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Iran vs Saudi Arabia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population of 91.6M (ranked 17/197), compared with 35.3M in Saudi Arabia (ranked 45/197). Iran's land area is 626,451 sq mi versus 830,000 sq mi for Saudi Arabia (ranked 17th vs. 12th).

By GDP, Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B) and Saudi Arabia ranks 18/197 ($1.24T). By GDP per capita, Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190), while Saudi Arabia ranks 33/197 ($35,122).

Main facts and rankings

Iran Saudi Arabia
Population
93468444
36734925
Population rank 17/197 44/197
GDP
$475B
2024
$1.24T
2024
GDP rank 34/197 18/197
GDP per capita
$5,190
2024
$35,122
2024
GDP per capita rank 119/197 33/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,874
2024
$71,375
2024
Government debt
$162B
2024
$324B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
34%
2024
26.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,764
2024
$9,185
2024
Government debt per person rank 122/185 58/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,964
2026
$23,076
2026
Land area 626,451 sq mi 830,000 sq mi
Population density
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
44.1 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.7
2023
2.28
2023
Median age
34.3 years
2024
30.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
79.4 years
2026

Iran and Saudi Arabia: Comparison Charts

Iran and Saudi Arabia economies compared

GDP
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year GDP
Iran Saudi Arabia
2024 $475,252,089,215 $1,239,804,533,333
2023 $457,510,482,317 $1,218,584,533,333
2022 $422,662,261,526 $1,239,075,200,000
2021 $407,350,685,583 $982,661,066,667
2020 $280,934,329,280 $767,951,200,000
2019 $347,988,400,958 $888,890,133,333
2018 $411,903,303,606 $886,564,800,000
2017 $510,239,893,418 $741,266,133,333
2016 $478,618,064,871 $689,279,466,667
2015 $409,191,686,497 $693,414,400,000
2014 $462,284,793,281 $787,153,066,667
2013 $500,399,839,840 $769,755,733,333
2012 $644,019,315,004 $751,921,333,333
2011 $629,082,257,472 $680,660,800,000
2010 $487,069,570,464 $528,207,466,667
2009 $414,059,094,949 $429,097,866,667
2008 $406,070,949,554 $519,796,800,000
2007 $349,736,591,832 $415,964,509,673
2006 $265,602,187,404 $376,900,133,511
2005 $224,970,371,325 $328,459,608,764
2004 $187,754,571,248 $258,742,133,333
2003 $151,911,222,119 $215,807,733,333
2002 $128,626,917,504 $189,605,866,667
2001 $126,878,750,296 $184,137,600,000
2000 $109,591,707,802 $189,514,933,333
1999 $113,848,450,088 $161,717,066,667
1998 $110,276,913,363 $146,775,466,667
1997 $113,919,163,421 $165,963,684,913
1996 $120,403,931,885 $158,662,483,311
1995 $96,419,225,744 $143,343,124,166
1994 $71,841,461,173 $135,174,899,866
1993 $63,743,623,232 $132,967,957,276
1992 $119,768,691,217 $137,087,850,467
1991 $131,637,664,958 $132,223,230,975
1990 $124,813,263,926 $117,630,173,565
1989 $120,496,362,916 $95,344,459,279
1988 $123,057,861,334 $88,256,074,766
1987 $134,009,995,923 $85,695,861,148
1986 $209,094,561,833 $86,961,922,765
1985 $180,183,629,600 $103,897,846,494
1984 $162,276,728,620 $119,624,858,116
1983 $156,365,156,618 $129,171,635,311
1982 $125,948,756,439 $153,240,313,858
1981 $100,499,312,750 $184,291,360,139
1980 $94,362,275,580 $164,539,660,725
1979 $90,391,877,326 $111,858,444,786
1978 $77,994,316,621 $80,266,516,687
1977 $80,600,122,702 $74,188,986,586
1976 $68,055,295,081 $64,005,665,722
1975 $51,776,222,350 $46,773,208,643
1974 $46,209,092,072 $45,412,957,746
1973 $27,081,698,250 $14,947,435,499
1972 $17,153,463,263 $9,664,267,087
1971 $13,731,802,833 $7,184,806,909
1970 $10,976,245,154 $5,377,333,333
1969 $9,743,089,607 $4,485,777,644
1968 $8,623,172,960 $4,187,777,711
1967 $7,555,383,690 $3,257,022,223
1966 $6,789,938,672 $2,920,555,557
1965 $6,197,319,929 $2,647,955,558
1964 $5,379,845,648 $2,371,808,713
1963 $4,928,628,018 $2,207,393,172
1962 $4,693,566,416 $2,130,606,532
1961 $4,426,949,095 $1,920,811,284
1960 $4,199,134,390 $1,748,124,064

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Iran and Saudi Arabia economies compared

GDP per capita
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iran Saudi Arabia
2024 $5,190 $35,122
2023 $5,049 $36,157
2022 $4,721 $38,510
2021 $4,605 $31,921
2020 $3,203 $24,339
2019 $3,997 $29,567
2018 $4,783 $29,360
2017 $6,001 $23,929
2016 $5,711 $22,268
2015 $4,953 $23,256
2014 $5,672 $27,805
2013 $6,223 $27,865
2012 $8,114 $28,733
2011 $8,026 $27,127
2010 $6,291 $22,028
2009 $5,416 $17,718
2008 $5,377 $22,320
2007 $4,688 $18,596
2006 $3,619 $17,564
2005 $3,132 $15,976
2004 $2,672 $13,154
2003 $2,209 $11,487
2002 $1,891 $10,586
2001 $1,881 $10,805
2000 $1,650 $11,715
1999 $1,740 $10,452
1998 $1,709 $9,836
1997 $1,790 $11,545
1996 $1,915 $11,472
1995 $1,550 $10,786
1994 $1,168 $10,602
1993 $1,038 $10,885
1992 $1,957 $11,730
1991 $2,194 $11,847
1990 $2,138 $11,055
1989 $2,125 $9,414
1988 $2,234 $9,165
1987 $2,513 $9,386
1986 $4,064 $10,078
1985 $3,634 $12,745
1984 $3,395 $15,541
1983 $3,397 $17,810
1982 $2,845 $22,454
1981 $2,393 $28,703
1980 $2,368 $27,206
1979 $2,352 $19,612
1978 $2,101 $14,914
1977 $2,243 $14,595
1976 $1,954 $13,313
1975 $1,532 $10,266
1974 $1,409 $10,503
1973 $851 $3,640
1972 $555 $2,474
1971 $457 $1,929
1970 $377 $1,509
1969 $345 $1,313
1968 $314 $1,276
1967 $283.7 $1,032
1966 $262.9 $961
1965 $247.5 $904
1964 $221.7 $840
1963 $209.6 $812
1962 $205.8 $813
1961 $200.1 $760
1960 $195.6 $718

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Iran vs. Saudi Arabia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iran Saudi Arabia
2026 78.2 79.4
2025 78.1 79.2
2024 77.9 79
2023 77.7 78.7
2022 76.8 77.3
2021 73.8 77.1
2020 74.1 77.6
2019 76.9 78.3
2018 76.6 78.7
2017 76.4 78.7
2016 76.2 78.4
2015 75.9 77.8
2014 75.6 77.1
2013 75.3 76.5
2012 75 76.1
2011 74.7 75.8
2010 74.4 75.6
2009 74 75.4
2008 73.7 75.3
2007 73.3 75.1
2006 72.9 74.8
2005 72.4 74.4
2004 72 74
2003 70.5 73.7
2002 71.1 73.3
2001 70.6 73
2000 70.2 72.6
1999 69.7 72.3
1998 69.2 72
1997 68.6 71.6
1996 68.3 71.3
1995 67.9 70.9
1994 67.5 70.6
1993 67 70.2
1992 66.7 69.8
1991 66.2 69.3
1990 64.1 68.9
1989 65.3 68.4
1988 63.3 67.8
1987 62.7 67.2
1986 62.1 66.6
1985 61.5 66
1984 60.9 65.4
1983 58.5 64.7
1982 57.6 64
1981 56.6 63.3
1980 58.4 62.4
1979 58.5 61.5
1978 56 60.7
1977 56.7 59.7
1976 55.8 58.8
1975 54.8 57.8
1974 53.9 56.8
1973 52.9 55.8
1972 51.7 54.7
1971 51.1 53.7
1970 50.2 52.7
1969 49.4 51.8
1968 47.9 50.9
1967 47.8 50
1966 47.1 49.2
1965 46.4 48.4
1964 45.7 47.7
1963 45.1 47.1
1962 43.8 46.5
1961 43.9 45.9
1960 43.3 45.3
1959 42.8 44.8
1958 42.2 44.2
1957 41.3 43.7
1956 41.1 43.1
1955 40.6 42.6
1954 40 42.1
1953 39.5 41.6
1952 39.2 41.1
1951 38.7 40.6
1950 38.2 40

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Iran and Saudi Arabia population clocks and comparison

Population
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Population
Iran Saudi Arabia
2024 91,567,738 35,300,280
2023 90,608,707 33,702,731
2022 89,524,246 32,175,224
2021 88,455,488 30,784,383
2020 87,723,443 31,552,510
2019 87,051,648 30,063,799
2018 86,117,998 30,196,281
2017 85,026,754 30,977,355
2016 83,812,228 30,954,198
2015 82,619,362 29,816,382
2014 81,502,045 28,309,273
2013 80,414,686 27,624,004
2012 79,370,580 26,168,861
2011 78,383,598 25,091,867
2010 77,420,842 23,978,487
2009 76,457,825 24,217,654
2008 75,514,204 23,287,877
2007 74,602,648 22,368,313
2006 73,392,747 21,459,144
2005 71,828,455 20,559,890
2004 70,256,316 19,669,480
2003 68,769,340 18,786,767
2002 68,011,317 17,910,910
2001 67,452,005 17,041,397
2000 66,418,659 16,177,722
1999 65,445,391 15,472,075
1998 64,519,859 14,922,185
1997 63,639,638 14,374,943
1996 62,881,300 13,831,009
1995 62,205,567 13,289,245
1994 61,520,598 12,750,040
1993 61,403,543 12,215,862
1992 61,184,983 11,686,676
1991 59,986,931 11,160,744
1990 58,380,092 10,640,691
1989 56,704,914 10,128,394
1988 55,072,694 9,629,165
1987 53,323,493 9,130,194
1986 51,446,045 8,628,639
1985 49,582,289 8,151,779
1984 47,793,998 7,697,307
1983 46,029,535 7,252,941
1982 44,272,141 6,824,486
1981 41,989,312 6,420,551
1980 39,842,324 6,047,997
1979 38,424,952 5,703,698
1978 37,126,535 5,381,902
1977 35,933,181 5,083,048
1976 34,837,271 4,807,933
1975 33,802,973 4,556,287
1974 32,796,463 4,323,632
1973 31,839,838 4,106,344
1972 30,921,179 3,905,722
1971 30,029,071 3,724,031
1970 29,145,100 3,562,470
1969 28,273,482 3,417,114
1968 27,437,391 3,282,711
1967 26,628,432 3,157,242
1966 25,829,270 3,039,887
1965 25,036,978 2,928,771
1964 24,262,859 2,821,968
1963 23,519,005 2,719,341
1962 22,807,907 2,620,910
1961 22,125,726 2,526,347
1960 21,470,434 2,435,403

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Fertility rates in Iran and Saudi Arabia

Fertility rate
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iran Saudi Arabia
2023 1.7 2.28
2022 1.7 2.14
2021 1.71 2.17
2020 1.7 2.27
2019 1.77 2.49
2018 1.92 2.67
2017 2.02 2.67
2016 2.05 2.65
2015 2.02 2.63
2014 1.98 2.68
2013 1.91 2.67
2012 1.85 2.78
2011 1.79 2.8
2010 1.75 2.81
2009 1.74 2.95
2008 1.74 3.07
2007 1.75 3.19
2006 1.76 3.18
2005 1.76 3.16
2004 1.78 3.26
2003 1.8 3.47
2002 1.84 3.71
2001 1.92 3.96
2000 2 4.21
1999 2.09 4.35
1998 2.19 4.52
1997 2.32 4.66
1996 2.54 4.81
1995 2.85 4.99
1994 3.24 5.16
1993 3.67 5.33
1992 4.1 5.49
1991 4.57 5.64
1990 4.93 5.8
1989 5.17 5.98
1988 5.43 6.15
1987 5.72 6.34
1986 6.01 6.52
1985 6.24 6.65
1984 6.43 6.78
1983 6.53 6.88
1982 6.59 6.98
1981 6.62 7.07
1980 6.63 7.15
1979 6.55 7.23
1978 6.34 7.26
1977 6.18 7.3
1976 6.07 7.33
1975 5.95 7.37
1974 5.97 7.43
1973 6.06 7.48
1972 6.26 7.54
1971 6.55 7.56
1970 6.8 7.58
1969 7.01 7.6
1968 7.12 7.63
1967 7.19 7.66
1966 7.21 7.66
1965 7.22 7.66
1964 7.24 7.67
1963 7.32 7.65
1962 7.4 7.64
1961 7.46 7.63
1960 7.52 7.63

