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Geo Factbook

Iran vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Iran
irn
Leads on 67 of 172 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 94 of 172 metrics

Summary

Iran has 2.6 times as many people as Malaysia (93.27 million vs 36.4 million). Iran's economy is 25% larger than Malaysia's ($584.26 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing Iran and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (704,000) against Iran (1.80); Malaysia leads on Oil Consumption (561,000) against Iran (1.84); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (528,300) against Iran (1.76). Across 172 compared metrics, Iran wins on 67 and Malaysia wins on 94.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 62 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration12.06 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)85.34 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)79.63 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 80% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed12.06 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score16.22 points56.09 pointsā˜…
Radios17ā˜…10.9
Televisions4.6110.8ā˜…
Waterways8507,200ā˜…

Economy

62 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country58.51B $ā˜…47.38B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars584.26B $ā˜…466.53B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)44.35 %ā˜…21.95 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate91.06 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)NA3 %
Coal Revenue0.010.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)18 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.7 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index67.883.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption236.3ā˜…136.9
Electricity Exports6.82ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels84ā˜…78
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1518ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels1ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables04ā˜…
Electricity Imports4.2233ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity77.6ā˜…33
Electricity Production272.3ā˜…148.3
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)160.78 USD per capitaā˜…113.16 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate15.65 %56.67 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient35.940.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment31.2ā˜…25.2
Gross National Saving37.9ā˜…28.5
High-Tech Export Percentage49.66 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries16,833.78 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.8 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate42.17 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)32.5 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption206.9ā˜…30.44
Natural Gas Exports11.6438.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports3.99ā˜…2.8
Natural Gas Production214.5ā˜…69.49
Natural Gas Proved Reserves33.72ā˜…1.18
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents24 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption1.85561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports2.52644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports297,100355,300ā˜…
Oil Production4.25664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves137ā˜…4
Population Below Poverty Line18.7 people5.6 peopleā˜…
Public Debt39.5ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.39 %1.28 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)3 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends3.45 %ā˜…2.83 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption1.8704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports397,200ā˜…208,400
Refined Petroleum Products Imports64,160304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production1.76528,300ā˜…
Remittances00.4ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million789.46 researchers2,256.6 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.011.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.39 USD1.28 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)3.710.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)7.36 %ā˜…14.94 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)7.36 % of GDP14.94 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues17.3ā˜…11.65
Top Exporting Countries111.93B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.3 %3.69 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate9.2 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate40.97 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate21.9 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)2.96Mā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature19.71 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions823.36260.01ā˜…
Continental Shelfnot specific;200
Global Precipitation Distribution212.24 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast, dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a ma highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation7.96 sq km13.3 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage7.8 %13.3 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country49.3 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources137580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species18 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.23 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)137.67209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land472,428 sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.62Mā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)2,440 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita477.98 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land79,721ā˜…4,420

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country10.13 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions31ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index23 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score23 index50 indexā˜…
Independence131ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.5-2.46ā˜…
Prison Population Rate228 per 100,000206 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception23ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.41 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults25.2 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate99 %ā˜…96 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)35.669.93ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)921.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders77.85 yearsā˜…76.82 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.54 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,193.5 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score81 scoreā˜…80 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.8 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy77.85 yearsā˜…76.82 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) <0.1%0.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1.9 people/sq km2 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.85 beds per 1,0001.9 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate0.07 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)16 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density2.88 per 1,000 people4.05 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)25.8 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending43.15 %37.09 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS54,000ā˜…92,000
Total Number of Doctors1.812.34ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 54.3ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel610,000 personnelā˜…113,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.09 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)650,000ā˜…136,000

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)67.96 %ā˜…58.88 %
Human Capital Index0.610.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth81.67 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population34.48 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change782,588.4 personsā˜…428,622.9 persons
Population density57.41 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population93.27M personsā˜…36.40M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.060.29ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAAAā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita0 liters0.51 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)11.24 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate12.57 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)4.42 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.8 % of GDP3.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age24.90M personsā˜…9.69M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)59.13 %ā˜…43.7 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate12.06 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.14 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.370.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate28.58ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school8.35 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population9.5 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)173.57ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling9.8 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age2121
Military Service Age and Obligation1617ā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio11.43 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization84.83 %ā˜…83.21 %
Physician Density1.81 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate-0.87 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums43.64 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio28.5211.66ā˜…
Total deaths390,941 persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)59.47 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate1.66 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration66,609.8 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate9.78 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.39 %1.79 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population62.27 millions62.95 millionsā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.211.58ā˜…
Airports177ā˜…100
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel4853ā˜…
Heliports90ā˜…24

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.25B USD21.77B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate23 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Iran vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, Iran or Malaysia?ā–¾

Iran. Iran has 2.6 times as many people as Malaysia (93.27 million vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Iran or Malaysia?ā–¾

Iran. Iran's economy is 25% larger than Malaysia's ($584.26 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Iran or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $6,264 in Iran (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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