Updated
Overview
Iraq has 4.1 times the population of Jordan: 47.02 million people against 11.52 million (2025).
Iraq's economy is 4.1 times the size of Jordan's, at $254.37B versus $61.61B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iraq | Jordan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $254.37B | $61.61B | 2025 | $279.64B / $53.35B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $5,410 | $5,348 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.2% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.3% | 1.8% | 2025 | 4.4% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 15.5% | 16.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 38 | 42 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $495 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $269 | Higher: $366 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $3.53 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 47.02 million | 11.52 million | 2025 | 42.92 million / 11.31 million |
| Population growth | 2.1% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.8 yrs | 24.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.17 | 2.57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.4 yrs | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 93% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 81% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 438,317 km² | 89,342 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 107.3/km² | 129.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 234 Mt | Lower: 23 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 5.1 t | Lower: 2.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.18B | $2.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.4% | 4.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 459,000 | 116,000 | 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
Jordan grew while the other economy contracted: 2.8% against -2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.3% in Iraq and 1.8% in Jordan.
People and society
Iraq is the younger society: median age 20.8 versus 24.7 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Jordan (78.0 vs 72.4).
Jordan is considerably more urbanized: 93% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Internet adoption is higher in Jordan (96% vs 81% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Iraq is 4.9 times the size of Jordan: 438,317 km² versus 89,342 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Iraq spends 2.4 times as much on defence as Jordan: $6.18B versus $2.56B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Jordan carries the heavier military burden: 4.8% of GDP versus 2.4%.
Iraq fields the larger armed forces: 459,000 personnel against 116,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iraq bigger than Jordan?
- Iraq is larger by land area. Iraq covers 438,317 km² while Jordan covers 89,342 km², so Iraq is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iraq or Jordan?
- Iraq has the larger population: 47.02 million versus 11.52 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iraq richer than Jordan?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $5,410 for Iraq against $5,348 for Jordan, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells the same story: $254.37B for Iraq versus $61.61B for Jordan.
- Who spends more on their military, Iraq or Jordan?
- Iraq spends more: $6.18B versus $2.56B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).