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Military Strength: Flag of Iraq Iraq vs Flag of Syria Syria

Military Strength
Iraq Syria
Global Military Index 41.9 (#45) 29.8 (#71)
Military personnel 459,000 269,000
– Reserve troops 0 0
– Paramilitary forces 266,000 0
Military aircraft 396 414
– incl. combat aircraft 53 225
– incl. bombers 0 0
– incl. helicopters 213 153
Military ships 62 0
– incl. aircraft carriers 0 0
– incl. submarines 0 0
Main battle tanks 1,025 365
Nuclear warheads 0 0
Military Forces Chart

Overview

Iraq (ranked #45 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Syria (#71) on the Global Military Index. Iraq fields 459,000 active troops vs 269,000 for Syria, backed by 266,000 paramilitary. Iraq's $7B defense budget is 2.8x that of Syria ($2B).

In the air, Iraq operates 396 aircraft including 53 combat jets, while Syria fields 414 with 225 fighters.

Iraq operates a 62-ship naval fleet; Syria has no navy. On the ground, Iraq deploys 1,025 main battle tanks vs 365 for Syria.

Neither Iraq nor Syria possesses nuclear weapons.

Global Military Index

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🇮🇶 Iraq World #45
41.8/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 75.3 272800 effective
Ground forces 20% 70.1 1025 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 26.4 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 49.3 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 49.5 $7.0B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.00 Budget per soldier
🇸🇾 Syria World #71
29.8/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 70.8 169000 effective
Ground forces 20% 38.7 365 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 54.5 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 40.6 $2.5B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×0.94 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
Iraq Syria
Population 46.0 million 24.7 million
GDP $279.6 billion $23.6 billion
GDP per capita $6,074 $957
Military budget $7.0 billion $2.5 billion
– share of GDP 2.5% 4.1%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 13.6%
– per capita spending $152 $110
Land area 437,367 km² 183,630 km²
Coastline 58 km 193 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
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Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, Iraq or Syria?
Iraq has approximately 459,000 active military personnel compared to Syria's 269,000, giving Iraq a 1.7:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Iraq or Syria?
Syria operates 225 combat aircraft compared to Iraq's 53. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, Iraq or Syria?
Iraq has a larger navy with 62 vessels compared to Syria's 0 ships.
Which country spends more on defense, Iraq or Syria?
Iraq has a larger defense budget at $7.0 billion (3:1 more) compared to Syria's $2.5 billion annually.
Do Iraq and Syria have nuclear weapons?
Neither Iraq nor Syria currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Iraq and Syria compare?
Iraq operates 1,025 main battle tanks compared to Syria's 365. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.