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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), Iraq is 49.1% lower than Iran.
- On gdp (nominal), Iraq is 30.0% lower than Iran.
- On gdp per capita, Iraq is 37.9% higher than Iran.
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