Turkey vs Iran
Turkey
Iran
| Metric | Turkey | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Ankara | Tehran |
| Population | 87,685,426 | 92,417,681 |
| Area (km²) | 783,562 | 1,648,195 |
| Population density (/km²) | 112 | 56 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $18,600 | $3,900 |
| Region | Western Asia | Southern Asia |
| Currency | TRY | IRR |
| Languages | Turkish | Persian |
| Main religions | Islam | Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+3 | UTC+3:30 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Turkey and Iran are both located in Asia (Western Asia and Southern Asia respectively). Iran has the larger population, while Iran covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Turkey map and the Iran map.
Heirs of rival empires
For centuries the Ottoman Empire and Persia's Safavid dynasty fought over Mesopotamia and the Caucasus. The 1639 Treaty of Zuhab drew a frontier between them, and the modern Turkey–Iran border, about 530 km long, still largely follows it. That makes it one of the oldest stable borders in the region. Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest peak, rises close to where Turkey, Iran and Armenia meet.
Republic and Islamic Republic
In the 20th century the two took different paths. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923 as a secular state, and Turkey joined NATO in 1952. Iran's monarchy was overthrown in the 1979 revolution, which created an Islamic Republic led by Shia clergy. Both have Muslim majorities, but most Turks are Sunni and most Iranians are Shia.
The languages are unrelated. Turkish is a Turkic language written in the Latin alphabet since 1928. Persian is Indo-European and written in a version of the Arabic script. The link runs through Iran's large Azerbaijani population, whose language is close to Turkish, and through the Persian words that entered Ottoman Turkish.
Trade, gas and tourism
Turkey has a large manufacturing and export economy closely tied to Europe. Iran's economy rests on oil and gas and has been constrained by sanctions. Iran pipes natural gas to Turkey, and land trade crosses at points such as Gürbulak–Bazargan. Iranians can visit Turkey without a visa, and Istanbul and Van are popular destinations for Iranian shoppers and holidaymakers.
Shared concerns, competing interests
Both countries have significant Kurdish populations and have both fought Kurdish armed groups in the border mountains. They have backed opposing sides in Syria and the South Caucasus, yet they usually keep a working relationship. See also Turkey vs Saudi Arabia and the Dubai to Istanbul route.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Turkey–Iran border?
- About 530 km. It largely follows the frontier set by the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab between the Ottoman and Safavid empires.
- Do Turkish and Persian come from the same language family?
- No. Turkish is a Turkic language, while Persian is an Indo-European language, though Ottoman Turkish borrowed many Persian words.
- Do Iranians need a visa for Turkey?
- Iranian citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for short stays, which helps make Turkey a popular destination for Iranian travellers.