Iraq vs Qatar
Every indicator for Iraq and Qatar side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iraq | Qatar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 47,020,774 | 2,972,215 | +1,482.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 254 | 216 | +17.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,410 | 72,525 | −92.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.4 | 82.5 | — |
| Area (km²) | 435,050 | 11,490 | +3,686.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 108 | 259 | −58.2% |
| Median age (years) | 21.5 | — | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 81.5 | 98.1 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 15.5 | 0.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 1.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 69.9 | 99.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2022) (million $) | 6,179 | 15,412 | −59.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.36 | 6.50 | −63.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.87 | 26.88 | −81.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 131 | 5,185 | −97.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 459,000 | 22,000 | +1,986.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 9.8 | 7.4 | +31.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 4.40 | 1.07 | +311.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iraq relative to Qatar; 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, Qatar on 6. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita (about 39×); they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Qatar stands at 5,185 against Iraq's 131 — roughly 39 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iraq stands at 435,050 against Qatar's 11,490 — roughly 38 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Iraq stands at 459,000 against Qatar's 22,000 — roughly 21 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Iraq stands at 47,020,774 against Qatar's 2,972,215 — roughly 16 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Qatar stands at 72,525 against Iraq's 5,410 — roughly 13 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iraq and Qatar differ most?
In military expenditure per capita. Qatar records 5,185 against Iraq's 131 — a ratio of roughly 39 to one.
Where are Iraq and Qatar most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 254 and 216 — a gap of only %18.
On how many indicators is Iraq ahead of Qatar?
Iraq is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Qatar on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IraqQatar
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 Qatar.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Qatar profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI