Iraq vs Iran
Every indicator for Iraq and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iraq | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 47,020,774 | 92,417,681 | −49.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 254 | 363 | −30.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,410 | 3,924 | +37.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.4 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 435,050 | 1,745,150 | −75.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 108 | 53 | +104.1% |
| Median age (years) | 21.5 | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 81.5 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 15.5 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 69.9 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,179 | 7,892 | −21.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.36 | 2.01 | +17.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.87 | 12.55 | −61.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 131 | 85 | +53.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 459,000 | 650,000 | −29.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 9.8 | 7.0 | +38.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 4.40 | 2.35 | +87.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iraq relative to Iran; a positive value favors Iraq. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Iraq is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Iran on 6. The widest separation is in area (about 4.0×); they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Iran's area (1,745,150) is about 4.0 times Iraq's (435,050).
- Iran's military expenditure as a share of government spending (12.55) is about 2.6 times Iraq's (4.87).
- Iraq's population density (108) is about 2.0 times Iran's (53).
- On population (2025), Iran is %97 higher than Iraq: 92,417,681 against 47,020,774.
- On armed forces as a share of the labor force, Iraq is %87 higher than Iran: 4.40 against 2.35.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iraq and Iran differ most?
In area. Iran records 1,745,150 against Iraq's 435,050 — a ratio of roughly 4.0 to one.
Where are Iraq and Iran most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 2.36 and 2.01 — a gap of only %17.
On how many indicators is Iraq ahead of Iran?
Iraq 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.
IraqIran
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 Iraq or Iran.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI