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Iceland vs Iran statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 91.6M in Iran (ranked 17/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 626,451 sq mi for Iran (ranked 104th vs. 17th).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland Iran
Population
397129
93468444
Population rank 173/197 17/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$475B
2024
GDP rank 108/197 34/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$5,190
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 119/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$19,874
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$162B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
34%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$1,764
2024
Government debt per person rank 9/185 122/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$2,964
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 626,451 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
1.7
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
34.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
78.2 years
2026

Iceland and Iran: Comparison Charts

Iceland and Iran economies compared

GDP
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year GDP
Iceland Iran
2024 $33,255,181,469 $475,252,089,215
2023 $31,677,891,897 $457,510,482,317
2022 $29,166,102,877 $422,662,261,526
2021 $26,234,872,402 $407,350,685,583
2020 $22,034,665,041 $280,934,329,280
2019 $24,985,687,022 $347,988,400,958
2018 $26,677,652,544 $411,903,303,606
2017 $25,060,086,488 $510,239,893,418
2016 $21,083,713,310 $478,618,064,871
2015 $17,700,486,957 $409,191,686,497
2014 $18,052,183,515 $462,284,793,281
2013 $16,244,319,959 $500,399,839,840
2012 $14,943,757,823 $644,019,315,004
2011 $15,394,005,872 $629,082,257,472
2010 $13,922,711,577 $487,069,570,464
2009 $13,212,543,838 $414,059,094,949
2008 $18,247,921,360 $406,070,949,554
2007 $21,960,110,030 $349,736,591,832
2006 $17,671,649,843 $265,602,187,404
2005 $17,146,410,561 $224,970,371,325
2004 $13,963,943,244 $187,754,571,248
2003 $11,564,687,742 $151,911,222,119
2002 $9,416,199,700 $128,626,917,504
2001 $8,323,401,820 $126,878,750,296
2000 $9,140,168,922 $109,591,707,802
1999 $9,107,644,691 $113,848,450,088
1998 $8,637,732,542 $110,276,913,363
1997 $7,716,781,803 $113,919,163,421
1996 $7,686,566,105 $120,403,931,885
1995 $7,372,640,169 $96,419,225,744
1994 $6,612,804,056 $71,841,461,173
1993 $6,435,952,174 $63,743,623,232
1992 $7,328,497,599 $119,768,691,217
1991 $7,151,260,062 $131,637,664,958
1990 $6,694,851,159 $124,813,263,926
1989 $5,870,854,233 $120,496,362,916
1988 $6,320,093,411 $123,057,861,334
1987 $5,713,281,235 $134,009,995,923
1986 $4,129,080,094 $209,094,561,833
1985 $3,088,359,967 $180,183,629,600
1984 $2,964,568,006 $162,276,728,620
1983 $2,862,634,164 $156,365,156,618
1982 $3,318,714,326 $125,948,756,439
1981 $3,615,094,820 $100,499,312,750
1980 $3,499,616,683 $94,362,275,580
1979 $2,953,176,971 $90,391,877,326
1978 $2,599,627,089 $77,994,316,621
1977 $2,285,707,749 $80,600,122,702
1976 $1,727,845,419 $68,055,295,081
1975 $1,456,052,700 $51,776,222,350
1974 $1,568,154,077 $46,209,092,072
1973 $1,194,794,186 $27,081,698,250
1972 $869,002,946 $17,153,463,263
1971 $693,679,545 $13,731,802,833
1970 $545,115,909 $10,976,245,154
1969 $435,659,610 $9,743,089,607
1968 $498,365,200 $8,623,172,960
1967 $652,609,076 $7,555,383,690
1966 $660,663,763 $6,789,938,672
1965 $550,150,988 $6,197,319,929
1964 $456,206,299 $5,379,845,648
1963 $357,240,896 $4,928,628,018
1962 $299,309,938 $4,693,566,416
1961 $266,711,460 $4,426,949,095
1960 $260,984,499 $4,199,134,390

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

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

Iceland and Iran economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland Iran
2024 $86,041 $5,190
2023 $82,139 $5,049
2022 $76,350 $4,721
2021 $70,425 $4,605
2020 $60,128 $3,203
2019 $69,296 $3,997
2018 $75,634 $4,783
2017 $72,976 $6,001
2016 $62,854 $5,711
2015 $53,506 $4,953
2014 $55,140 $5,672
2013 $50,173 $6,223
2012 $46,595 $8,114
2011 $48,255 $8,026
2010 $43,776 $6,291
2009 $41,484 $5,416
2008 $57,489 $5,377
2007 $70,483 $4,688
2006 $58,172 $3,619
2005 $57,784 $3,132
2004 $47,810 $2,672
2003 $39,944 $2,209
2002 $32,749 $1,891
2001 $29,208 $1,881
2000 $32,504 $1,650
1999 $32,834 $1,740
1998 $31,519 $1,709
1997 $28,462 $1,790
1996 $28,584 $1,915
1995 $27,565 $1,550
1994 $24,858 $1,168
1993 $24,404 $1,038
1992 $28,072 $1,957
1991 $27,740 $2,194
1990 $26,272 $2,138
1989 $23,219 $2,125
1988 $25,307 $2,234
1987 $23,238 $2,513
1986 $16,980 $4,064
1985 $12,793 $3,634
1984 $12,378 $3,395
1983 $12,080 $3,397
1982 $14,191 $2,845
1981 $15,666 $2,393
1980 $15,340 $2,368
1979 $13,082 $2,352
1978 $11,630 $2,101
1977 $10,305 $2,243
1976 $7,848 $1,954
1975 $6,680 $1,532
1974 $7,287 $1,409
1973 $5,627 $851
1972 $4,155 $555
1971 $3,366 $457
1970 $2,666 $377
1969 $2,142 $345
1968 $2,473 $314
1967 $3,284 $283.7
1966 $3,378 $262.9
1965 $2,861 $247.5
1964 $2,414 $221.7
1963 $1,924 $209.6
1962 $1,641 $205.8
1961 $1,490 $200.1
1960 $1,486 $195.6

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

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

Iceland vs. Iran life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland Iran
2026 83.3 78.2
2025 83.2 78.1
2024 83 77.9
2023 82.7 77.7
2022 81.6 76.8
2021 82.8 73.8
2020 82.7 74.1
2019 82.8 76.9
2018 82.5 76.6
2017 82.2 76.4
2016 81.8 76.2
2015 82.2 75.9
2014 82.4 75.6
2013 81.7 75.3
2012 82.3 75
2011 82 74.7
2010 81.6 74.4
2009 81.4 74
2008 81.2 73.7
2007 81.1 73.3
2006 80.9 72.9
2005 81.2 72.4
2004 80.7 72
2003 80.8 70.5
2002 80.3 71.1
2001 80.4 70.6
2000 79.5 70.2
1999 79.2 69.7
1998 79.4 69.2
1997 78.7 68.6
1996 78.6 68.3
1995 77.5 67.9
1994 79 67.5
1993 78.8 67
1992 78.6 66.7
1991 77.8 66.2
1990 77.7 64.1
1989 77.9 65.3
1988 76.9 63.3
1987 77.1 62.7
1986 77.9 62.1
1985 77.4 61.5
1984 77.3 60.9
1983 76.4 58.5
1982 76.8 57.6
1981 76.2 56.6
1980 76.6 58.4
1979 76.5 58.5
1978 76.4 56
1977 76.1 56.7
1976 76.6 55.8
1975 75.3 54.8
1974 74.1 53.9
1973 74.3 52.9
1972 74.4 51.7
1971 73.5 51.1
1970 73.8 50.2
1969 73.7 49.4
1968 73.9 47.9
1967 73.7 47.8
1966 73.1 47.1
1965 73.8 46.4
1964 73.5 45.7
1963 72.9 45.1
1962 73.6 43.8
1961 73.4 43.9
1960 74 43.3
1959 72.6 42.8
1958 73.3 42.2
1957 73.4 41.3
1956 72.9 41.1
1955 73.3 40.6
1954 73.3 40
1953 72.3 39.5
1952 72.4 39.2
1951 71 38.7
1950 71 38.2

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

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

Iceland and Iran population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year Population
Iceland Iran
2024 386,506 91,567,738
2023 385,663 90,608,707
2022 382,003 89,524,246
2021 372,520 88,455,488
2020 366,463 87,723,443
2019 360,563 87,051,648
2018 352,721 86,117,998
2017 343,400 85,026,754
2016 335,439 83,812,228
2015 330,815 82,619,362
2014 327,386 81,502,045
2013 323,764 80,414,686
2012 320,716 79,370,580
2011 319,014 78,383,598
2010 318,041 77,420,842
2009 318,499 76,457,825
2008 317,414 75,514,204
2007 311,566 74,602,648
2006 303,782 73,392,747
2005 296,734 71,828,455
2004 292,074 70,256,316
2003 289,521 68,769,340
2002 287,523 68,011,317
2001 284,968 67,452,005
2000 281,205 66,418,659
1999 277,381 65,445,391
1998 274,047 64,519,859
1997 271,128 63,639,638
1996 268,916 62,881,300
1995 267,468 62,205,567
1994 266,021 61,520,598
1993 263,725 61,403,543
1992 261,057 61,184,983
1991 257,797 59,986,931
1990 254,826 58,380,092
1989 252,852 56,704,914
1988 249,740 55,072,694
1987 245,859 53,323,493
1986 243,180 51,446,045
1985 241,405 49,582,289
1984 239,511 47,793,998
1983 236,977 46,029,535
1982 233,860 44,272,141
1981 230,755 41,989,312
1980 228,138 39,842,324
1979 225,735 38,424,952
1978 223,537 37,126,535
1977 221,799 35,933,181
1976 220,154 34,837,271
1975 217,979 33,802,973
1974 215,209 32,796,463
1973 212,317 31,839,838
1972 209,137 30,921,179
1971 206,098 30,029,071
1970 204,438 29,145,100
1969 203,369 28,273,482
1968 201,488 27,437,391
1967 198,751 26,628,432
1966 195,570 25,829,270
1965 192,286 25,036,978
1964 188,983 24,262,859
1963 185,653 23,519,005
1962 182,378 22,807,907
1961 179,029 22,125,726
1960 175,574 21,470,434

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

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

Fertility rates in Iceland and Iran

Fertility rate
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland Iran
2023 1.59 1.7
2022 1.59 1.7
2021 1.82 1.71
2020 1.72 1.7
2019 1.74 1.77
2018 1.71 1.92
2017 1.71 2.02
2016 1.74 2.05
2015 1.8 2.02
2014 1.93 1.98
2013 1.93 1.91
2012 2.04 1.85
2011 2.02 1.79
2010 2.2 1.75
2009 2.23 1.74
2008 2.15 1.74
2007 2.09 1.75
2006 2.08 1.76
2005 2.05 1.76
2004 2.04 1.78
2003 1.99 1.8
2002 1.93 1.84
2001 1.95 1.92
2000 2.08 2
1999 1.99 2.09
1998 2.05 2.19
1997 2.04 2.32
1996 2.12 2.54
1995 2.08 2.85
1994 2.14 3.24
1993 2.22 3.67
1992 2.21 4.1
1991 2.18 4.57
1990 2.3 4.93
1989 2.19 5.17
1988 2.26 5.43
1987 2.06 5.72
1986 1.92 6.01
1985 1.93 6.24
1984 2.08 6.43
1983 2.24 6.53
1982 2.27 6.59
1981 2.33 6.62
1980 2.48 6.63
1979 2.49 6.55
1978 2.35 6.34
1977 2.31 6.18
1976 2.52 6.07
1975 2.65 5.95
1974 2.66 5.97
1973 2.94 6.06
1972 3.09 6.26
1971 2.92 6.55
1970 2.81 6.8
1969 2.99 7.01
1968 3.06 7.12
1967 3.28 7.19
1966 3.59 7.21
1965 3.73 7.22
1964 3.88 7.24
1963 3.99 7.32
1962 3.98 7.4
1961 3.88 7.46
1960 4.29 7.52

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

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

Iceland and Iran demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

Iran
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland Iran
2024 37.1 34.3
2023 36.9 33.8
2022 36.7 33.3
2021 36.7 32.8
2020 36.6 32.3
2019 36.5 31.7
2018 36.4 31.2
2017 36.3 30.7
2016 36.2 30.2
2015 36 29.7
2014 35.7 29.2
2013 35.5 28.7
2012 35.4 28.2
2011 35.1 27.7
2010 34.9 27.2
2009 34.6 26.6
2008 34.5 26.1
2007 34.6 25.5
2006 34.5 24.8
2005 34.2 24.3
2004 34 23.7
2003 33.7 23.1
2002 33.4 22.6
2001 33 22
2000 32.8 21.4
1999 32.6 20.7
1998 32.4 20
1997 32.1 19.5
1996 31.8 19.1
1995 31.5 18.7
1994 31.1 18.4
1993 30.8 18.3
1992 30.5 18.4
1991 30.2 18.3
1990 30 18.2
1989 29.6 18.1
1988 29.3 18.2
1987 29.1 18.2
1986 28.8 18.2
1985 28.4 18.3
1984 28 18.4
1983 27.7 18.5
1982 27.5 18.6
1981 27.2 18.4
1980 26.9 18.2
1979 26.7 18.3
1978 26.4 18.3
1977 26 18.3
1976 25.7 18.2
1975 25.4 18.1
1974 25.1 18
1973 24.9 17.9
1972 24.8 17.8
1971 24.7 17.7
1970 24.5 17.6
1969 24.3 17.6
1968 24.2 17.6
1967 24.1 17.7
1966 24.1 17.7
1965 24.2 17.8
1964 24.4 17.9
1963 24.7 18.1
1962 24.9 18.4
1961 25.2 18.7
1960 25.4 19.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland Iran
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$469B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
14.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
2.82%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.01%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
650,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
-3.83%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
7.63%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
49.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
36.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
75
2026
41.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
2.8%
2023
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
594
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$172B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$7.69B
1982
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
$1.03B
2004
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
1,550,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
2.28%
2000
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
91.1%
2024

Energy

Iceland Iran
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
3,266 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
$5.37
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
829 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
9.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
98.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
0.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
1.14%
2022
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
-32.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
3,664 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
4.24%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
3.43%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
2.2%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iceland Iran
% of world population
0.005%
2024
1.13%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
+116,786
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
77%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
50.8:49.2
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
40.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
2.42
2014
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
21.5
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
88.9%
2023
English speaking
98%
2023
12%
2025
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
79.6%
2023

Health

Iceland Iran
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
$267.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
$115.2
2023
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
78.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.71%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
1.81
2023
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
16
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
11.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
25.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
9%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
27
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
13.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
0.51 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland Iran
% of world land
0.07%
2026
1.09%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
6,841 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
181,727 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
41,654 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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