Iran vs Iraq
Iran
Iraq
| Metric | Iran | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Tehran | Baghdad |
| Population | 92,417,681 | 47,020,774 |
| Area (km²) | 1,648,195 | 438,317 |
| Population density (/km²) | 56 | 107 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $3,900 | $5,400 |
| Region | Southern Asia | Western Asia |
| Currency | IRR | IQD |
| Languages | Persian | Arabic, Kurdish |
| Main religions | Islam | Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+3:30 | UTC+3 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Iran and Iraq are both located in Asia (Southern Asia and Western Asia respectively). Iran has the larger population — about 2.0× the population of Iraq, while Iran covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Iran map and the Iraq map.
Similar names, different nations
The names sound alike, but the two countries have different roots. Iran is the heir of a series of Persian empires, and its official language is Persian (Farsi), an Indo-European language. Iraq covers ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates. Its official languages are Arabic and Kurdish, and its modern borders were drawn after the Ottoman Empire collapsed and Britain held the mandate there. Iran is several times larger and has about twice the population.
What they share is religion. Both have Shia Muslim majorities, which is rare in the Middle East. Iraq holds Shia Islam's most important shrines, at Najaf and Karbala. Each year the Arbaeen pilgrimage brings very large numbers of Iranian pilgrims across the border to walk to Karbala.
A long border and a long war
The two share a border of roughly 1,600 km. It runs from the Kurdish mountains in the north to the Shatt al-Arab waterway (called Arvand Rud in Iran) at the head of the Persian Gulf. Control of that waterway was one of the triggers of the Iran–Iraq War. Iraq invaded in September 1980, and the fighting lasted until a UN-brokered ceasefire in August 1988. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed on both sides, and neither side gained territory.
After the 2003 US-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein, Shia parties with long ties to Tehran rose to power in Baghdad. Iran's political and militia influence in Iraq is now one of the most debated issues in Iraqi politics. In the 2026 regional war, Iraqi territory, including the Kurdistan Region, was hit by strikes, and Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups took part in the fighting.
Economies tied to oil
Both were founding members of OPEC in 1960 and hold some of the world's largest proven oil reserves. Iraq relies on crude exports for almost all of its government revenue. Iran has a more diversified industrial base, but its economy has long been squeezed by international sanctions. Iran also sells Iraq gas and electricity, and the two trade heavily across land crossings.
Peoples on both sides
Kurds live on both sides of the northern border. Iraq's Kurdistan Region has had constitutional autonomy since 2005, with its own government in Erbil. Iran also has Arab, Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Baloch and other minorities. For more regional comparisons, see Iran vs Saudi Arabia and Syria vs Iraq.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Iran and Iraq speak the same language?
- No. Iran's official language is Persian (Farsi), while Iraq's official languages are Arabic and Kurdish.
- When was the Iran–Iraq War?
- It began with Iraq's invasion in September 1980 and ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire in August 1988, with no lasting change to the border.
- What religion do Iran and Iraq share?
- Both countries have Shia Muslim majorities, and Iraq is home to major Shia shrines at Najaf and Karbala that draw many Iranian pilgrims.