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Iran vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population of 91.6M (ranked 17/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Iran's land area is 626,451 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 17th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Iran South Korea
Population
93468444
51649918
Population rank 17/197 31/197
GDP
$475B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 34/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$5,190
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 119/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,874
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$162B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
34%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,764
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 122/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,964
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 626,451 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.7
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
34.3 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Iran and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Iran and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Iran South Korea
2024 $475,252,089,215 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $457,510,482,317 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $422,662,261,526 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $407,350,685,583 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $280,934,329,280 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $347,988,400,958 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $411,903,303,606 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $510,239,893,418 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $478,618,064,871 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $409,191,686,497 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $462,284,793,281 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $500,399,839,840 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $644,019,315,004 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $629,082,257,472 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $487,069,570,464 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $414,059,094,949 $983,065,242,417
2008 $406,070,949,554 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $349,736,591,832 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $265,602,187,404 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $224,970,371,325 $971,740,329,984
2004 $187,754,571,248 $823,251,107,639
2003 $151,911,222,119 $728,516,494,684
2002 $128,626,917,504 $650,014,391,470
2001 $126,878,750,296 $567,564,806,235
2000 $109,591,707,802 $597,487,173,479
1999 $113,848,450,088 $515,697,079,289
1998 $110,276,913,363 $397,297,216,492
1997 $113,919,163,421 $589,202,526,424
1996 $120,403,931,885 $631,196,863,758
1995 $96,419,225,744 $586,286,469,401
1994 $71,841,461,173 $479,181,794,217
1993 $63,743,623,232 $405,705,302,846
1992 $119,768,691,217 $366,921,291,825
1991 $131,637,664,958 $340,851,946,804
1990 $124,813,263,926 $292,064,221,389
1989 $120,496,362,916 $254,236,243,100
1988 $123,057,861,334 $205,477,530,605
1987 $134,009,995,923 $152,240,393,646
1986 $209,094,561,833 $119,965,960,795
1985 $180,183,629,600 $103,764,281,281
1984 $162,276,728,620 $99,749,645,089
1983 $156,365,156,618 $89,621,208,322
1982 $125,948,756,439 $79,921,300,447
1981 $100,499,312,750 $74,287,368,087
1980 $94,362,275,580 $66,547,970,351
1979 $90,391,877,326 $68,083,884,298
1978 $77,994,316,621 $52,824,793,388
1977 $80,600,122,702 $39,064,462,810
1976 $68,055,295,081 $30,371,074,380
1975 $51,776,222,350 $22,126,033,058
1974 $46,209,092,072 $19,860,929,977
1973 $27,081,698,250 $14,067,523,813
1972 $17,153,463,263 $10,990,490,570
1971 $13,731,802,833 $10,005,257,131
1970 $10,976,245,154 $9,085,001,794
1969 $9,743,089,607 $7,743,940,189
1968 $8,623,172,960 $6,167,109,472
1967 $7,555,383,690 $4,895,076,718
1966 $6,789,938,672 $3,957,064,541
1965 $6,197,319,929 $3,141,131,708
1964 $5,379,845,648 $3,476,789,682
1963 $4,928,628,018 $4,007,692,308
1962 $4,693,566,416 $2,826,923,077
1961 $4,426,949,095 $2,427,244,761
1960 $4,199,134,390 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Iran and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iran South Korea
2024 $5,190 $36,239
2023 $5,049 $35,674
2022 $4,721 $34,822
2021 $4,605 $37,518
2020 $3,203 $33,646
2019 $3,997 $33,827
2018 $4,783 $35,364
2017 $6,001 $33,297
2016 $5,711 $30,832
2015 $4,953 $30,172
2014 $5,672 $30,667
2013 $6,223 $28,449
2012 $8,114 $26,601
2011 $8,026 $26,175
2010 $6,291 $24,071
2009 $5,416 $19,937
2008 $5,377 $22,252
2007 $4,688 $25,078
2006 $3,619 $22,610
2005 $3,132 $20,167
2004 $2,672 $17,122
2003 $2,209 $15,212
2002 $1,891 $13,643
2001 $1,881 $11,981
2000 $1,650 $12,710
1999 $1,740 $11,063
1998 $1,709 $8,583
1997 $1,790 $12,822
1996 $1,915 $13,865
1995 $1,550 $13,002
1994 $1,168 $10,734
1993 $1,038 $9,180
1992 $1,957 $8,387
1991 $2,194 $7,873
1990 $2,138 $6,813
1989 $2,125 $5,989
1988 $2,234 $4,889
1987 $2,513 $3,658
1986 $4,064 $2,911
1985 $3,634 $2,543
1984 $3,395 $2,469
1983 $3,397 $2,246
1982 $2,845 $2,032
1981 $2,393 $1,918
1980 $2,368 $1,746
1979 $2,352 $1,814
1978 $2,101 $1,429
1977 $2,243 $1,073
1976 $1,954 $847
1975 $1,532 $627
1974 $1,409 $572
1973 $851 $412
1972 $555 $328
1971 $457 $304
1970 $377 $281.8
1969 $345 $245.5
1968 $314 $200
1967 $283.7 $162.5
1966 $262.9 $134.4
1965 $247.5 $109.4
1964 $221.7 $124.2
1963 $209.6 $147
1962 $205.8 $106.6
1961 $200.1 $94.2
1960 $195.6 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Iran vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iran South Korea
2026 78.2 84.6
2025 78.1 84.5
2024 77.9 84.4
2023 77.7 84.3
2022 76.8 82.7
2021 73.8 83.9
2020 74.1 83.7
2019 76.9 83.7
2018 76.6 83.3
2017 76.4 83.3
2016 76.2 82.9
2015 75.9 82.5
2014 75.6 82.4
2013 75.3 81.8
2012 75 81.3
2011 74.7 81.2
2010 74.4 80.7
2009 74 80.6
2008 73.7 80
2007 73.3 79.4
2006 72.9 79
2005 72.4 78.4
2004 72 78
2003 70.5 77.5
2002 71.1 77.2
2001 70.6 76.9
2000 70.2 76.2
1999 69.7 75.6
1998 69.2 75
1997 68.6 74.5
1996 68.3 74
1995 67.9 73.4
1994 67.5 72.9
1993 67 72.7
1992 66.7 72.2
1991 66.2 71.4
1990 64.1 71
1989 65.3 70.7
1988 63.3 70.2
1987 62.7 69.3
1986 62.1 69
1985 61.5 68.4
1984 60.9 68.1
1983 58.5 66.7
1982 57.6 67.1
1981 56.6 67.1
1980 58.4 64.8
1979 58.5 66.1
1978 56 65
1977 56.7 64.6
1976 55.8 65
1975 54.8 64.7
1974 53.9 64.2
1973 52.9 63.8
1972 51.7 63.2
1971 51.1 62.7
1970 50.2 62.2
1969 49.4 61.4
1968 47.9 60.9
1967 47.8 60.9
1966 47.1 55.4
1965 46.4 55.8
1964 45.7 55.3
1963 45.1 55
1962 43.8 55
1961 43.9 54.4
1960 43.3 53.8
1959 42.8 52.9
1958 42.2 51.8
1957 41.3 51.6
1956 41.1 50.2
1955 40.6 48.4
1954 40 46.1
1953 39.5 40.5
1952 39.2 36.6
1951 38.7 26.6
1950 38.2 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Iran and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Iran South Korea
2024 91,567,738 51,751,065
2023 90,608,707 51,712,619
2022 89,524,246 51,672,569
2021 88,455,488 51,769,539
2020 87,723,443 51,836,239
2019 87,051,648 51,764,822
2018 86,117,998 51,585,058
2017 85,026,754 51,361,911
2016 83,812,228 51,217,803
2015 82,619,362 51,014,947
2014 81,502,045 50,746,659
2013 80,414,686 50,428,893
2012 79,370,580 50,199,853
2011 78,383,598 49,936,638
2010 77,420,842 49,554,112
2009 76,457,825 49,307,835
2008 75,514,204 49,054,708
2007 74,602,648 48,683,638
2006 73,392,747 48,438,292
2005 71,828,455 48,184,561
2004 70,256,316 48,082,519
2003 68,769,340 47,892,330
2002 68,011,317 47,644,736
2001 67,452,005 47,370,164
2000 66,418,659 47,008,111
1999 65,445,391 46,616,677
1998 64,519,859 46,286,503
1997 63,639,638 45,953,580
1996 62,881,300 45,524,681
1995 62,205,567 45,092,991
1994 61,520,598 44,641,540
1993 61,403,543 44,194,628
1992 61,184,983 43,747,962
1991 59,986,931 43,295,704
1990 58,380,092 42,869,283
1989 56,704,914 42,449,038
1988 55,072,694 42,031,247
1987 53,323,493 41,621,690
1986 51,446,045 41,213,674
1985 49,582,289 40,805,744
1984 47,793,998 40,405,956
1983 46,029,535 39,910,403
1982 44,272,141 39,326,352
1981 41,989,312 38,723,248
1980 39,842,324 38,123,775
1979 38,424,952 37,534,236
1978 37,126,535 36,969,185
1977 35,933,181 36,411,795
1976 34,837,271 35,848,523
1975 33,802,973 35,280,725
1974 32,796,463 34,692,266
1973 31,839,838 34,103,149
1972 30,921,179 33,505,406
1971 30,029,071 32,882,704
1970 29,145,100 32,240,827
1969 28,273,482 31,544,266
1968 27,437,391 30,838,302
1967 26,628,432 30,130,983
1966 25,829,270 29,435,571
1965 25,036,978 28,704,674
1964 24,262,859 27,984,155
1963 23,519,005 27,261,747
1962 22,807,907 26,513,030
1961 22,125,726 25,765,673
1960 21,470,434 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Iran and South Korea

Fertility rate
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iran South Korea
2023 1.7 0.72
2022 1.7 0.78
2021 1.71 0.81
2020 1.7 0.84
2019 1.77 0.92
2018 1.92 0.98
2017 2.02 1.05
2016 2.05 1.17
2015 2.02 1.24
2014 1.98 1.21
2013 1.91 1.19
2012 1.85 1.3
2011 1.79 1.24
2010 1.75 1.23
2009 1.74 1.15
2008 1.74 1.19
2007 1.75 1.26
2006 1.76 1.13
2005 1.76 1.09
2004 1.78 1.16
2003 1.8 1.19
2002 1.84 1.18
2001 1.92 1.31
2000 2 1.48
1999 2.09 1.43
1998 2.19 1.46
1997 2.32 1.54
1996 2.54 1.57
1995 2.85 1.63
1994 3.24 1.66
1993 3.67 1.65
1992 4.1 1.76
1991 4.57 1.71
1990 4.93 1.57
1989 5.17 1.56
1988 5.43 1.55
1987 5.72 1.53
1986 6.01 1.58
1985 6.24 1.66
1984 6.43 1.74
1983 6.53 2.06
1982 6.59 2.39
1981 6.62 2.57
1980 6.63 2.82
1979 6.55 2.9
1978 6.34 2.64
1977 6.18 2.99
1976 6.07 3
1975 5.95 3.43
1974 5.97 3.77
1973 6.06 4.07
1972 6.26 4.12
1971 6.55 4.54
1970 6.8 4.53
1969 7.01 4.45
1968 7.12 4.51
1967 7.19 4.62
1966 7.21 4.78
1965 7.22 4.89
1964 7.24 5.07
1963 7.32 5.33
1962 7.4 5.56
1961 7.46 5.8
1960 7.52 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Iran and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Iran

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Iran South Korea
2024 34.3 46.1
2023 33.8 45.5
2022 33.3 44.9
2021 32.8 44.4
2020 32.3 43.8
2019 31.7 43.1
2018 31.2 42.5
2017 30.7 41.9
2016 30.2 41.4
2015 29.7 40.8
2014 29.2 40.2
2013 28.7 39.5
2012 28.2 38.8
2011 27.7 38.2
2010 27.2 37.6
2009 26.6 37
2008 26.1 36.4
2007 25.5 35.8
2006 24.8 35.2
2005 24.3 34.5
2004 23.7 33.9
2003 23.1 33.4
2002 22.6 32.8
2001 22 32.3
2000 21.4 31.7
1999 20.7 31.2
1998 20 30.7
1997 19.5 30.2
1996 19.1 29.8
1995 18.7 29.4
1994 18.4 28.9
1993 18.3 28.3
1992 18.4 27.8
1991 18.3 27.2
1990 18.2 26.7
1989 18.1 26.3
1988 18.2 25.8
1987 18.2 25.3
1986 18.2 24.8
1985 18.3 24.2
1984 18.4 23.7
1983 18.5 23.3
1982 18.6 22.8
1981 18.4 22.5
1980 18.2 22.1
1979 18.3 21.6
1978 18.3 21.1
1977 18.3 20.7
1976 18.2 20.2
1975 18.1 19.9
1974 18 19.6
1973 17.9 19.3
1972 17.8 19.1
1971 17.7 19
1970 17.6 18.9
1969 17.6 18.8
1968 17.6 18.7
1967 17.7 18.6
1966 17.7 18.5
1965 17.8 18.6
1964 17.9 18.8
1963 18.1 19
1962 18.4 19.1
1961 18.7 19.2
1960 19.1 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iran/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iran South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$469B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.2%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.82%
2023
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.01%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
650,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.83%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
7.63%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
49.8%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.1%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
41.8
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.2%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
594
2024
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$172B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$7.69B
1982
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.03B
2004
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,550,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.28%
2000
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
91.1%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Iran South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,266 kg
2022
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.37
2022
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
829 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.05 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.8%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
0.9%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.14%
2022
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-32.5%
2022
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,664 kWh
2022
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
4.24%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.43%
2022
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
2.2%
2022
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iran South Korea
% of world population
1.13%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+116,786
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
77%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.8:49.2
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
40.7
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
78
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.42
2014
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
21.5
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
88.9%
2023
98.8%
2018
English speaking
12%
2025
20%
2025
People using the Internet
79.6%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Iran South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$267.1
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$115.2
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.71%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.81
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
11.8
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
25.1%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
27
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
13.3%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Iran South Korea
% of world land
1.09%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
6,841 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
181,727 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
41,654 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
138,867 mi
2018
68,794 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) (2000–2025, 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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