Updated
Overview
Iran has 4.4 times the population of Kazakhstan: 92.42 million people against 20.84 million (2025).
Iran's economy is 18% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $362.68B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $362.68B | $306.24B | 2025 | $436.91B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 11.4% | 2025 | 32.5% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 33 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $673 | — / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,264 | $181 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan grew while the other economy contracted: 6.5% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 11.4%.
People and society
Kazakhstan is the younger society: median age 29.7 versus 34.0 years.
Life expectancy is 3.3 years longer in Iran (77.9 vs 74.5).
Iran is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Iran is 40% smaller than Kazakhstan: 1,648,195 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Iran is far more densely settled: 56 people per km² against 8.
Military
Iran spends 6.5 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $7.89B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Iran carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 65% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Kazakhstan?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $3,924. Total GDP tells a different story: $362.68B for Iran versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Kazakhstan?
- Iran spends more: $7.89B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).