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Iran and Saudi Arabia demographics compared

Median age
Iran

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Median age, years
Iran Saudi Arabia
2024 34.3 30.5
2023 33.8 30.2
2022 33.3 29.7
2021 32.8 29.5
2020 32.3 29.4
2019 31.7 29.3
2018 31.2 29.3
2017 30.7 29
2016 30.2 28.6
2015 29.7 27.9
2014 29.2 27.2
2013 28.7 26.6
2012 28.2 25.9
2011 27.7 25.2
2010 27.2 24.5
2009 26.6 23.9
2008 26.1 23.4
2007 25.5 22.8
2006 24.8 22.3
2005 24.3 21.9
2004 23.7 21.4
2003 23.1 21.1
2002 22.6 20.8
2001 22 20.7
2000 21.4 20.8
1999 20.7 20.7
1998 20 20.4
1997 19.5 20.2
1996 19.1 19.9
1995 18.7 19.7
1994 18.4 19.6
1993 18.3 19.4
1992 18.4 19.3
1991 18.3 19.2
1990 18.2 19
1989 18.1 19
1988 18.2 18.9
1987 18.2 18.8
1986 18.2 18.7
1985 18.3 18.7
1984 18.4 18.6
1983 18.5 18.5
1982 18.6 18.4
1981 18.4 18.3
1980 18.2 18.2
1979 18.3 18.1
1978 18.3 18
1977 18.3 17.9
1976 18.2 17.8
1975 18.1 17.7
1974 18 17.6
1973 17.9 17.5
1972 17.8 17.4
1971 17.7 17.4
1970 17.6 17.4
1969 17.6 17.4
1968 17.6 17.5
1967 17.7 17.6
1966 17.7 17.7
1965 17.8 17.9
1964 17.9 18
1963 18.1 18.2
1962 18.4 18.4
1961 18.7 18.5
1960 19.1 18.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iran Saudi Arabia
GNI, Atlas method
$469B
2024
$1.26T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.2%
2024
29.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.82%
2023
5.11%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.01%
2024
7.3%
2024
Armed forces personnel
650,000
2020
282,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.83%
2024
-2.49%
2024
Unemployment rate
7.63%
2024
3.52%
2024
Services, % of GDP
49.8%
2024
47.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.1%
2024
44.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
41.8
2026
65.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.2%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
n/a
Number of millionaires n/a
351,855
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
1.44%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
15
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00006%
2025
Listed domestic companies
594
2024
352
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$172B
2024
$2.73T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$7.69B
1982
$464B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.03B
2004
$338M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,550,000
2020
20,292,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
2.28%
2000
3.22%
2020
Banked people share
91.1%
2024
78.8%
2024

Energy

Iran Saudi Arabia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,266 kg
2022
7,530 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.37
2022
$9.56
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
829 megatons
2024
653 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.05 tons
2024
18.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.8%
2022
99.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.9%
2021
0.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.14%
2022
0.09%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-32.5%
2022
-178.2%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,664 kWh
2022
11,835 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
4.24%
2021
0.07%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.43%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
2.2%
2022
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iran Saudi Arabia
% of world population
1.13%
2024
0.43%
2024
Annual migration change
+116,786
2025
+119,738
2025
Urban population
77%
2024
84.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.8:49.2
2024
60.5:39.5
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.6 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.21 ft
2025
Quality of life index
40.7
2026
67.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
57
2025
Higher education index
78
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.42
2014
0.8
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
21.5
2019
35.9
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
99
2025
Adult literacy rate
88.9%
2023
97.9%
2024
English speaking
12%
2025
55%
2025
People using the Internet
79.6%
2023
100%
2024

Health

Iran Saudi Arabia
Government health expenditure per capita
$267.1
2023
$1,825
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$115.2
2023
$257.7
2023
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
79.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.71%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.81
2023
3.41
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
7
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
11.8
2023
6.2
2023
Obesity rate
25.1%
2022
42.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9%
2024
23.1%
2024
Air quality index
27
2026
32
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
13.3%
2022
14.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
0 liters
2020

Territory

Iran Saudi Arabia
% of world land
1.09%
2026
1.44%
2026
Land area per capita
6,841 sq mi
2024
23,513 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
181,727 sq mi
2026
670,418 sq mi
2026
Forest area
41,654 sq mi
2026
3,772 sq mi
2026
Roads length
138,867 mi
2018
137,554 mi
2006

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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