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China vs Iran statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 91.6M in Iran (ranked 17/197). China's land area is 3,624,808 sq mi versus 626,451 sq mi for Iran (ranked 2nd vs. 17th).

By GDP, China ranks 2/197 ($18.7T) and Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B). By GDP per capita, China ranks 76/197 ($13,303), while Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190).

Main facts and rankings

China Iran
Population
1402578808
93468444
Population rank 2/197 17/197
GDP
$18.7T
2024
$475B
2024
GDP rank 2/197 34/197
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$5,190
2024
GDP per capita rank 76/197 119/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$19,874
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$162B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
34%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$1,764
2024
Government debt per person rank 47/185 122/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$2,964
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 626,451 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1
2023
1.7
2023
Median age
40.6 years
2024
34.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
78.2 years
2026

China and Iran: Comparison Charts

China and Iran economies compared

GDP
China

Iran
1x
Year GDP
China Iran
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $475,252,089,215
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $457,510,482,317
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $422,662,261,526
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $407,350,685,583
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $280,934,329,280
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $347,988,400,958
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $411,903,303,606
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $510,239,893,418
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $478,618,064,871
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $409,191,686,497
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $462,284,793,281
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $500,399,839,840
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $644,019,315,004
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $629,082,257,472
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $487,069,570,464
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $414,059,094,949
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $406,070,949,554
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $349,736,591,832
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $265,602,187,404
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $224,970,371,325
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $187,754,571,248
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $151,911,222,119
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $128,626,917,504
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $126,878,750,296
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $109,591,707,802
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $113,848,450,088
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $110,276,913,363
1997 $967,753,570,435 $113,919,163,421
1996 $868,523,936,530 $120,403,931,885
1995 $738,190,896,228 $96,419,225,744
1994 $566,929,539,493 $71,841,461,173
1993 $446,557,291,212 $63,743,623,232
1992 $428,502,354,788 $119,768,691,217
1991 $384,510,452,962 $131,637,664,958
1990 $361,560,229,446 $124,813,263,926
1989 $348,380,566,802 $120,496,362,916
1988 $312,888,888,889 $123,057,861,334
1987 $273,455,156,951 $134,009,995,923
1986 $301,310,144,928 $209,094,561,833
1985 $310,064,625,850 $180,183,629,600
1984 $260,442,857,143 $162,276,728,620
1983 $231,130,268,199 $156,365,156,618
1982 $205,480,916,031 $125,948,756,439
1981 $196,218,253,968 $100,499,312,750
1980 $191,487,500,000 $94,362,275,580
1979 $178,573,913,043 $90,391,877,326
1978 $149,788,617,886 $77,994,316,621
1977 $175,226,595,860 $80,600,122,702
1976 $154,196,810,059 $68,055,295,081
1975 $163,687,619,736 $51,776,222,350
1974 $144,418,433,058 $46,209,092,072
1973 $138,764,340,892 $27,081,698,250
1972 $113,871,930,714 $17,153,463,263
1971 $99,959,013,880 $13,731,802,833
1970 $92,752,930,873 $10,976,245,154
1969 $79,847,786,729 $9,743,089,607
1968 $70,980,323,819 $8,623,172,960
1967 $73,011,350,596 $7,555,383,690
1966 $76,854,053,259 $6,789,938,672
1965 $70,565,994,356 $6,197,319,929
1964 $59,821,862,703 $5,379,845,648
1963 $50,812,227,919 $4,928,628,018
1962 $47,310,737,754 $4,693,566,416
1961 $50,162,299,350 $4,426,949,095
1960 $59,846,235,025 $4,199,134,390

