Iran vs Afghanistan: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Iran | Afghanistan | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 92.4m2025 | 43.8m2025 | 17 · 36 |
| Area | 1,745,150 km²2024 | 652,870 km²2024 | 17 · 40 |
| Density | 56.42024 | 65.42024 | 149 · 140 |
| Urban share | 77.4%2025 | 25.9%2025 | 69 · 204 |
| Fertility | 1.682024 | 4.762024 | 130 · 9 |
| Aged 65+ | 8.6%2025 | 2.4%2025 | 110 · 210 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $363bn2025 | $17.8bn2024 | 44 · 139 |
| GDP per capita | $3,9242025 | $4172024 | 153 · 210 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $19,6992025 | $2,2362024 | 107 · 189 |
| GDP growth | -2.8%2025 | 1.9%2024 | 207 · 149 |
| Agriculture share | 10.6%2025 | 34.3%2024 | 66 · 6 |
| Industry share | 39.6%2025 | 14.5%2024 | 16 · 163 |
| Services share | 47.1%2025 | 45.2%2024 | 160 · 170 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 42.2%2025 | -6.6%2024 | 5 · 180 |
| Military spending | 2.09%2025 | 1.83%2021 | 57 · 76 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 25.8%2025 | 15.7%2024 | 123 · 160 |
| FDI inflows | 0.5%2025 | 0.1%2021 | 160 · 170 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 8.3%2025 | 13.4%2025 | 54 · 21 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 4.9%2025 | 27.0%2021 | 180 · 89 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 58.7%2022 | 10.9%2020 | 65 · 150 |
| Education spending | 2.8%2023 | — | 151 · — |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs2024 | 66.3 yrs2024 | 76 · 184 |
| Infant mortality | 10.32024 | 48.32024 | 113 · 13 |
| Health spending | 6.0%2023 | 15.0%2023 | 104 · 4 |
| Physicians | 1.812023 | 0.322023 | 88 · 139 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 85.3%2024 | 16.1%2024 | 81 · 182 |
| Fixed broadband | 12.12024 | 0.12023 | 111 · 197 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 87.8%2024 | 47 · 166 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.05 t2024 | 0.28 t2024 | 23 · 176 |
| Renewable energy | 0.9%2021 | 20.0%2022 | 195 · 107 |
| Forest cover | 6.6%2024 | 1.9%2024 | 176 · 189 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
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Life expectancy
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Population
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Internet users
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Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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