| GCC | Iran | |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Military Index | 66.7 | 46.0 |
| Member states | 6 | 1 |
| Active military personnel | 404,800 | 610,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 153,700 | 350,000 |
| Military aircraft | 2,130 | 636 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 772 | 295 |
| Military ships | 378 | 70 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 2 |
| Main battle tanks | 1,960 | 1,713 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
| Combined defense budget | $141.2 billion | $9.5 billion |
Overview
GCC groups 6 countries against 1 for Iran. GCC fields 404,800 active troops combined vs 610,000 for Iran. GCC's combined $141B defense budget is 15:1 that of Iran ($10B).
In the air, GCC musters 2,130 military aircraft (772 combat) against 636 (295 combat) for Iran. At sea, the fleets total 378 ships for GCC and 70 for Iran, including 0 and 2 submarines respectively. On the ground, GCC deploys 1,960 main battle tanks vs 1,713 for Iran.
Combined Military Index
Country ranking →| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 15% | 81.2 | 497,328 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 78.7 | 1,960 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 59.7 | 378 ships, weighted by type |
| Air power | 25% | 77.4 | 2,130 aircraft, weighted by type & age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 81.5 | $141B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×1.15 | Budget per soldier |
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 15% | 85.9 | 797,000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 72.4 | 1,713 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 37.9 | 70 ships, weighted by type |
| Air power | 25% | 58.4 | 636 aircraft, weighted by type & age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 60.9 | $10B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.94 | Budget per soldier |
Combined scores treat each coalition as a single force: raw pillar values (troops, weighted equipment points, warheads, budgets) are summed across members and re-scored on the Global Military Index scale. Alliance cohesion, geography and logistics are not modeled.
Forces by Domain
Member Forces
| Country | GMI | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 55.9 | 257,000 | 914 | 29 | 62% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 51.0 | 63,000 | 548 | 79 | 16% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 46.0 | 16,500 | 275 | 126 | 11% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 42.9 | 17,500 | 131 | 123 | 6% |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | 36.6 | 42,600 | 126 | 21 | 5% |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 29.4 | 8,200 | 136 | — | 1% |
| Country | GMI | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 46.6 | 610,000 | 636 | 70 | 100% |
Economy & Geography
| GCC | Iran | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60.9 million | 91.6 million |
| Combined GDP | $2.3 trillion | $475.3 billion |
| GDP per capita | $38,182 | $5,190 |
| Defense share of GDP | 6.1% | 2.0% |
| Land area | 2,572,980 km² | 1,531,595 km² |
| Coastline | 7,273 km | 2,440 km |
| Coalition | Country | Status | Warheads | Deployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 🇮🇷 Iran | Acquiring | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is stronger, GCC or Iran?
On the combined Global Military Index, GCC scores 66.7 against 46.0 for Iran. The score aggregates each bloc's manpower, ground, naval, air, nuclear and budget pillars as if it fought as a single force — it ignores geography, cohesion and logistics, which decide real wars.
How many troops do GCC and Iran have?
GCC fields 404,800 active military personnel across 6 member states, plus 153,700 reserves. Iran fields 610,000 active personnel and 350,000 reserves.
How much do GCC and Iran spend on defense?
Combined defense spending reaches $141B a year for GCC and $10B for Iran, summing each member's latest reported military budget.
Who has more military aircraft, GCC or Iran?
GCC operates 2,130 military aircraft (772 combat aircraft), while Iran operates 636 (295 combat). Each member is counted at its most recent inventory year in the GlobalMilitary.net database.