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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), Iran is 150.0% higher than Saudi Arabia.
- On gdp (nominal), Iran is 71.6% lower than Saudi Arabia.
- On gdp per capita, Iran is 88.6% lower than Saudi Arabia.
IranSaudi 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.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI