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Military of Iran

Military branches:Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force of the Military of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Niru-ye Hava'i-ye Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran; includes air defense); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Qods Force (special operations), and Basij Force (Popular Mobilization Army); Law Enforcement Forces (2007)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 18,319,545
females age 18-49: 17,541,037 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 15,665,725
females age 18-49: 15,005,597 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 862,056
females age 18-49: 808,044 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (2006)

Iran Quickstats

  • Population: 65,397,521 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 1.648 million sq km
  • Density: 42 /km² (158th)
  • GDP (total): $610 billion (2006)[¹]
  • GDP (per capita): $8,900 (2006)[¹]
  • Literacy: 77%

Languages of Iran

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  • Currency: Iranian rial (IRR)
  • Dial code: +98

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