Iran vs Italy

Every indicator for Iran and Italy side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorIranItalyDifference
Population (2025) (people)92,417,68158,915,656+56.9%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)3632,552−85.8%
GDP per capita ($)3,92443,309−90.9%
Life expectancy (years)77.984.0—
Area (km²)1,745,150302,070+477.7%
Population density (people/km²)53195−72.8%
Median age (years)33.848.4—
Internet usage (%)85.389.2—
Unemployment rate (%)8.36.4—
Inflation (%)42.21.5—
Urban population (%)77.469.7—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)7,89237,965−79.2%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)2.011.61+24.8%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)12.553.18+294.7%
Military expenditure per capita ($)85644−86.7%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)650,000338,000+92.3%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)7.05.7+22.6%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)2.351.35+74.1%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Italy; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Iran is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Italy leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in gdp per capita, about 11 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.

Key differences

  • GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Italy stands at 43,309 against Iran's 3,924 — roughly 11 times as much.
  • Italy's military expenditure per capita (644) is about 7.5 times Iran's (85).
  • Italy's gdp (nominal) (2,552) is about 7.0 times Iran's (363).
  • Iran's area (1,745,150) is about 5.8 times Italy's (302,070).
  • Italy's military expenditure (2024) (37,965) is about 4.8 times Iran's (7,892).

Frequently asked questions

Where do Iran and Italy differ most?
In gdp per capita. Italy records 43,309 against Iran's 3,924 — a ratio of roughly 11 to one.
Where are Iran and Italy most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 7.0 and 5.7 — a gap of only %23.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Italy?
Iran is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Italy on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
Iran and Italy — core indicators
020 M40 M60 M80 M100 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Iran: 92,417,681GDP (nominal) — Iran: 363GDP per capita — Iran: 3,924Area — Iran: 1,745,150Population (2025) — Italy: 58,915,656GDP (nominal) — Italy: 2,552GDP per capita — Italy: 43,309Area — Italy: 302,070
IranItaly

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving Iran or Italy.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI