Iran vs Saudi Arabia: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Iran | Saudi Arabia | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 92.4m2025 | 37.0m2025 | 17 · 43 |
| Area | 1,745,150 km²2024 | 2,149,690 km²2024 | 17 · 12 |
| Density | 56.42024 | 16.42024 | 149 · 196 |
| Urban share | 77.4%2025 | 84.6%2025 | 69 · 47 |
| Fertility | 1.682024 | 2.312024 | 130 · 84 |
| Aged 65+ | 8.6%2025 | 3.1%2025 | 110 · 195 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $363bn2025 | $1.3tn2025 | 44 · 19 |
| GDP per capita | $3,9242025 | $34,5372025 | 153 · 50 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $19,6992025 | $73,7842025 | 107 · 25 |
| GDP growth | -2.8%2025 | 4.5%2025 | 207 · 63 |
| Agriculture share | 10.6%2025 | 2.6%2025 | 66 · 138 |
| Industry share | 39.6%2025 | 43.0%2025 | 16 · 12 |
| Services share | 47.1%2025 | 48.9%2025 | 160 · 150 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 42.2%2025 | 2.0%2025 | 5 · 122 |
| Tax revenue | — | 8.1%2024 | — · 128 |
| Military spending | 2.09%2025 | 6.48%2025 | 57 · 7 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 25.8%2025 | 29.7%2025 | 123 · 115 |
| FDI inflows | 0.5%2025 | 2.6%2025 | 160 · 81 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 8.3%2025 | 3.0%2025 | 54 · 147 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 4.9%2025 | 19.9%2025 | 180 · 126 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 58.7%2022 | 83.9%2024 | 65 · 22 |
| Education spending | 2.8%2023 | 4.5%2023 | 151 · 79 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs2024 | 79.0 yrs2024 | 76 · 57 |
| Infant mortality | 10.32024 | 4.72024 | 113 · 151 |
| Health spending | 6.0%2023 | 5.7%2023 | 104 · 113 |
| Physicians | 1.812023 | 3.412023 | 88 · 48 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 85.3%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 81 · 3 |
| Fixed broadband | 12.12024 | 44.12024 | 111 · 18 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 47 · 93 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.05 t2024 | 18.48 t2024 | 23 · 8 |
| Renewable energy | 0.9%2021 | 0.1%2021 | 195 · 205 |
| Forest cover | 6.6%2024 | 1.3%2024 | 176 · 195 |
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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