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Iran vs Syria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population of 91.6M (ranked 17/197), compared with 24.7M in Syria (ranked 57/197). Iran's land area is 626,451 sq mi versus 70,900 sq mi for Syria (ranked 17th vs. 87th).

By GDP, Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B) and Syria ranks 129/197 ($20B). By GDP per capita, Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190), while Syria ranks 185/197 ($847).

Main facts and rankings

Iran Syria
Population
93468444
26829400
Population rank 17/197 56/197
GDP
$475B
2024
$20B
2023
GDP rank 34/197 129/197
GDP per capita
$5,190
2024
$847
2023
GDP per capita rank 119/197 185/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,874
2024
$4,650
2023
Government debt
$162B
2024
$18.4B
2010
Debt-to-GDP ratio
34%
2024
30%
2010
Government debt per person
$1,764
2024
$820
2010
Government debt per person rank 122/185 148/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,964
2026
$730
2026
Land area 626,451 sq mi 70,900 sq mi
Population density
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
375 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.7
2023
2.71
2023
Median age
34.3 years
2024
23.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
73.4 years
2026

Iran and Syria: Comparison Charts

Iran and Syria economies compared

GDP
Iran

Syria
1x
Year GDP
Iran Syria
2024 $475,252,089,215 -
2023 $457,510,482,317 $19,993,439,950
2022 $422,662,261,526 $23,622,827,080
2021 $407,350,685,583 $14,353,205,678
2020 $280,934,329,280 $12,047,752,036
2019 $347,988,400,958 $22,583,045,060
2018 $411,903,303,606 $21,497,782,868
2017 $510,239,893,418 $16,369,843,352
2016 $478,618,064,871 $12,597,854,877
2015 $409,191,686,497 $16,466,863,117
2014 $462,284,793,281 $21,502,061,466
2013 $500,399,839,840 $21,361,254,635
2012 $644,019,315,004 $43,190,318,033
2011 $629,082,257,472 $67,539,428,159
2010 $487,069,570,464 $61,390,830,875
2009 $414,059,094,949 $54,111,735,629
2008 $406,070,949,554 $52,557,913,569
2007 $349,736,591,832 $40,465,318,382
2006 $265,602,187,404 $33,751,788,856
2005 $224,970,371,325 $28,858,965,517
2004 $187,754,571,248 $25,086,950,495
2003 $151,911,222,119 $21,828,144,686
2002 $128,626,917,504 $20,669,357,462
2001 $126,878,750,296 $20,237,024,725
2000 $109,591,707,802 $18,937,052,543
1999 $113,848,450,088 $15,873,875,969
1998 $110,276,913,363 $15,200,846,154
1997 $113,919,163,421 $14,505,233,463
1996 $120,403,931,885 $13,789,560,878
1995 $96,419,225,744 $11,396,706,587
1994 $71,841,461,173 $10,122,020,000
1993 $63,743,623,232 $13,695,962,055
1992 $119,768,691,217 $13,253,565,861
1991 $131,637,664,958 $12,981,833,333
1990 $124,813,263,926 $12,308,624,418
1989 $120,496,362,916 $9,853,395,762
1988 $123,057,861,334 $10,577,041,645
1987 $134,009,995,923 $11,356,215,543
1986 $209,094,561,833 $13,293,205,278
1985 $180,183,629,600 $16,403,539,893
1984 $162,276,728,620 $17,503,078,174
1983 $156,365,156,618 $17,589,277,143
1982 $125,948,756,439 $16,298,929,011
1981 $100,499,312,750 $15,518,201,335
1980 $94,362,275,580 $13,062,420,382
1979 $90,391,877,326 $9,929,681,529
1978 $77,994,316,621 $9,275,200,458
1977 $80,600,122,702 $7,696,011,396
1976 $68,055,295,081 $7,633,528,867
1975 $51,776,222,350 $6,826,980,444
1974 $46,209,092,072 $5,159,557,148
1973 $27,081,698,250 $3,239,487,516
1972 $17,153,463,263 $3,059,681,698
1971 $13,731,802,833 $2,589,851,325
1970 $10,976,245,154 $2,140,384,010
1969 $9,743,089,607 $2,245,011,515
1968 $8,623,172,960 $1,753,746,430
1967 $7,555,383,690 $1,580,229,799
1966 $6,789,938,672 $1,342,287,553
1965 $6,197,319,929 $1,472,036,540
1964 $5,379,845,648 $1,339,494,267
1963 $4,928,628,018 $1,200,447,408
1962 $4,693,566,416 $1,110,565,881
1961 $4,426,949,095 $945,244,972
1960 $4,199,134,390 $857,704,413

