Iran vs Canada
Every indicator for Iran and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 41,651,653 | +121.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 2,320 | −84.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 55,698 | −93.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 15,634,410 | −88.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 3 | +1,887.8% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 7,892 | 29,347 | −73.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 1.31 | +53.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | 3.08 | +307.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 705 | −87.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 72,000 | +802.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 1.7 | +306.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 0.35 | +571.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Canada; 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 Canada leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population density, about 20 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 53 against Canada's 3 — roughly 20 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 55,698 against Iran's 3,924 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Iran's armed forces personnel (2020) (650,000) is about 9.0 times Canada's (72,000).
- Canada's area (15,634,410) is about 9.0 times Iran's (1,745,150).
- Canada's military expenditure per capita (705) is about 8.3 times Iran's (85).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Canada differ most?
In population density. Iran records 53 against Canada's 3 — a ratio of roughly 20 to one.
Where are Iran and Canada most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 2.01 and 1.31 — a gap of only %53.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Canada?
Iran is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Canada on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IranCanada
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 Canada.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI