Saudi Arabia vs Iran, Islamic Rep.
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Saudi Arabia and Iran, Islamic Rep.: the larger economy is Saudi Arabia ($1.24T vs $475.3B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Saudi Arabia ($35,122 vs $5,190). Life expectancy is higher in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 77.9 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Saudi Arabia vs Iran, Islamic Rep.: side by side
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Iran, Islamic Rep. | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $1.24T | $475.3B | Saudi Arabia |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $35,122 | $5,190 | Saudi Arabia |
| Population, total | 35,300,280 | 91,567,738 | Iran, Islamic Rep. |
| Population growth (annual %) | 4.6% | 1.1% | Saudi Arabia |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.0% | 3.7% | Iran, Islamic Rep. |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 1.7% | 32.5% | Saudi Arabia |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 3.0% | 8.3% | Saudi Arabia |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 79.0 | 77.9 | Saudi Arabia |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 100.0% | 85.3% | Saudi Arabia |
| Urban population (% of total) | 84.5% | 77.0% | Saudi Arabia |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 18.48 | 9.05 | Iran, Islamic Rep. |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Saudi Arabia
- GDP per capita (income): Saudi Arabia
- Life expectancy: Saudi Arabia
- Internet users: Saudi Arabia
- Lower inflation: Saudi Arabia
- Lower unemployment: Saudi Arabia
Frequently asked questions
Is Saudi Arabia or Iran, Islamic Rep. richer?
Saudi Arabia is richer on GDP per capita — Saudi Arabia at $35,122 versus $5,190 for Iran, Islamic Rep. (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Saudi Arabia ($1.24T vs $475.3B).
Which has a bigger economy, Saudi Arabia or Iran, Islamic Rep.?
Saudi Arabia has the larger economy: Saudi Arabia's GDP is $1.24T and Iran, Islamic Rep.'s is $475.3B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Saudi Arabia or Iran, Islamic Rep.?
Iran, Islamic Rep. is more populous: Saudi Arabia has about 35.3 million people and Iran, Islamic Rep. about 91.6 million.
Where do people live longer, Saudi Arabia or Iran, Islamic Rep.?
Life expectancy is higher in Saudi Arabia: 79.0 years in Saudi Arabia versus 77.9 in Iran, Islamic Rep. (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20