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

China and Iran economies compared

GDP per capita
China

Iran
1x
Year GDP per capita
China Iran
2024 $13,303 $5,190
2023 $12,951 $5,049
2022 $12,971 $4,721
2021 $12,887 $4,605
2020 $10,627 $3,203
2019 $10,343 $3,997
2018 $10,086 $4,783
2017 $8,980 $6,001
2016 $8,255 $5,711
2015 $8,175 $4,953
2014 $7,781 $5,672
2013 $7,147 $6,223
2012 $6,405 $8,114
2011 $5,704 $8,026
2010 $4,629 $6,291
2009 $3,898 $5,416
2008 $3,523 $5,377
2007 $2,735 $4,688
2006 $2,129 $3,619
2005 $1,778 $3,132
2004 $1,531 $2,672
2003 $1,307 $2,209
2002 $1,164 $1,891
2001 $1,065 $1,881
2000 $969 $1,650
1999 $881 $1,740
1998 $835 $1,709
1997 $787 $1,790
1996 $713 $1,915
1995 $613 $1,550
1994 $476 $1,168
1993 $379 $1,038
1992 $368 $1,957
1991 $334 $2,194
1990 $319 $2,138
1989 $311 $2,125
1988 $284 $2,234
1987 $252.3 $2,513
1986 $282.4 $4,064
1985 $295 $3,634
1984 $251.2 $3,395
1983 $225.9 $3,397
1982 $203.7 $2,845
1981 $197.4 $2,393
1980 $195.1 $2,368
1979 $184.3 $2,352
1978 $156.7 $2,101
1977 $185.7 $2,243
1976 $165.7 $1,954
1975 $178.6 $1,532
1974 $160.4 $1,409
1973 $157.3 $851
1972 $132.1 $555
1971 $118.8 $457
1970 $113.3 $377
1969 $100.3 $345
1968 $91.6 $314
1967 $96.8 $283.7
1966 $104.5 $262.9
1965 $98.7 $247.5
1964 $85.7 $221.7
1963 $74.5 $209.6
1962 $71.1 $205.8
1961 $76 $200.1
1960 $89.7 $195.6

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

China vs. Iran life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
China

Iran
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
China Iran
2026 79 78.2
2025 78.4 78.1
2024 78 77.9
2023 78 77.7
2022 78.2 76.8
2021 78.1 73.8
2020 78 74.1
2019 77.9 76.9
2018 77.7 76.6
2017 77.2 76.4
2016 77.2 76.2
2015 77 75.9
2014 76.7 75.6
2013 76.5 75.3
2012 76.2 75
2011 75.9 74.7
2010 75.7 74.4
2009 75.3 74
2008 74.8 73.7
2007 74.8 73.3
2006 74.4 72.9
2005 74.1 72.4
2004 73.7 72
2003 73.4 70.5
2002 73 71.1
2001 72.7 70.6
2000 72.3 70.2
1999 72 69.7
1998 71.6 69.2
1997 71.2 68.6
1996 70.8 68.3
1995 70.4 67.9
1994 69.8 67.5
1993 69.5 67
1992 69.1 66.7
1991 68.6 66.2
1990 68.2 64.1
1989 67.9 65.3
1988 67.6 63.3
1987 67.3 62.7
1986 66.9 62.1
1985 66.5 61.5
1984 66.1 60.9
1983 65.7 58.5
1982 65.2 57.6
1981 64.8 56.6
1980 64.2 58.4
1979 63.7 58.5
1978 63.1 56
1977 62.5 56.7
1976 61.2 55.8
1975 61 54.8
1974 60.2 53.9
1973 59.5 52.9
1972 58.6 51.7
1971 57.7 51.1
1970 56.8 50.2
1969 56 49.4
1968 55.2 47.9
1967 54.4 47.8
1966 53.7 47.1
1965 53 46.4
1964 52.3 45.7
1963 51.7 45.1
1962 51 43.8
1961 40.2 43.9
1960 33.4 43.3
1959 40.2 42.8
1958 48.8 42.2
1957 48.4 41.3
1956 47.8 41.1
1955 47.2 40.6
1954 46.8 40
1953 45.9 39.5
1952 45.3 39.2
1951 44.6 38.7
1950 43.8 38.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

China and Iran population clocks and comparison

Population
China

Iran
1x
Year Population
China Iran
2024 1,408,975,000 91,567,738
2023 1,410,710,000 90,608,707
2022 1,412,175,000 89,524,246
2021 1,412,360,000 88,455,488
2020 1,411,100,000 87,723,443
2019 1,407,745,000 87,051,648
2018 1,402,760,000 86,117,998
2017 1,396,215,000 85,026,754
2016 1,387,790,000 83,812,228
2015 1,379,860,000 82,619,362
2014 1,371,860,000 81,502,045
2013 1,363,240,000 80,414,686
2012 1,354,190,000 79,370,580
2011 1,345,035,000 78,383,598
2010 1,337,705,000 77,420,842
2009 1,331,260,000 76,457,825
2008 1,324,655,000 75,514,204
2007 1,317,885,000 74,602,648
2006 1,311,020,000 73,392,747
2005 1,303,720,000 71,828,455
2004 1,296,075,000 70,256,316
2003 1,288,400,000 68,769,340
2002 1,280,400,000 68,011,317
2001 1,271,850,000 67,452,005
2000 1,262,645,000 66,418,659
1999 1,252,735,000 65,445,391
1998 1,241,935,000 64,519,859
1997 1,230,075,000 63,639,638
1996 1,217,550,000 62,881,300
1995 1,204,855,000 62,205,567
1994 1,191,835,000 61,520,598
1993 1,178,440,000 61,403,543
1992 1,164,970,000 61,184,983
1991 1,150,780,000 59,986,931
1990 1,135,185,000 58,380,092
1989 1,118,650,000 56,704,914
1988 1,101,630,000 55,072,694
1987 1,084,035,000 53,323,493
1986 1,066,790,000 51,446,045
1985 1,051,040,000 49,582,289
1984 1,036,825,000 47,793,998
1983 1,023,310,000 46,029,535
1982 1,008,630,000 44,272,141
1981 993,885,000 41,989,312
1980 981,235,000 39,842,324
1979 969,005,000 38,424,952
1978 956,165,000 37,126,535
1977 943,455,000 35,933,181
1976 930,685,000 34,837,271
1975 916,395,000 33,802,973
1974 900,350,000 32,796,463
1973 881,940,000 31,839,838
1972 862,030,000 30,921,179
1971 841,105,000 30,029,071
1970 818,315,000 29,145,100
1969 796,025,000 28,273,482
1968 774,510,000 27,437,391
1967 754,550,000 26,628,432
1966 735,400,000 25,829,270
1965 715,185,000 25,036,978
1964 698,355,000 24,262,859
1963 682,335,000 23,519,005
1962 665,770,000 22,807,907
1961 660,330,000 22,125,726
1960 667,070,000 21,470,434

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

Fertility rates in China and Iran

Fertility rate
China

Iran
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Iran
2023 1 1.7
2022 1.03 1.7
2021 1.12 1.71
2020 1.24 1.7
2019 1.5 1.77
2018 1.54 1.92
2017 1.8 2.02
2016 1.77 2.05
2015 1.67 2.02
2014 1.77 1.98
2013 1.71 1.91
2012 1.8 1.85
2011 1.67 1.79
2010 1.69 1.75
2009 1.71 1.74
2008 1.7 1.74
2007 1.67 1.75
2006 1.64 1.76
2005 1.62 1.76
2004 1.61 1.78
2003 1.57 1.8
2002 1.57 1.84
2001 1.56 1.92
2000 1.63 2
1999 1.53 2.09
1998 1.52 2.19
1997 1.53 2.32
1996 1.55 2.54
1995 1.59 2.85
1994 1.63 3.24
1993 1.69 3.67
1992 1.78 4.1
1991 1.93 4.57
1990 2.51 4.93
1989 2.52 5.17
1988 2.54 5.43
1987 2.76 5.72
1986 2.72 6.01
1985 2.63 6.24
1984 2.61 6.43
1983 2.56 6.53
1982 2.97 6.59
1981 2.79 6.62
1980 2.74 6.63
1979 2.75 6.55
1978 2.72 6.34
1977 2.84 6.18
1976 3.24 6.07
1975 3.57 5.95
1974 4.17 5.97
1973 4.73 6.06
1972 5.11 6.26
1971 5.52 6.55
1970 6.09 6.8
1969 6.18 7.01
1968 6.51 7.12
1967 5.81 7.19
1966 6.31 7.21
1965 6.61 7.22
1964 6.67 7.24
1963 7.51 7.32
1962 6.09 7.4
1961 3.86 7.46
1960 4.45 7.52

