Iran vs Qatar
Every indicator for Iran and Qatar side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Qatar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 2,972,215 | +3,009.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 216 | +68.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 72,525 | −94.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 82.5 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 11,490 | +15,088.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 259 | −79.5% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | — | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 98.1 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 0.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 1.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 99.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2022) (million $) | 7,892 | 15,412 | −48.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 6.50 | −69.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | 26.88 | −53.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 5,185 | −98.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 22,000 | +2,854.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 7.4 | −5.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 1.07 | +119.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Qatar; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Qatar is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Iran leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 152 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 1,745,150 against Qatar's 11,490 — roughly 152 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Qatar stands at 5,185 against Iran's 85 — roughly 61 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 92,417,681 against Qatar's 2,972,215 — roughly 31 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 650,000 against Qatar's 22,000 — roughly 30 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Qatar stands at 72,525 against Iran's 3,924 — roughly 18 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Qatar differ most?
In area. Iran records 1,745,150 against Qatar's 11,490 — a ratio of roughly 152 to one.
Where are Iran and Qatar most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 7.4 and 7.0 — a gap of only %5.2.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Qatar?
Iran is higher on 5 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Qatar on 7. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IranQatar
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 Qatar.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Qatar profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI