Iran vs Kazakhstan
Every indicator for Iran and Kazakhstan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Kazakhstan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 20,843,754 | +343.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 306 | +18.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 14,692 | −73.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 74.5 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 2,724,902 | −36.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 8 | +592.3% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | 30.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 93.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 4.8 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 11.4 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 62.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 7,892 | 1,209 | +552.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 0.43 | +367.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | 1.94 | +546.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 58 | +47.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 71,000 | +815.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 3.4 | +106.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 0.74 | +217.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Kazakhstan; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Iran is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Kazakhstan leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 9.2 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Iran's armed forces personnel (2020) (650,000) is about 9.2 times Kazakhstan's (71,000).
- Iran's population density (53) is about 6.9 times Kazakhstan's (8).
- Iran's military expenditure (2024) (7,892) is about 6.5 times Kazakhstan's (1,209).
- Iran's military expenditure as a share of government spending (12.55) is about 6.5 times Kazakhstan's (1.94).
- Iran's military expenditure as a share of gdp (2.01) is about 4.7 times Kazakhstan's (0.43).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Kazakhstan differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Iran records 650,000 against Kazakhstan's 71,000 — a ratio of roughly 9.2 to one.
Where are Iran and Kazakhstan most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 363 and 306 — a gap of only %19.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Kazakhstan?
Iran is higher on 10 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Kazakhstan on 2. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IranKazakhstan
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 Kazakhstan.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Kazakhstan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI