Iraq vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for Iraq and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iraq | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 47,020,774 | 36,973,555 | +27.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 254 | 1,277 | −80.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,410 | 34,537 | −84.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.4 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 435,050 | 2,149,690 | −79.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 108 | 17 | +528.4% |
| Median age (years) | 21.5 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 81.5 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 15.5 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 69.9 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,179 | 80,331 | −92.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.36 | 7.30 | −67.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.87 | 22.31 | −78.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 131 | 2,173 | −94.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 459,000 | 282,000 | +62.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 9.8 | 7.6 | +28.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 4.40 | 1.92 | +129.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iraq relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors Iraq. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Saudi Arabia is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Iraq leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 17 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,173 against Iraq's 131 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 80,331 against Iraq's 6,179 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's gdp per capita (34,537) is about 6.4 times Iraq's (5,410).
- Iraq's population density (108) is about 6.3 times Saudi Arabia's (17).
- Saudi Arabia's gdp (nominal) (1,277) is about 5.0 times Iraq's (254).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iraq and Saudi Arabia differ most?
Where are Iraq and Saudi Arabia most alike?
On how many indicators is Iraq ahead of Saudi Arabia?
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 Saudi Arabia.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.