Islamic State militants have taken control of a huge swath of land in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate, a kind of Muslim empire. But while the group perceives itself as a state, others have doubts. We asked ourselves how the Islamic State, in its current dimensions, would compare with other countries.
81,000 square miles
The National Counterterrorism Center estimates the territory occupied by the Islamic State at 81,000 square miles. However, the size is a matter of dispute among scholars for two reasons. First, definitions of “occupied territories” differ: Some refer to areas in which fighting is still taking place, while others take into account only territory exclusively ruled by the Islamic State.
Second, some estimates include uninhabited areas, while others focus only on populated areas such as cities and their environs. A comparison to Britain, at 80,695 square miles, includes uninhabited areas.
31,500 fighters
Most estimates of the number of fighters on active duty are around 20,000, while the CIA estimates a maximum of 31,500 fighters. (Madagascar has 21,600 soldiers.) The number varies depending on whether you count only those who fight for the ideals and aims of the Islamic State itself, which is a smaller group. Although politicians worry about the presence of foreign fighters in the ranks of the Islamic State, local fighters still account for the majority. A variety of studies estimate that foreigners account for 20 percent to 30 percent of the organization’s manpower.
about 50,000 barrels of oil
Several oil fields are located within the territory occupied by the Islamic State. The Wall Street Journal estimates that the oil production of these fields could range from 30,000 to 70,000 barrels per day. The numbers vary because the Islamic State is thought to produce less oil than it could theoretically extract. An average production of 50,000 barrels per day would match the size of Bahrain’s production, which is the lowest in the Persian Gulf region. This is comparable to the oil production of Mississippi (66,000 barrels per day).
$1,000,000
Based on its oil revenue, ransom payments for kidnappings of foreigners and locals, and robberies of banks and other institutions within its occupied territory, the Islamic State’s revenue is thought to exceed $1 million a day. This would match the Vatican’s revenue. However, the Islamic State’s actual figures could be much higher.
