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Iran vs Pakistan
Side-by-side comparison of Iran and Pakistan 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
Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 79 years
In short
Iran scores 51.6 in the NationsTree Index (80th in the world) and Pakistan scores 35.8 (143rd), a gap of 15.8 points. Their trees are 25 m and 23 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Pakistan has 2.8 times the population of Iran. Iran is 2.2 times larger than Pakistan by land area. Iran and Pakistan have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Iran 92.4 million and Pakistan 255.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $19,699 in Iran and $6,573 in Pakistan (2025, international dollars). People in Iran live on average 10.1 years longer (77.9 vs 67.8 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Iran ranks higher in the world on 25 and Pakistan on 12. Iran is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, society & health and science & innovation. Pakistan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and environment & energy.
As a nation, Iran is the older of the two (statehood since 550 BC, 2,575 years), compared with Pakistan (since 1947). Over the last five years Pakistan improved faster (direction score 60 vs 41 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Iran and Pakistan.
Iranbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Pakistan
95.7%
151st of 215
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Iran
0.9%
193rd of 212
Pakistanbetter
41.6%
59th of 212
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Iran
9.05
181st of 203
Pakistanbetter
0.81
57th of 203
GDP growthEconomy
Iran
-2.8%
207th of 210
Pakistanbetter
3.7%
92nd of 210
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Iranbetter
98%
20th of 193
Pakistan
87%
121st of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Iran has been ahead of Pakistan in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1995.
Iran has been ahead of Pakistan in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Pakistan has been ahead of Iran in 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
IranPakistan 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 | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,745,15017th/216 · 2024 | 796,10035th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,622,50017th/216 · 2024 | 770,88035th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 92.4 m17th/217 · 2025 | 255.2 m5th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.92%105th/217 · 2025 | 1.56%67th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 56.4149th/216 · 2024 | 326.037th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.4%69th/217 · 2025 | 39.5%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 22.0%109th/217 · 2025 | 36.2%47th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.6%110th/217 · 2025 | 4.4%160th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $362.68 bn44th/210 · 2025 | $407.31 bn41st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.82 trn24th/199 · 2025 | $1.68 trn26th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.56 trn24th/199 · 2025 | $1.43 trn26th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,924152nd/210 · 2025 | $1,596181st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $19,699107th/199 · 2025 | $6,573156th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,650133rd/201 · 2025 | $1,500174th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -2.8%207th/210 · 2025 | 3.7%92nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 42.2%176th/180 · 2025 | 3.5%104th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 8.3%134th/187 · 2025 | 5.4%100th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 55.0%2000 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 35.6%50th/189 · 2025 | 72.8%139th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.3%154th/192 · 2025 | -5.4%157th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 10.6%66th/197 · 2025 | 23.0%27th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 39.6%16th/200 · 2025 | 20.1%125th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 20.6%16th/192 · 2024 | 13.0%66th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 47.1%159th/200 · 2025 | 50.9%140th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $93.41 bn50th/182 · 2025 | $40.67 bn71st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $125.08 bn44th/182 · 2025 | $70.09 bn57th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 25.8%122nd/183 · 2025 | 10.0%176th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 34.5%115th/183 · 2025 | 17.2%172nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 60.2%127th/183 · 2025 | 27.2%179th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 68.0%15th/170 · 2023 | 2.4%94th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 21.4%105th/171 · 2023 | 73.2%34th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 5.6%137th/171 · 2023 | 18.2%81st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 4.7%65th/171 · 2023 | 4.6%67th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.8%149th/168 · 2022 | 2.4%127th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.3%49th/191 · 2025 | 0.5%72nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%160th/196 · 2025 | 0.5%159th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 30.4%9th/209 · 2021 | 1.4%107th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 18.27%10th/197 · 2021 | 0.38%58th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 8.81%6th/197 · 2021 | 0.74%34th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%51st/195 · 2021 | 0.12%29th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 3.36%30th/209 · 2021 | 0.07%74th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%157th/209 · 2021 | 0.13%106th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 9.7%106th/206 · 2024 | 39.8%15th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,435114th/183 · 2022 | 226165th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.6 m78th/194 · 2020 | 966,0002012 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $5.25 bn29th/175 · 2018 | $765.0 m81st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.3%2000 | 2.8%111th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.6 m55th/107 · 2020 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.976th/217 · 2024 | 67.8169th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.382nd/196 · 2024 | 56.0173rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.8186th/174 · 2023 | 1.16101st/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.992nd/145 · 2019 | 0.6133rd/145 · 2020 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 98%20th/193 · 2024 | 87%121st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.1%91st/153 · 2023 | 38.4%120th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 85.1%119th/173 · 2023 | 48.3%158th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 89.9%3rd/55 · 2020 | 22.1%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 12.4%113th/217 · 2025 | 7.3%155th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.0%104th/193 · 2023 | 2.5%188th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.9%53rd/98 · 2023 | 58.9%89th/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 58.7%62nd/150 · 2022 | 10.9%136th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.79975th/193 · 2023 | 0.544168th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.964th/108 · 2023 | 33.547th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.5%66th/108 · 2023 | 23.0%91st/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 95.7%151st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 94.4%54th/150 · 2024 | 45.0%116th/150 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.3%81st/186 · 2024 | 57.3%143rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17416th/210 · 2024 | 77168th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.1111th/208 · 2024 | 1.5163rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.20131st/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9,45519th/82 · 2021 | 7,79122nd/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 18.1 m38th/161 · 2023 | 7.2 m54th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 9.05181st/203 · 2024 | 0.8157th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.9%193rd/212 · 2021 | 41.6%59th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 40.2178th/200 · 2023 | 58.4194th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 6.6%176th/214 · 2024 | 4.1%184th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,45625th/149 · 2024 | 389133rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 34.8172nd/205 · 2025 | 39.9152nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 25.0178th/207 · 2025 | 26.5174th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 38.6180th/207 · 2025 | 41.1170th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 36.0189th/207 · 2025 | 31.4199th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 29.2195th/205 · 2025 | 39.7172nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 27.9187th/205 · 2025 | 37.0160th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.42014 | 4.391st/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $7.40 bn38th/156 · 2025 | $11.87 bn31st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.1%57th/156 · 2025 | 2.9%34th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 11.2%24th/154 · 2025 | 13.8%19th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 650,00010th/170 · 2020 | 943,0006th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.35%21st/168 · 2020 | 1.25%53rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 42.0 m69th/163 · 2024 | 706.0 m14th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 80.0 m29th/65 · 2025 | 127.0 m22nd/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.73%50th/110 · 2021 | 0.16%89th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 8,31412th/137 · 2024 | 48045th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 55,08514th/197 · 2023 | 20,51925th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan has the larger population: 255.2 m (2025) compared with 92.4 m for Iran (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Iran or Pakistan?
Iran is larger: 1,745,150 km² (2024) compared with 796,100 km² for Pakistan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Iran or Pakistan?
Iran has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.82 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.68 trn intl. for Pakistan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Iran or Pakistan?
Iran has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $19,699 intl. (2025) compared with $6,573 intl. for Pakistan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Iran or Pakistan?
Iran has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024) compared with 67.8 years for Pakistan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan spends more on the military: $11.87 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 Pakistan?
Iran: 51.6 points (80th in the world); Pakistan: 35.8 points (143rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Algeria
Egypt
Israel
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 Pakistan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/iran-vs-pakistan. Data as of 26 October 2026.