How Iran Measures Up: Population, Oil and Military Strength in the Middle East

Iran is often viewed as a major power in the Middle East. A recent analysis compares its population, economic output and military size to neighbouring states. With 93.2 million people, Iran has the region’s largest population, but its GDP per capita of just over $4,000 remains among the lowest. Its total GDP of roughly $356 billion also trails behind wealthier states like Saudi Arabia and Israel. In energy, Iran ranks second only to Saudi Arabia, holding about 208.6 billion barrels of reserves and producing 4.6 million barrels per day. However, sanctions have limited its export capacity and investment growth. On military strength, Iran fields 610,000 active personnel—the largest in the region—yet spends $7.9 billion annually, far less than Saudi Arabia or Israel. This highlights its focus on manpower and asymmetric capabilities over expensive technology.

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