China vs Iran
Every indicator for China and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 92,417,681 | +1,422.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 363 | +5,271.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 3,924 | +253.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 1,745,150 | +448.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 53 | +177.7% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 7,892 | +3,874.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.01 | −14.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 12.55 | −59.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 85 | +161.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 650,000 | +290.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 7.0 | −74.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 2.35 | −86.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Iran; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Iran leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal), about 54 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Iran's 363 — roughly 54 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Iran's 7,892 — roughly 40 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Iran's 92,417,681 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Iran's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.35) is about 7.1 times China's (0.33).
- China's area (9,562,910) is about 5.5 times Iran's (1,745,150).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Iran differ most?
In gdp (nominal). China records 19,498 against Iran's 363 — a ratio of roughly 54 to one.
Where are China and Iran most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 2.01 and 1.71 — a gap of only %18.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Iran?
China is higher on 8 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Iran on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaIran
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 China or Iran.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI