Bangladesh vs Iran
Every indicator for Bangladesh and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 175,686,899 | 92,417,681 | +90.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 456 | 363 | +25.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 2,597 | 3,924 | −33.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.9 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 147,570 | 1,745,150 | −91.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 1,191 | 53 | +2,148.1% |
| Median age (years) | 26.7 | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 53.4 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.8 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 8.8 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 33.2 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 4,035 | 7,892 | −48.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.94 | 2.01 | −53.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 6.90 | 12.55 | −45.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 23 | 85 | −73.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 227,000 | 650,000 | −65.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.3 | 7.0 | −81.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.32 | 2.35 | −86.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bangladesh relative to Iran; a positive value favors Bangladesh. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Iran is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Bangladesh leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 22 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Bangladesh stands at 1,191 against Iran's 53 — roughly 22 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 1,745,150 against Bangladesh's 147,570 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Iran's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.35) is about 7.3 times Bangladesh's (0.32).
- Iran's armed forces per 1,000 people (7.0) is about 5.4 times Bangladesh's (1.3).
- Iran's military expenditure per capita (85) is about 3.7 times Bangladesh's (23).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bangladesh and Iran differ most?
In population density. Bangladesh records 1,191 against Iran's 53 — a ratio of roughly 22 to one.
Where are Bangladesh and Iran most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 456 and 363 — a gap of only %26.
On how many indicators is Bangladesh ahead of Iran?
Bangladesh is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Iran on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BangladeshIran
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 Bangladesh or Iran.
Bangladesh profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI