Azerbaijan vs Iran
Every indicator for Azerbaijan and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Azerbaijan | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,246,996 | 92,417,681 | −88.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 76 | 363 | −79.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 7,411 | 3,924 | +88.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.6 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 86,600 | 1,745,150 | −95.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 118 | 53 | +123.4% |
| Median age (years) | 32.7 | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 90.8 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.5 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 5.6 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 58.6 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 3,777 | 7,892 | −52.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 4.99 | 2.01 | +148.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 15.23 | 12.55 | +21.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 369 | 85 | +331.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 82,000 | 650,000 | −87.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 8.0 | 7.0 | +13.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.58 | 2.35 | −32.8% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Azerbaijan relative to Iran; a positive value favors Azerbaijan. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Azerbaijan is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Iran on 6. The widest separation is in area (about 20×); they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 1,745,150 against Azerbaijan's 86,600 — roughly 20 times as much.
- Iran's population (2025) (92,417,681) is about 9.0 times Azerbaijan's (10,246,996).
- Iran's armed forces personnel (2020) (650,000) is about 7.9 times Azerbaijan's (82,000).
- Iran's gdp (nominal) (363) is about 4.8 times Azerbaijan's (76).
- Azerbaijan's military expenditure per capita (369) is about 4.3 times Iran's (85).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Azerbaijan and Iran differ most?
In area. Iran records 1,745,150 against Azerbaijan's 86,600 — a ratio of roughly 20 to one.
Where are Azerbaijan and Iran most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 8.0 and 7.0 — a gap of only %14.
On how many indicators is Azerbaijan ahead of Iran?
Azerbaijan is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Iran on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
AzerbaijanIran
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Azerbaijan or Iran.
Azerbaijan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI