EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Austria vs Czechia
Algeria vs Iraq
Side-by-side comparison of Algeria and Iraq 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
Iraq
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 94 years
In short
Algeria scores 57.0 in the NationsTree Index (63rd in the world) and Iraq scores 47.5 (97th), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 18 m and 15 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Algeria and Iraq have a similar population. Algeria is 5.5 times larger than Iraq by land area. The economy of Algeria is 31% larger than that of Iraq (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Algeria 47.4 million and Iraq 47.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $18,586 in Algeria and $14,267 in Iraq (2025, international dollars). People in Algeria live on average 4.1 years longer (76.5 vs 72.4 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Algeria ranks higher in the world on 21 and Iraq on 8. Algeria is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, military and science & innovation. Iraq is clearly stronger in tourism and trade.
As a nation, Iraq is the older of the two (statehood since 1932, 94 years), compared with Algeria (since 1962). Over the last five years Iraq improved faster (direction score 98 vs 92 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Algeria and Iraq.
Algeriabetter
3.8%
83rd of 210
Iraq
-2.2%
205th of 210
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Algeriabetter
16.5
95th of 200
Iraq
49.5
188th of 200
R&D spendingScience & innovation
Algeriabetter
0.44%
62nd of 110
Iraq
0.04%
108th of 110
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Algeriabetter
48.4
123rd of 205
Iraq
31.5
180th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Algeria overtook Iraq in GDP per person (PPP) in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Algeria has been ahead of Iraq in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Algeria has been ahead of Iraq in GDP (PPP) in every year since 1995.
Algeria has been ahead of Iraq in life expectancy 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
AlgeriaIraq 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 | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 435,05059th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 434,13057th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 47.4 m33rd/217 · 2025 | 47.0 m34th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.32%78th/217 · 2025 | 2.10%43rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 19.7187th/216 · 2024 | 106.1100th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 75.8%71st/217 · 2025 | 69.9%90th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.9%71st/217 · 2025 | 36.0%49th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.8%128th/217 · 2025 | 3.4%181st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $287.03 bn51st/210 · 2025 | $254.37 bn54th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $881.65 bn38th/199 · 2025 | $670.84 bn45th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $753.40 bn39th/199 · 2025 | $573.26 bn45th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $6,051129th/210 · 2025 | $5,410135th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $18,586112th/199 · 2025 | $14,267124th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,850121st/201 · 2025 | $5,690122nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.8%83rd/210 · 2025 | -2.2%205th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%45th/180 · 2025 | 0.3%20th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.6%159th/187 · 2025 | 15.5%173rd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 27.4%2018 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.1%90th/189 · 2025 | 52.8%93rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -10.5%182nd/192 · 2025 | -6.2%165th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 14.5%54th/197 · 2025 | 3.4%122nd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 34.8%33rd/200 · 2025 | 45.4%9th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.5%106th/192 · 2024 | 4.0%162nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.7%166th/200 · 2025 | 52.3%135th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $48.32 bn67th/182 · 2025 | $111.20 bn46th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $63.56 bn61st/182 · 2025 | $104.52 bn49th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 16.8%156th/183 · 2025 | 39.8%84th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.1%161st/183 · 2025 | 37.4%110th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 39.0%163rd/183 · 2025 | 77.1%103rd/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 93.1%2nd/170 · 2024 | 99.0%1st/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 5.8%148th/171 · 2024 | 0.4%168th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%165th/171 · 2024 | 0.5%167th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%156th/171 · 2024 | 0.0%169th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.0%2017 | — |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -8.9%169th/191 · 2025 | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%155th/196 · 2025 | -3.0%190th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 22.6%20th/209 · 2021 | 43.4%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 14.46%17th/197 · 2021 | 42.79%2nd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 8.00%8th/197 · 2021 | 0.66%35th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%88th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.13%105th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%164th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.2%155th/206 · 2024 | 11.3%93rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 247164th/183 · 2022 | 799139th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 591,000116th/194 · 2020 | 892,0002013 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $50.0 m154th/175 · 2020 | $955.0 m78th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.2%165th/168 · 2020 | 1.9%130th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.4 m60th/107 · 2020 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.593rd/217 · 2024 | 72.4132nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 21.6126th/196 · 2024 | 21.8127th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.6689th/174 · 2022 | 1.02104th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.62017 | 1.12018 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 90%104th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 45.1%2019 | 32.1%130th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 105.2%40th/173 · 2024 | 50.6%2007 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 83.6%2012 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%126th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%145th/193 · 2023 | 5.5%117th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 75.1%2008 | 84.1%63rd/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 54.4%71st/150 · 2024 | 15.6%2005 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.76396th/193 · 2023 | 0.695126th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 27.62011 | 29.821st/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%2011 | 0.5%36th/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 | 59.8%101st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.5%71st/144 · 2024 | 50.9%82nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 77.4%106th/186 · 2024 | 81.5%99th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115105th/210 · 2024 | 100137th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.3105th/208 · 2024 | 17.693rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 4,00133rd/82 · 2021 | 2,3702014 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 7.2 m53rd/161 · 2023 | 3.8 m68th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.98132nd/203 · 2024 | 5.18154th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.1%202nd/212 · 2021 | 1.1%187th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.595th/200 · 2023 | 49.5188th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 0.7%201st/214 · 2024 | 1.6%191st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,54672nd/149 · 2024 | 1,54073rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 48.4123rd/205 · 2025 | 31.5180th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.3136th/207 · 2025 | 22.8183rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 47.9145th/207 · 2025 | 35.7188th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 54.0166th/207 · 2025 | 32.9197th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.9163rd/205 · 2025 | 38.0178th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 37.8157th/205 · 2025 | 42.6143rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.250th/145 · 2023 | 9.52013 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $25.44 bn20th/156 · 2025 | $6.45 bn40th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 8.8%2nd/156 · 2025 | 2.4%43rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 24.6%4th/154 · 2025 | 5.5%71st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 326,00021st/170 · 2020 | 459,00015th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.81%18th/168 · 2020 | 4.40%6th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 108.0 m47th/163 · 2025 | 55.0 m63rd/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.44%62nd/110 · 2024 | 0.04%108th/110 · 2021 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,08430th/137 · 2024 | 55642nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 7,67752nd/197 · 2023 | 16,72429th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria has the larger population: 47.4 m (2025) compared with 47.0 m for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria is larger: 2,381,740 km² (2024) compared with 435,050 km² for Iraq (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $881.65 bn intl. (2025) compared with $670.84 bn intl. for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $18,586 intl. (2025) compared with $14,267 intl. for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.5 years (2024) compared with 72.4 years for Iraq (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria spends more on the military: $25.44 bn (2025) compared with $6.45 bn for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Algeria or Iraq?
Algeria: 57.0 points (63rd in the world); Iraq: 47.5 points (97th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Egypt
Iran
Israel
Pakistan
United Arab Emirates
MoroccoSources
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 Iraq — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/algeria-vs-iraq. Data as of 26 October 2026.