Updated
Overview
Russia has about 55% more people than Iran: 143.51 million against 92.42 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 7.1 times the size of Iran's, at $2.56T versus $362.68B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Iran | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $362.68B | 2025 | $2.17T / $436.91B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $3,924 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.0% | -2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 8.7% | 42.2% | 2025 | 6.7% / 32.5% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 8.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,264 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 92.42 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 89.18 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 34.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.67 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 85% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 1,648,195 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 56.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 793 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 8.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $7.89B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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
Russia grew while the other economy contracted: 1.0% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 8.7%.
People and society
Iran is the younger society: median age 34.0 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 4.4 years longer in Iran (77.9 vs 73.4).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 10 times the size of Iran: 17,098,242 km² versus 1,648,195 km².
Iran is far more densely settled: 56 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 19 times as much on defence as Iran: $148.97B versus $7.89B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 650,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Iran?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Iran covers 1,648,195 km², so Russia is 10 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Iran?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 92.42 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Iran?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $3,924. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $362.68B for Iran.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Iran?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $7.89B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).