Updated
Overview
Iran has 16 times the population of Finland: 92.42 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
Iran's economy is 14% larger than Finland's, at $362.68B versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $362.68B | $317.04B | 2025 | $436.91B / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 32.5% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 8.3% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 85 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $5,760 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,264 | — | 2023 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 22,000 | 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
Finland grew while the other economy contracted: 0.2% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 0.3%.
People and society
Iran is the far younger society: median age 34.0 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 4.5 years longer in Finland (82.3 vs 77.9).
Geography
By land area, Iran is 4.9 times the size of Finland: 1,648,195 km² versus 338,424 km².
Iran is far more densely settled: 56 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $7.89B (Iran) and $6.99B (Finland).
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Finland?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Iran is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Finland?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $3,924. Total GDP tells a different story: $362.68B for Iran versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Finland?
- Iran spends more: $7.89B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).