Updated
Overview
Iran has 4.0 times the population of Taiwan: 92.42 million people against 23.30 million (2025).
Taiwan's economy is 2.5 times the size of Iran's, at $920.05B versus $362.68B.
Per person, Taiwan is the wealthier of the two: $39,489 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Taiwan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $362.68B | Higher: $920.05B | 2025 | $436.91B / $611.39B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $39,489 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 1.7% | 2025 | 32.5% / 2.2% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,264 | — | 2023 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $2.42 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 23.30 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 23.60 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 44.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 0.86 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 36,193 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 643.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 262 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | — | 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
Taiwan grew while the other economy contracted: 8.7% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 1.7%.
People and society
Iran is the far younger society: median age 34.0 versus 44.8 years.
Geography
By land area, Iran is 46 times the size of Taiwan: 1,648,195 km² versus 36,193 km².
Taiwan is far more densely settled: 644 people per km² against 56.
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Taiwan?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Taiwan covers 36,193 km², so Iran is 46 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Taiwan?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 23.30 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Taiwan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Taiwan is richer: $39,489 against $3,924. Total GDP tells the same story: $362.68B for Iran versus $920.05B for Taiwan.