Iran vs United Kingdom
Iran vs United Kingdom: Military share of state spending
Military share of state spending in 2025: 11.2% of government spending in Iran and 5.4% of government spending in United Kingdom, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Iran, by 5.7 percentage points, or 2.05 times that in United Kingdom.
% of government spending · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Iran has been higher since 1995, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2025, Iran ranked 22 and United Kingdom ranked 69 of 150 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
% of government spending · SIPRI
| Year | Iran | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.2 | 5.4 |
| 2024 | 11.9 | 5.6 |
| 2023 | 14.9 | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 14 | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 14.1 | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 14.5 | 4.3 |
| 2019 | 14.6 | 5.1 |
| 2018 | 14.6 | 5 |
| 2017 | 16.1 | 5 |
| 2016 | 15.4 | 5 |
| 2015 | 15.6 | 5.1 |
| 2014 | 14.8 | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 15.6 | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 19.3 | 5.6 |
| 2011 | 13 | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 16 | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 15.7 | 5.9 |
| 2008 | 13 | 6.1 |
| 2007 | 15.3 | 6.2 |
| 2006 | 14.3 | 6.2 |
| 2005 | 13.6 | 6.3 |
| 2004 | 14.9 | 6.5 |
| 2003 | 12.1 | 6.8 |
| 2002 | 11.1 | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 14.6 | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 14 | 7 |
| 1999 | 12.6 | 7.1 |
| 1998 | 12.9 | 7.2 |
| 1997 | 11.9 | 7.3 |
| 1996 | 10.7 | 7.6 |
| 1995 | 8.5 | 7.6 |
| 1994 | 7.6 | 8.3 |
| 1993 | 5.1 | 8.7 |
| 1992 | 9.9 | 9.4 |
| 1991 | 12.5 | 10.5 |
| 1990 | 14.5 | 10.4 |
| 1989 | – | 11 |
| 1988 | – | 11.3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The part of everything the government spends that goes on its armed forces and defence, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Ranks count the 150 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Iran vs United Kingdom
Health
- Life expectancyIran: 77.7 years in 2023United Kingdom: 81.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIran: 1.1 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIran: 9.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterIran: 94.2% in 2022United Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022
- DepressionIran: 5.12% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateIran: 5.4 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIran: 90.6 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthIran: 1.12% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIran: 1.7 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIran: 77.4% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageIran: 32.9 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIran: 7.9% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateIran: 2.9 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIran: 2.09% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIran: $7.45B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personIran: $80 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIran: 650,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerIran: 1.64% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIran: 2.35% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIran: 42 million TIV in 2024United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIran: 80 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025