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

China and Iran demographics compared

Median age
China

Iran
1x
Year Median age, years
China Iran
2024 40.6 34.3
2023 40.1 33.8
2022 39.6 33.3
2021 39 32.8
2020 38.5 32.3
2019 38.1 31.7
2018 37.7 31.2
2017 37.4 30.7
2016 37.1 30.2
2015 36.7 29.7
2014 36.3 29.2
2013 36 28.7
2012 35.7 28.2
2011 35.5 27.7
2010 35.1 27.2
2009 34.7 26.6
2008 34.2 26.1
2007 33.7 25.5
2006 33.1 24.8
2005 32.6 24.3
2004 32.1 23.7
2003 31.6 23.1
2002 31.1 22.6
2001 30.5 22
2000 30 21.4
1999 29.4 20.7
1998 28.8 20
1997 28.3 19.5
1996 27.8 19.1
1995 27.2 18.7
1994 26.6 18.4
1993 26.1 18.3
1992 25.6 18.4
1991 25.1 18.3
1990 24.7 18.2
1989 24.4 18.1
1988 23.9 18.2
1987 23.6 18.2
1986 23.4 18.2
1985 23.2 18.3
1984 23 18.4
1983 22.6 18.5
1982 22.1 18.6
1981 21.8 18.4
1980 21.6 18.2
1979 21.4 18.3
1978 21.2 18.3
1977 20.8 18.3
1976 20.4 18.2
1975 20.1 18.1
1974 19.7 18
1973 19.5 17.9
1972 19.3 17.8
1971 19.2 17.7
1970 19.1 17.6
1969 19.1 17.6
1968 19.2 17.6
1967 19.2 17.7
1966 19.3 17.7
1965 19.6 17.8
1964 19.9 17.9
1963 20.4 18.1
1962 21 18.4
1961 21.1 18.7
1960 20.9 19.1

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/iran | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

China Iran
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$469B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
14.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4%
2023
2.82%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
2.01%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,535,000
2020
650,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.34%
2024
-3.83%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
7.63%
2024
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
49.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
36.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
41.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.8%
2023
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.57%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
450
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
11,231
2024
594
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$172B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$7.69B
1982
Personal remittances received
$31.4B
2024
$1.03B
2004
International tourist arrivals
30,402,000
2020
1,550,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.59%
2004
2.28%
2000
Banked people share
89.4%
2024
91.1%
2024

Energy

China Iran
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,851 kg
2023
3,266 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
$5.37
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
13,125 megatons
2024
829 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.32 tons
2024
9.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.7%
2022
98.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
15.2%
2021
0.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.76%
2023
1.14%
2022
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
-32.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
3,664 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
4.24%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
3.43%
2022
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
2.2%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

China Iran
% of world population
17.3%
2024
1.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
+116,786
2025
Urban population
65.9%
2024
77%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
50.8:49.2
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.3
2026
40.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
43
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
87
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.5
2020
2.42
2014
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.4
2019
21.5
2019
Visa free countries
92
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
88.9%
2023
English speaking
0.7%
2023
12%
2025
People using the Internet
92%
2024
79.6%
2023

Health

China Iran
Government health expenditure per capita
$763
2023
$267.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$245.6
2023
$115.2
2023
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
78.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.005%
2023
0.71%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.11
2022
1.81
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
16
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
11.8
2023
Obesity rate
8.37%
2022
25.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.9%
2024
9%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
27
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23.4%
2022
13.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.58 liters
2020
0.51 liters
2020

Territory

China Iran
% of world land
6.3%
2026
1.09%
2026
Land area per capita
2,573 sq mi
2024
6,841 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,009,326 sq mi
2026
181,727 sq mi
2026
Forest area
871,112 sq mi
2026
41,654 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,411,576 mi
2024
138,867 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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