| GCC | Iran | |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ATLAS Index | 58.5 | 39.0 |
| Member states | 6 | 1 |
| Active military personnel | 404,800 | 610,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 153,700 | 350,000 |
| Military aircraft | 2,189 | 659 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 778 | 295 |
| Military ships | 444 | 112 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 2 |
| Main battle tanks | 1,960 | 1,713 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
| Combined defense budget | $137B | $9.5B |
Overview
GCC groups 6 countries against 1 for Iran. GCC fields 404,800 active troops combined vs 610,000 for Iran. GCC's combined $137B defense budget is 14:1 that of Iran ($9.5B).
In the air, GCC musters 2,189 military aircraft (778 combat) against 659 (295 combat) for Iran. At sea, the fleets total 444 ships for GCC and 112 for Iran, including 0 and 2 submarines respectively. On the ground, GCC deploys 1,960 main battle tanks vs 1,713 for Iran.
Combined ATLAS Index
Country ranking →| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 65.3 | 497,328 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 71.8 | 1,960 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 53.7 | 444 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 64.8 | 2,189 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 15% | 66.8 | $137B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.15 · naval ×1.16 · air ×1.02 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 71.1 | 797,000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 52.7 | 1,713 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 27.0 | 112 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 38.0 | 659 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 15% | 40.1 | $9.5B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.01 · naval ×1.20 · air ×1.04 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
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 ATLAS Index scale. Alliance cohesion, geography and logistics are not modeled.
Forces by Domain
Member Forces
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 48.6 | 257,000 | 914 | 30 | 64% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 39.6 | 63,000 | 592 | 83 | 16% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 31.8 | 17,500 | 134 | 123 | 6% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 31.7 | 16,500 | 283 | 126 | 8% |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | 28.1 | 42,600 | 126 | 17 | 5% |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 24.1 | 8,200 | 140 | 65 | 1% |
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 40.1 | 610,000 | 659 | 112 | 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 | 5.9% | 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 ATLAS Index, GCC scores 58.5 against 39.0 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 $137B a year for GCC and $9.5B for Iran, summing each member's latest reported military budget.
Who has more military aircraft, GCC or Iran?
GCC operates 2,189 military aircraft (778 combat aircraft), while Iran operates 659 (295 combat). Each member is counted at its most recent inventory year in the GlobalMilitary.net database.