2026 military data comparison
Iran vs Japan Military Power
Compare Iran and Japan across 21 available personnel, equipment and spending indicators. MilitaryDex ranks Iran #13 and Japan #16 in the 2026 edition.
Iran
15.8Strength Score
9 indicators higher
Japan
12.7Strength Score
10 indicators higher
Comparison at a glance
Higher MSS score
Iran
15.8 vs 12.7
Indicators higher
9–10
2 tied
Global ranks
#13 / #16
of 145 profiles
Defense budgets
$9.2B
vs $58.0B
Category scorecard
Manpower3 – 0 – 0
Air force0 – 0 – 5
Navy1 – 1 – 3
Army and ground forces5 – 0 – 0
Financial and strategic0 – 1 – 2
Largest reported differences
Destroyers: Japan
Iran 0 · Japan 41
Multiple-launch rocket systems: Iran
Iran 1,550 · Japan 99
Attack helicopters: Japan
Iran 13 · Japan 118
Paramilitary: Iran
Iran 220,000 · Japan 25,000