Iran vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for Iran and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 36,973,555 | +150.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 1,277 | −71.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 34,537 | −88.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 2,149,690 | −18.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 17 | +207.9% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 7,892 | 80,331 | −90.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 7.30 | −72.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | 22.31 | −43.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 2,173 | −96.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 282,000 | +130.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 7.6 | −7.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 1.92 | +22.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Saudi Arabia is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Iran leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 25 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,173 against Iran's 85 — roughly 25 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 80,331 against Iran's 7,892 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's gdp per capita (34,537) is about 8.8 times Iran's (3,924).
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure as a share of gdp (7.30) is about 3.6 times Iran's (2.01).
- Saudi Arabia's gdp (nominal) (1,277) is about 3.5 times Iran's (363).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Saudi Arabia differ most?
Where are Iran and Saudi Arabia most alike?
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Saudi Arabia?
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 Saudi Arabia.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.