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

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

Iran and Syria economies compared

GDP per capita
Iran

Syria
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iran Syria
2024 $5,190 -
2023 $5,049 $847
2022 $4,721 $1,052
2021 $4,605 $664
2020 $3,203 $572
2019 $3,997 $1,110
2018 $4,783 $1,098
2017 $6,001 $852
2016 $5,711 $656
2015 $4,953 $848
2014 $5,672 $1,061
2013 $6,223 $986
2012 $8,114 $1,898
2011 $8,026 $2,952
2010 $6,291 $2,731
2009 $5,416 $2,462
2008 $5,377 $2,429
2007 $4,688 $1,938
2006 $3,619 $1,719
2005 $3,132 $1,534
2004 $2,672 $1,368
2003 $2,209 $1,220
2002 $1,891 $1,183
2001 $1,881 $1,187
2000 $1,650 $1,138
1999 $1,740 $978
1998 $1,709 $961
1997 $1,790 $941
1996 $1,915 $918
1995 $1,550 $780
1994 $1,168 $712
1993 $1,038 $993
1992 $1,957 $990
1991 $2,194 $1,000
1990 $2,138 $978
1989 $2,125 $809
1988 $2,234 $898
1987 $2,513 $997
1986 $4,064 $1,208
1985 $3,634 $1,544
1984 $3,395 $1,706
1983 $3,397 $1,776
1982 $2,845 $1,703
1981 $2,393 $1,676
1980 $2,368 $1,458
1979 $2,352 $1,146
1978 $2,101 $1,108
1977 $2,243 $951
1976 $1,954 $976
1975 $1,532 $904
1974 $1,409 $707
1973 $851 $459
1972 $555 $448
1971 $457 $393
1970 $377 $335
1969 $345 $364
1968 $314 $293.3
1967 $283.7 $272.9
1966 $262.9 $239.3
1965 $247.5 $270.8
1964 $221.7 $254.2
1963 $209.6 $234.9
1962 $205.8 $223.9
1961 $200.1 $196.3
1960 $195.6 $183.5

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

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

Iran vs. Syria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iran

Syria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iran Syria
2026 78.2 73.4
2025 78.1 73
2024 77.9 72.6
2023 77.7 72.1
2022 76.8 72.8
2021 73.8 72.4
2020 74.1 71.9
2019 76.9 71
2018 76.6 67.4
2017 76.4 65.7
2016 76.2 65.2
2015 75.9 63.3
2014 75.6 65.5
2013 75.3 65.1
2012 75 66.2
2011 74.7 72.3
2010 74.4 73.5
2009 74 73.5
2008 73.7 73.4
2007 73.3 73.3
2006 72.9 73
2005 72.4 72.8
2004 72 72.5
2003 70.5 72.2
2002 71.1 71.7
2001 70.6 71.3
2000 70.2 70.9
1999 69.7 70.5
1998 69.2 70.2
1997 68.6 70.2
1996 68.3 70.2
1995 67.9 70.2
1994 67.5 70.3
1993 67 70.3
1992 66.7 70.2
1991 66.2 70.1
1990 64.1 69.8
1989 65.3 69.5
1988 63.3 69.2
1987 62.7 68.8
1986 62.1 68.4
1985 61.5 68
1984 60.9 67.7
1983 58.5 67.4
1982 57.6 60.8
1981 56.6 64.6
1980 58.4 66.5
1979 58.5 66.2
1978 56 65.9
1977 56.7 65.4
1976 55.8 64.8
1975 54.8 64.2
1974 53.9 63.4
1973 52.9 60.8
1972 51.7 62
1971 51.1 61.3
1970 50.2 60.6
1969 49.4 59.8
1968 47.9 59.1
1967 47.8 58
1966 47.1 57.6
1965 46.4 56.9
1964 45.7 56.2
1963 45.1 55.4
1962 43.8 54.6
1961 43.9 53.7
1960 43.3 52.7
1959 42.8 51.7
1958 42.2 50.7
1957 41.3 49.6
1956 41.1 48.5
1955 40.6 47.4
1954 40 46.4
1953 39.5 45.3
1952 39.2 44.3
1951 38.7 43.4
1950 38.2 42.5

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

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

Iran and Syria population clocks and comparison

Population
Iran

Syria
1x
Year Population
Iran Syria
2024 91,567,738 24,672,760
2023 90,608,707 23,594,623
2022 89,524,246 22,462,173
2021 88,455,488 21,628,839
2020 87,723,443 21,049,429
2019 87,051,648 20,353,534
2018 86,117,998 19,577,845
2017 85,026,754 19,224,668
2016 83,812,228 19,193,834
2015 82,619,362 19,424,618
2014 81,502,045 20,273,659
2013 80,414,686 21,666,917
2012 79,370,580 22,759,763
2011 78,383,598 22,878,098
2010 77,420,842 22,482,421
2009 76,457,825 21,976,969
2008 75,514,204 21,636,564
2007 74,602,648 20,884,125
2006 73,392,747 19,637,022
2005 71,828,455 18,814,091
2004 70,256,316 18,336,875
2003 68,769,340 17,889,296
2002 68,011,317 17,468,332
2001 67,452,005 17,051,338
2000 66,418,659 16,637,888
1999 65,445,391 16,228,061
1998 64,519,859 15,820,413
1997 63,639,638 15,417,542
1996 62,881,300 15,018,104
1995 62,205,567 14,616,801
1994 61,520,598 14,208,583
1993 61,403,543 13,795,686
1992 61,184,983 13,385,571
1991 59,986,931 12,980,821
1990 58,380,092 12,579,208
1989 56,704,914 12,179,060
1988 55,072,694 11,782,264
1987 53,323,493 11,388,923
1986 51,446,045 11,002,844
1985 49,582,289 10,625,672
1984 47,793,998 10,258,398
1983 46,029,535 9,904,809
1982 44,272,141 9,572,511
1981 41,989,312 9,260,189
1980 39,842,324 8,957,663
1979 38,424,952 8,661,909
1978 37,126,535 8,372,759
1977 35,933,181 8,090,501
1976 34,837,271 7,817,320
1975 33,802,973 7,554,364
1974 32,796,463 7,302,160
1973 31,839,838 7,060,321
1972 30,921,179 6,826,024
1971 30,029,071 6,598,094
1970 29,145,100 6,380,609
1969 28,273,482 6,175,166
1968 27,437,391 5,978,742
1967 26,628,432 5,790,198
1966 25,829,270 5,609,047
1965 25,036,978 5,435,267
1964 24,262,859 5,269,087
1963 23,519,005 5,110,467
1962 22,807,907 4,959,340
1961 22,125,726 4,815,466
1960 21,470,434 4,673,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Iran and Syria

Fertility rate
Iran

Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iran Syria
2023 1.7 2.71
2022 1.7 2.75
2021 1.71 2.8
2020 1.7 2.84
2019 1.77 2.88
2018 1.92 2.93
2017 2.02 2.97
2016 2.05 3.01
2015 2.02 3.07
2014 1.98 3.12
2013 1.91 3.17
2012 1.85 3.22
2011 1.79 3.29
2010 1.75 3.36
2009 1.74 3.42
2008 1.74 3.48
2007 1.75 3.54
2006 1.76 3.56
2005 1.76 3.61
2004 1.78 3.68
2003 1.8 3.76
2002 1.84 3.87
2001 1.92 3.98
2000 2 4.07
1999 2.09 4.14
1998 2.19 4.25
1997 2.32 4.37
1996 2.54 4.54
1995 2.85 4.7
1994 3.24 4.86
1993 3.67 4.99
1992 4.1 5.14
1991 4.57 5.34
1990 4.93 5.56
1989 5.17 5.78
1988 5.43 6
1987 5.72 6.2
1986 6.01 6.37
1985 6.24 6.48
1984 6.43 6.59
1983 6.53 6.69
1982 6.59 6.81
1981 6.62 6.97
1980 6.63 7.12
1979 6.55 7.25
1978 6.34 7.35
1977 6.18 7.42
1976 6.07 7.45
1975 5.95 7.49
1974 5.97 7.52
1973 6.06 7.55
1972 6.26 7.57
1971 6.55 7.6
1970 6.8 7.62
1969 7.01 7.59
1968 7.12 7.57
1967 7.19 7.56
1966 7.21 7.55
1965 7.22 7.53
1964 7.24 7.53
1963 7.32 7.51
1962 7.4 7.51
1961 7.46 7.5
1960 7.52 7.51

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

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

Iran and Syria demographics compared

Median age
Iran

Syria
1x
Year Median age, years
Iran Syria
2024 34.3 23.9
2023 33.8 23.3
2022 33.3 22.7
2021 32.8 22.2
2020 32.3 21.6
2019 31.7 20.9
2018 31.2 20.1
2017 30.7 19.6
2016 30.2 19.5
2015 29.7 19.5
2014 29.2 20.1
2013 28.7 21.2
2012 28.2 21.8
2011 27.7 21.9
2010 27.2 21.7
2009 26.6 21.5
2008 26.1 21.3
2007 25.5 21
2006 24.8 20.3
2005 24.3 19.7
2004 23.7 19.5
2003 23.1 19.2
2002 22.6 19
2001 22 18.8
2000 21.4 18.5
1999 20.7 18.3
1998 20 18.1
1997 19.5 17.9
1996 19.1 17.7
1995 18.7 17.5
1994 18.4 17.3
1993 18.3 17.1
1992 18.4 16.9
1991 18.3 16.7
1990 18.2 16.5
1989 18.1 16.4
1988 18.2 16.2
1987 18.2 16.1
1986 18.2 16
1985 18.3 15.9
1984 18.4 15.8
1983 18.5 15.8
1982 18.6 15.7
1981 18.4 15.6
1980 18.2 15.6
1979 18.3 15.6
1978 18.3 15.6
1977 18.3 15.6
1976 18.2 15.6
1975 18.1 15.7
1974 18 15.7
1973 17.9 15.7
1972 17.8 15.8
1971 17.7 15.8
1970 17.6 15.9
1969 17.6 16
1968 17.6 16.1
1967 17.7 16.2
1966 17.7 16.4
1965 17.8 16.5
1964 17.9 16.7
1963 18.1 16.9
1962 18.4 17.1
1961 18.7 17.3
1960 19.1 17.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iran Syria
GNI, Atlas method
$469B
2024
$18.2B
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.2%
2024
28.6%
2010
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.82%
2023
5.13%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.01%
2024
4.06%
2010
Armed forces personnel
650,000
2020
269,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.83%
2024
-7.79%
2010
Unemployment rate
7.63%
2024
8.61%
2010
Services, % of GDP
49.8%
2024
44.9%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
36.1%
2024
12%
2022
Economic freedom index
41.8
2026
51.2
2012
Income share by richest 10%
28.2%
2023
21.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
3.8%
2022
Listed domestic companies
594
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$172B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$7.69B
1982
$20.6B
2010
Personal remittances received
$1.03B
2004
$1.62B
2010
International tourist arrivals
1,550,000
2020
2,424,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
2.28%
2000
32.2%
2010
Banked people share
91.1%
2024
23.3%
2011

Energy

Iran Syria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,266 kg
2022
455 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.37
2022
$10.5
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
829 megatons
2024
31.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.05 tons
2024
1.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.8%
2022
99.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.9%
2021
1.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.14%
2022
0.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-32.5%
2022
61.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,664 kWh
2022
690 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
4.24%
2021
3.91%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.43%
2022
3.76%
2022
Nuclear share
2.2%
2022
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
88.4%
2023

Society

Iran Syria
% of world population
1.13%
2024
0.3%
2024
Annual migration change
+116,786
2025
+421,693
2025
Urban population
77%
2024
72.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.8:49.2
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
40.7
2026
18.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
78
2026
33
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.42
2014
2.07
2010
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
21.5
2019
14.9
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
37
2025
Adult literacy rate
88.9%
2023
94.4%
2021
English speaking
12%
2025
4%
2025
People using the Internet
79.6%
2023
34.7%
2019

Health

Iran Syria
Government health expenditure per capita
$267.1
2023
$33.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$115.2
2023
$24.1
2023
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
73.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.71%
2023
11.8%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.81
2023
1.52
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
20
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
11.8
2023
20.6
2023
Obesity rate
25.1%
2022
n/a
Diabetes prevalence
9%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
27
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
13.3%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
0.09 liters
2020

Territory

Iran Syria
% of world land
1.09%
2026
0.12%
2026
Land area per capita
6,841 sq mi
2024
2,874 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
181,727 sq mi
2026
52,533 sq mi
2026
Forest area
41,654 sq mi
2026
2,016 sq mi
2026
Roads length
138,867 mi
2018
n/a

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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.