Iran vs Japan
Every indicator for Iran and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 123,366,734 | −25.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 4,435 | −91.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 35,951 | −89.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 377,969 | +361.7% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 326 | −83.8% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 7,892 | 55,274 | −85.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 1.37 | +46.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | 3.25 | +286.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 448 | −80.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 261,000 | +149.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 2.1 | +232.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 0.38 | +518.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Japan; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Iran is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Japan on 6. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal) (about 12×); they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 4,435 against Iran's 363 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Japan's gdp per capita (35,951) is about 9.2 times Iran's (3,924).
- Japan's military expenditure (2024) (55,274) is about 7.0 times Iran's (7,892).
- Iran's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.35) is about 6.2 times Japan's (0.38).
- Japan's population density (326) is about 6.2 times Iran's (53).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Japan differ most?
In gdp (nominal). Japan records 4,435 against Iran's 363 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Iran and Japan most alike?
In population (2025), at 123,366,734 and 92,417,681 — a gap of only %33.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Japan?
Iran is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IranJapan
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 Iran or Japan.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI