Updated
Overview
Iran has 9.1 times the population of Israel: 92.42 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is about 70% larger than Iran's, at $610.78B versus $362.68B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $362.68B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $436.91B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 32.5% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 101 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $3,383 | — / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,264 | Higher: $1,589 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 178,000 | 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
Israel grew while the other economy contracted: 2.9% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 3.0%.
People and society
Israel is the younger society: median age 29.2 versus 34.0 years.
Life expectancy is 5.3 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 77.9).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Iran is 79 times the size of Israel: 1,648,195 km² versus 20,770 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 56.
Military
Israel spends 5.9 times as much on defence as Iran: $46.51B versus $7.89B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Israel?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Iran is 79 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Israel?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $3,924. Total GDP tells the same story: $362.68B for Iran versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $7.89B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).