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Country comparison

AfghanistanvsIran

See the biggest differences first, then scan the geographic, economic, and practical reference data.

This comparison uses the latest available atlas values for each country; reporting years can differ by metric.

The biggest differences first

Population

Iran is higher

Iran records 91,567,738, about 2.15× the other value.

Surface area

Iran is higher

Iran records 1,745,150 km², about 2.67× the other value.

Nominal GDP

Iran is higher

Iran records $475.25 billion, about 27.7× the other value.

What stands out

Proportional bars and relative differences make the headline numbers easier to read.

Population

🇦🇫 Afghanistan42,647,492
🇮🇷 Iran91,567,738

Iran’s population is 115% larger than that of Afghanistan, a difference of 48,920,246.

Surface area

🇦🇫 Afghanistan652,870 km²
🇮🇷 Iran1,745,150 km²

Iran’s surface area is 167% larger than that of Afghanistan, a difference of 1,092,280 km².

Population density

🇦🇫 Afghanistan65.3 /km²
🇮🇷 Iran52.5 /km²

Afghanistan’s population density is 24% higher than that of Iran, a difference of 12.9 /km².

Nominal GDP

🇦🇫 Afghanistan$17.15 billion · 2023
🇮🇷 Iran$475.25 billion · 2024

Iran’s nominal GDP is about 27.7× that of Afghanistan, a difference of $458.10 billion.

GDP per capita

🇦🇫 Afghanistan$414 · 2023
🇮🇷 Iran$5,190 · 2024

Iran’s GDP per capita is about 12.5× that of Afghanistan, a difference of $4,776.

Values use the latest available observations in WorldSumma. Economic reporting years are shown when available and can differ by country.

Full side-by-side comparison

Capital

Kabul

Tehran

Population

42,647,492

91,567,738

Surface area

652,870 km²

1,745,150 km²

Population density

65.3 /km²

52.5 /km²

Nominal GDP

$17.15 billion · 2023

$475.25 billion · 2024

GDP per capita

$414 · 2023

$5,190 · 2024

Region

Asia

Asia

Subregion

Southern Asia

Southern Asia

Currency

Afghan afghani · AFN · ؋

Iranian rial · IRR · ﷼

Nationality

Afghan

Iranian, Persian

Phone code

+93

+98

Internet domain

.af

.ir

ISO codes

AF / AFG

IR / IRN

Time zone

Asia/Kabul

Asia/Tehran

Native name

افغانستان

ایران

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About Afghanistan

Afghanistan, a land of rugged mountains and ancient crossroads, captivates with its rich tapestry of peoples, traditions, and a history that has shaped the heart of Central and South Asia.

Full Afghanistan profile →

About Iran

Iran, known historically as Persia, is a land of ancient civilization and striking contrasts, stretching from the rugged Zagros Mountains to the vast deserts of Dasht-e Kavir, and boasting a rich tapestry of cultural heritage that continues to shape its modern identity.

Full Iran profile →

Afghanistan & Iran: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Afghanistan?

The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul.

What is the population of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has a recorded population of approximately 42,647,492 people.

How big is Afghanistan?

Afghanistan covers an area of about 652,870 km².

What is the population density of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has a population density of roughly 65.3 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $17.15 billion as of 2023.

What is the GDP per capita of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of approximately $414.

What currency is used in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan uses the Afghan afghani (AFN), with the symbol ؋.

Where is Afghanistan located?

Afghanistan is located in Southern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of Afghanistan?

The native name of Afghanistan is افغانستان.

What are people from Afghanistan called?

People from Afghanistan are referred to as Afghan.

What is the phone calling code for Afghanistan?

The international dialing code for Afghanistan is +93.

What is the internet domain for Afghanistan?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Afghanistan is .af.

What time zone is Afghanistan in?

Afghanistan uses the Asia/Kabul time zone.

What is Afghanistan known for?

Afghanistan, a land of rugged mountains and ancient crossroads, captivates with its rich tapestry of peoples, traditions, and a history that has shaped the heart of Central and South Asia.

What is the capital of Iran?

The capital of Iran is Tehran.

What is the population of Iran?

Iran has a recorded population of approximately 91,567,738 people.

How big is Iran?

Iran covers an area of about 1,745,150 km².

What is the population density of Iran?

Iran has a population density of roughly 52.5 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of Iran?

Iran has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $475.25 billion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of Iran?

Iran has a GDP per capita of approximately $5,190.

What currency is used in Iran?

Iran uses the Iranian rial (IRR), with the symbol ﷼.

Where is Iran located?

Iran is located in Southern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of Iran?

The native name of Iran is ایران.

What are people from Iran called?

People from Iran are referred to as Iranian, Persian.

What is the phone calling code for Iran?

The international dialing code for Iran is +98.

What is the internet domain for Iran?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Iran is .ir.

What time zone is Iran in?

Iran uses the Asia/Tehran time zone.

What is Iran known for?

Iran, known historically as Persia, is a land of ancient civilization and striking contrasts, stretching from the rugged Zagros Mountains to the vast deserts of Dasht-e Kavir, and boasting a rich tapestry of cultural heritage that continues to shape its modern identity.