Updated
Overview
Iran has 9.0 times the population of Azerbaijan: 92.42 million people against 10.25 million (2025).
Iran's economy is 4.8 times the size of Azerbaijan's, at $362.68B versus $75.94B.
Per person, Azerbaijan is the wealthier of the two: $7,411 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Azerbaijan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $362.68B | $75.94B | 2025 | $436.91B / $74.32B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $7,411 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 5.6% | 2025 | 32.5% / 2.2% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 28 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $494 | — / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,264 | $203 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.26 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 10.25 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 10.69 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 33.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 1.66 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 74.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 59% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 91% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 86,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 118.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 40 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 3.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $3.78B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 5.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 82,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Azerbaijan grew while the other economy contracted: 1.4% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 5.6%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 34.0 (Iran) and 33.6 (Azerbaijan).
Life expectancy is 3.3 years longer in Iran (77.9 vs 74.6).
Iran is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 59%.
Geography
By land area, Iran is 19 times the size of Azerbaijan: 1,648,195 km² versus 86,600 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Azerbaijan is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 56.
Military
Iran spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Azerbaijan: $7.89B versus $3.78B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Azerbaijan carries the heavier military burden: 5.0% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 82,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Azerbaijan?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Azerbaijan covers 86,600 km², so Iran is 19 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Azerbaijan?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 10.25 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Azerbaijan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Azerbaijan is richer: $7,411 against $3,924. Total GDP tells a different story: $362.68B for Iran versus $75.94B for Azerbaijan.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Azerbaijan?
- Iran spends more: $7.89B versus $3.78B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).