Updated
Overview
Iran has 2.5 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 92.42 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.5 times the size of Iran's, at $1.28T versus $362.68B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $362.68B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $436.91B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 32.5% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 47 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $1,799 | — / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,264 | $1,067 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 282,000 | 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
Saudi Arabia grew while the other economy contracted: 4.5% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 2.1%.
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the younger society: median age 29.6 versus 34.0 years.
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 85% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Iran is 23% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 1,648,195 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Iran is far more densely settled: 56 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 10 times as much on defence as Iran: $80.33B versus $7.89B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 30% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $3,924. Total GDP tells the same story: $362.68B for Iran versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $7.89B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).