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Iran vs Israel
Side-by-side comparison of Iran and Israel from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Iran
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 2,575 years
Israel
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 78 years
In short
Israel scores 73.1 in the NationsTree Index (28th in the world) and Iran scores 51.6 (80th), a gap of 21.6 points. Their trees are 25 m and 16 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Iran has 9.1 times the population of Israel. Iran is 79 times larger than Israel by land area. Iran has an economy 3.0 times the size of Israel (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Iran 92.4 million and Israel 10.1 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $59,717 in Israel and $19,699 in Iran (2025, international dollars). People in Israel live on average 5.3 years longer (83.2 vs 77.9 years).
Of 34 indicators reported by both countries, Iran ranks higher in the world on 4 and Israel on 30. Iran is clearly stronger in natural resources and main industries. Israel is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and society & health.
As a nation, Iran is the older of the two (statehood since 550 BC, 2,575 years), compared with Israel (since 1948). Over the last five years Israel improved faster (direction score 61 vs 41 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Iran and Israel.
Iran
29.2
195th of 205
Israelbetter
74.9
24th of 205
High-tech exportsTrade
Iran
0.8%
149th of 168
Israelbetter
37.2%
12th of 168
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Iran
34.8
172nd of 205
Israelbetter
76.7
31st of 205
GDP per personEconomy
Iran
$3,924
152nd of 210
Israelbetter
$60,337
24th of 210
GNI per person (Atlas)Economy
Iran
$4,650
133rd of 201
Israelbetter
$56,180
23rd of 201
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Israel has been ahead of Iran in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Israel has been ahead of Iran in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Iran has been ahead of Israel 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
IranIsrael 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 | Iran | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,745,15017th/216 · 2024 | 22,070149th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,622,50017th/216 · 2024 | 21,640149th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 92.4 m17th/217 · 2025 | 10.1 m95th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.92%105th/217 · 2025 | 1.20%89th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 56.4149th/216 · 2024 | 462.227th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.4%69th/217 · 2025 | 91.6%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 22.0%109th/217 · 2025 | 27.2%83rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.6%110th/217 · 2025 | 12.7%79th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $362.68 bn44th/210 · 2025 | $610.78 bn26th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.82 trn24th/199 · 2025 | $604.50 bn48th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.56 trn24th/199 · 2025 | $487.88 bn50th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,924152nd/210 · 2025 | $60,33724th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $19,699107th/199 · 2025 | $59,71739th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,650133rd/201 · 2025 | $56,18023rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -2.8%207th/210 · 2025 | 2.9%117th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 42.2%176th/180 · 2025 | 3.0%89th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 8.3%134th/187 · 2025 | 3.5%57th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 88.3%1999 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 35.6%50th/189 · 2025 | 67.9%133rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.3%154th/192 · 2025 | -5.2%152nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 10.6%66th/197 · 2025 | 1.3%163rd/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 39.6%16th/200 · 2025 | 17.2%147th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 20.6%16th/192 · 2024 | 11.2%85th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 47.1%159th/200 · 2025 | 72.8%23rd/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $93.41 bn50th/182 · 2025 | $168.32 bn37th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $125.08 bn44th/182 · 2025 | $155.33 bn39th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 25.8%122nd/183 · 2025 | 27.6%118th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 34.5%115th/183 · 2025 | 25.4%151st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 60.2%127th/183 · 2025 | 53.0%137th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 68.0%15th/170 · 2023 | 5.3%73rd/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 21.4%105th/171 · 2023 | 86.8%9th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 5.6%137th/171 · 2023 | 2.2%154th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 4.7%65th/171 · 2023 | 1.5%116th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.8%149th/168 · 2022 | 37.2%12th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.3%49th/191 · 2025 | 2.1%56th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%160th/196 · 2025 | 4.3%49th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 30.4%9th/209 · 2021 | 0.4%135th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 18.27%10th/197 · 2021 | 0.01%105th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 8.81%6th/197 · 2021 | 0.43%40th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%51st/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 3.36%30th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%157th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%179th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 9.7%106th/206 · 2024 | 11.9%87th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,435114th/183 · 2022 | 80174th/183 · 2021 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.6 m78th/194 · 2020 | 4.9 m39th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $5.25 bn29th/175 · 2018 | $2.66 bn44th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.3%2000 | 2.4%120th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.6 m55th/107 · 2020 | 9.2 m21st/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.976th/217 · 2024 | 83.217th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.382nd/196 · 2024 | 3.322nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.8186th/174 · 2023 | 3.8036th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.992nd/145 · 2019 | 3.155th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 98%20th/193 · 2024 | 98%20th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.1%91st/153 · 2023 | 91.6%43rd/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 85.1%119th/173 · 2023 | 98.5%66th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 89.9%3rd/55 · 2020 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 12.4%113th/217 · 2025 | 21.1%72nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.0%104th/193 · 2023 | 7.1%82nd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.9%53rd/98 · 2023 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 58.7%62nd/150 · 2022 | 56.3%66th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.79975th/193 · 2023 | 0.91927th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.964th/108 · 2023 | 38.376th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.5%66th/108 · 2023 | 0.4%27th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 94.4%54th/150 · 2024 | 99.5%26th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 97.2%16th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.3%81st/186 · 2024 | 88.2%69th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17416th/210 · 2024 | 17713th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.1111th/208 · 2024 | 29.265th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9,45519th/82 · 2021 | 1,72056th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 18.1 m38th/161 · 2023 | 7.4 m52nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 9.05181st/203 · 2024 | 5.77160th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.9%193rd/212 · 2021 | 6.2%163rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 40.2178th/200 · 2023 | 21.9129th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 6.6%176th/214 · 2024 | 6.8%174th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,45625th/149 · 2024 | 2,44347th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 34.8172nd/205 · 2025 | 76.731st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 25.0178th/207 · 2025 | 67.339th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 38.6180th/207 · 2025 | 69.853rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 36.0189th/207 · 2025 | 49.6177th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 29.2195th/205 · 2025 | 74.924th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 27.9187th/205 · 2025 | 64.980th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.42014 | 1.661st/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $7.40 bn38th/156 · 2025 | $48.28 bn11th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.1%57th/156 · 2025 | 7.8%3rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 11.2%24th/154 · 2025 | 17.8%12th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 650,00010th/170 · 2020 | 178,00036th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.35%21st/168 · 2020 | 4.23%7th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 42.0 m69th/163 · 2024 | 537.0 m20th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 80.0 m29th/65 · 2025 | 2.6 bn3rd/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.73%50th/110 · 2021 | 6.35%1st/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 8,31412th/137 · 2024 | 1,44825th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 55,08514th/197 · 2023 | 13,84435th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Iran or Israel?
Iran has the larger population: 92.4 m (2025) compared with 10.1 m for Israel (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Iran or Israel?
Iran is larger: 1,745,150 km² (2024) compared with 22,070 km² for Israel (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Iran or Israel?
Iran has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.82 trn intl. (2025) compared with $604.50 bn intl. for Israel (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Iran or Israel?
Israel has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $59,717 intl. (2025) compared with $19,699 intl. for Iran (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Iran or Israel?
Israel has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (2024) compared with 77.9 years for Iran (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Iran or Israel?
Israel spends more on the military: $48.28 bn (2025) compared with $7.40 bn for Iran (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Iran or Israel?
Israel: 73.1 points (28th 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.
Algeria
Egypt
Pakistan
Morocco
Qatar
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). Iran vs Israel — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/iran-vs-israel. Data as of 26 October 2026.