Iran vs Iraq: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Iran | Iraq | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 92.4m2025 | 47.0m2025 | 17 · 34 |
| Area | 1,745,150 km²2024 | 435,050 km²2024 | 17 · 59 |
| Density | 56.42024 | 106.12024 | 149 · 100 |
| Urban share | 77.4%2025 | 69.9%2025 | 69 · 90 |
| Fertility | 1.682024 | 3.222024 | 130 · 49 |
| Aged 65+ | 8.6%2025 | 3.4%2025 | 110 · 181 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $363bn2025 | $254bn2025 | 44 · 54 |
| GDP per capita | $3,9242025 | $5,4102025 | 153 · 136 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $19,6992025 | $14,2672025 | 107 · 124 |
| GDP growth | -2.8%2025 | -2.2%2025 | 207 · 205 |
| Agriculture share | 10.6%2025 | 3.4%2025 | 66 · 122 |
| Industry share | 39.6%2025 | 45.4%2025 | 16 · 9 |
| Services share | 47.1%2025 | 52.3%2025 | 160 · 136 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 42.2%2025 | 0.3%2025 | 5 · 161 |
| Tax revenue | — | 1.3%2019 | — · 141 |
| Military spending | 2.09%2025 | 2.45%2025 | 57 · 43 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 25.8%2025 | 39.8%2024 | 123 · 85 |
| FDI inflows | 0.5%2025 | -3.0%2025 | 160 · 191 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 8.3%2025 | 15.5%2025 | 54 · 15 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 4.9%2025 | 25.5%2025 | 180 · 97 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 58.7%2022 | — | 65 · — |
| Education spending | 2.8%2023 | — | 151 · — |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs2024 | 72.4 yrs2024 | 76 · 132 |
| Infant mortality | 10.32024 | 20.12024 | 113 · 69 |
| Health spending | 6.0%2023 | 5.5%2023 | 104 · 117 |
| Physicians | 1.812023 | 1.022022 | 88 · 109 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 85.3%2024 | 81.5%2024 | 81 · 99 |
| Fixed broadband | 12.12024 | 17.62024 | 111 · 93 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 47 · 48 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.05 t2024 | 5.18 t2024 | 23 · 50 |
| Renewable energy | 0.9%2021 | 1.1%2021 | 195 · 188 |
| Forest cover | 6.6%2024 | 1.6%2024 | 176 · 191 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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