26% | $5,108M |
| 2020 | 3.11% | $5,304M |
| 2019 | 3.24% | $7,140M |
| 2018 | 2.75% | $5,891M |
| 2017 | 3.91% | $6,934M |
| 2016 | 3.55% | $5,583M |
| 2015 | 5.41% | $8,919M |
| 2014 | 2.95% | $6,512M |
| 2013 | 3.32% | $7,481M |
| 2012 | 1.90% | $4,057M |
| 2011 | 2.30% | $4,462M |
| 2010 | 2.71% | $4,141M |
| 2009 | 2.90% | $3,675M |
| 2008 | 2.37% | $3,855M |
| 2007 | 2.24% | $2,916M |
| 2006 | 1.90% | $1,906M |
| 2005 | 2.24% | $2,655M |
| 2004 | 1.68% | $1,967M |
| 1981 | 10.83% | — |
| 1980 | 5.51% | — |
| 1979 | 6.15% | — |
| 1978 | 8.12% | $1,986M |
| 1977 | 9.81% | $2,100M |
| 1976 | 11.16% | $2,011M |
| 1975 | 11.67% | $2,049M |
| 1974 | 12.49% | $2,017M |
| 1973 | 12.26% | $1,026M |
| 1972 | 10.64% | $828M |
| 1971 | 10.52% | $856M |
| 1970 | 11.17% | $842M |
| 1969 | 11.38% | $824M |
| 1968 | 9.22% | $676M |
| 1967 | 8.43% | $556M |
| 1966 | 8.52% | $575M |
| 1965 | 8.87% | $563M |
| 1964 | 7.96% | $460M |
| 1963 | 8.25% | $405M |
| 1962 | 6.91% | $348M |
| 1961 | 6.85% | $328M |
| 1960 | 7.05% | $313M |
| 1959 | 6.71% | $273M |
| 1958 | 6.08% | $233M |
| 1957 | 6.54% | $217M |