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Algeria vs Iran
Side-by-side comparison of Algeria and Iran from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Algeria
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 64 years
Iran
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 2,575 years
In short
Algeria scores 57.0 in the NationsTree Index (63rd in the world) and Iran scores 51.6 (80th), a gap of 5.4 points. Their trees are 18 m and 25 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Iran has 95% more people than Algeria. Algeria has 36% more land area than Iran. Iran has an economy 2.1 times the size of Algeria (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Algeria 47.4 million and Iran 92.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $19,699 in Iran and $18,586 in Algeria (2025, international dollars). People in Iran live on average 1.4 years longer (77.9 vs 76.5 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Algeria ranks higher in the world on 14 and Iran on 16. Algeria is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and military. Iran is clearly stronger in tourism, trade and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, Iran is the older of the two (statehood since 550 BC, 2,575 years), compared with Algeria (since 1962). Over the last five years Algeria improved faster (direction score 92 vs 41 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Algeria and Iran.
Algeriabetter
1.4%
45th of 180
Iran
42.2%
176th of 180
GDP growthEconomy
Algeriabetter
3.8%
83rd of 210
Iran
-2.8%
207th of 210
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Algeriabetter
105.2%
40th of 173
Iran
85.1%
119th of 173
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Algeriabetter
16.5
95th of 200
Iran
40.2
178th of 200
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Algeria
92%
86th of 193
Iranbetter
98%
20th of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Algeria overtook Iran in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Iran overtook Algeria in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Iran overtook Algeria in GDP per person (PPP) in 1991 and has stayed ahead since.
Iran has been ahead of Algeria in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
AlgeriaIran All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Algeria | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 1,745,15017th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 1,622,50017th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 47.4 m33rd/217 · 2025 | 92.4 m17th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.32%78th/217 · 2025 | 0.92%105th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 19.7187th/216 · 2024 | 56.4149th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 75.8%71st/217 · 2025 | 77.4%69th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.9%71st/217 · 2025 | 22.0%109th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.8%128th/217 · 2025 | 8.6%110th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $287.03 bn51st/210 · 2025 | $362.68 bn44th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $881.65 bn38th/199 · 2025 | $1.82 trn24th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $753.40 bn39th/199 · 2025 | $1.56 trn24th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $6,051129th/210 · 2025 | $3,924152nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $18,586112th/199 · 2025 | $19,699107th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,850121st/201 · 2025 | $4,650133rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.8%83rd/210 · 2025 | -2.8%207th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%45th/180 · 2025 | 42.2%176th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.6%159th/187 · 2025 | 8.3%134th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.1%90th/189 · 2025 | 35.6%50th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -10.5%182nd/192 · 2025 | -5.3%154th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 14.5%54th/197 · 2025 | 10.6%66th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 34.8%33rd/200 · 2025 | 39.6%16th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.5%106th/192 · 2024 | 20.6%16th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.7%166th/200 · 2025 | 47.1%159th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $48.32 bn67th/182 · 2025 | $93.41 bn50th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $63.56 bn61st/182 · 2025 | $125.08 bn44th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 16.8%156th/183 · 2025 | 25.8%122nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.1%161st/183 · 2025 | 34.5%115th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 39.0%163rd/183 · 2025 | 60.2%127th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 93.1%2nd/170 · 2024 | 68.0%15th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 5.8%148th/171 · 2024 | 21.4%105th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%165th/171 · 2024 | 5.6%137th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%156th/171 · 2024 | 4.7%65th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.0%2017 | 0.8%149th/168 · 2022 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -8.9%169th/191 · 2025 | 3.3%49th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%155th/196 · 2025 | 0.5%160th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 22.6%20th/209 · 2021 | 30.4%9th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 14.46%17th/197 · 2021 | 18.27%10th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 8.00%8th/197 · 2021 | 8.81%6th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.01%51st/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%88th/209 · 2021 | 3.36%30th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.13%105th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%157th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.2%155th/206 · 2024 | 9.7%106th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 247164th/183 · 2022 | 1,435114th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 591,000116th/194 · 2020 | 1.6 m78th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $50.0 m154th/175 · 2020 | $5.25 bn29th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.2%165th/168 · 2020 | 2.3%2000 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.4 m60th/107 · 2020 | 1.6 m55th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.593rd/217 · 2024 | 77.976th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 21.6126th/196 · 2024 | 11.382nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.6689th/174 · 2022 | 1.8186th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.62017 | 1.992nd/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 98%20th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 45.1%2019 | 65.1%91st/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 105.2%40th/173 · 2024 | 85.1%119th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 89.9%3rd/55 · 2020 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%126th/217 · 2025 | 12.4%113th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%145th/193 · 2023 | 6.0%104th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 75.1%2008 | 88.9%53rd/98 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 54.4%71st/150 · 2024 | 58.7%62nd/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.76396th/193 · 2023 | 0.79975th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 27.62011 | 35.964th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%2011 | 2.5%66th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 69.0%89th/150 · 2024 | 94.4%54th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.5%71st/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 77.4%106th/186 · 2024 | 85.3%81st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115105th/210 · 2024 | 17416th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.3105th/208 · 2024 | 12.1111th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 4,00133rd/82 · 2021 | 9,45519th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 7.2 m53rd/161 · 2023 | 18.1 m38th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.98132nd/203 · 2024 | 9.05181st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.1%202nd/212 · 2021 | 0.9%193rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.595th/200 · 2023 | 40.2178th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 0.7%201st/214 · 2024 | 6.6%176th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,54672nd/149 · 2024 | 3,45625th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 48.4123rd/205 · 2025 | 34.8172nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.3136th/207 · 2025 | 25.0178th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 47.9145th/207 · 2025 | 38.6180th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 54.0166th/207 · 2025 | 36.0189th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.9163rd/205 · 2025 | 29.2195th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 37.8157th/205 · 2025 | 27.9187th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.250th/145 · 2023 | 2.42014 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $25.44 bn20th/156 · 2025 | $7.40 bn38th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 8.8%2nd/156 · 2025 | 2.1%57th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 24.6%4th/154 · 2025 | 11.2%24th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 326,00021st/170 · 2020 | 650,00010th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.81%18th/168 · 2020 | 2.35%21st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 108.0 m47th/163 · 2025 | 42.0 m69th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 80.0 m29th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.44%62nd/110 · 2024 | 0.73%50th/110 · 2021 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,08430th/137 · 2024 | 8,31412th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 7,67752nd/197 · 2023 | 55,08514th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Algeria or Iran?
Iran has the larger population: 92.4 m (2025) compared with 47.4 m for Algeria (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Algeria or Iran?
Algeria is larger: 2,381,740 km² (2024) compared with 1,745,150 km² for Iran (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Algeria or Iran?
Iran has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.82 trn intl. (2025) compared with $881.65 bn intl. for Algeria (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Algeria or Iran?
Iran has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $19,699 intl. (2025) compared with $18,586 intl. for Algeria (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Algeria or Iran?
Iran has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024) compared with 76.5 years for Algeria (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Algeria or Iran?
Algeria spends more on the military: $25.44 bn (2025) compared with $7.40 bn for Iran (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Algeria or Iran?
Algeria: 57.0 points (63rd in the world); Iran: 51.6 points (80th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Egypt
Israel
Pakistan
United Arab EmiratesSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Algeria vs Iran — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/algeria-vs-iran. Data as of 26 October 2026.