In 2023, the annual population growth in Iran remained nearly unchanged at around 0.7 percent. But still, the population growth reached its lowest value of the observation period in 2023. Population growth refers to the annual change in population, and is based on the balance between birth and death rates, as well as migration.Find more key insights for the annual population growth in countries like Israel and Oman.

In 1800, the population of the modern-day territory of Iran was approximately 6.3 million. This figure would see modest growth throughout the 19th century, as several wars and a mass famine in 1870-1871 (modern estimates put its death toll at around 1.5 million people) were largely balanced out by a surge in migration to Iran; this migration came as the Russian Empire expanded into the Caucuses, and caused a wave of refugees to flee southwards to avoid forced expulsion and ethnic cleansing in the North Caucasus region, particularly from 1864 onwards. As a result, the population of Iran reached ten million by the turn of the 20th century.

Twentieth century growth Iran’s population would begin to grow rapidly in the 20th century, as the discovery of oil in the country in 1908 led to an economic boom, and the socio-economic reforms implemented under Reza Shah would see a number of medical and healthcare advancements across the country. Although unpopular with religious fundamentalists, Reza Shah's reforms had long-term influence on the demographic development of Iran, even after his abdication in 1941. Following the Second World War, Iran became increasingly westernized and developed relatively strong relations with the U.S.; however, western influence, economic imbalances and the oppression of the Mohammed Reza Shah's regime became the driving forces behind the Iranian Revolution, which was one of the most significant moments in the history of the region.

Growth after the Revolution The 1979 Iranian Revolution saw the removal of the Shah and an end to Iran's so called westernization; the monarchy was replaced by an Islamic, theocratic regime led by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. During Khomeini's decade in charge he oversaw Iran's transition into an Islamic Republic, which implemented radical political and cultural changes in the country, and this coincided with an increased population growth rate in the 1980s. This growth was promoted by the Iranian government, who encouraged a baby boom during the Iran–Iraq War between 1980 and 1988, as part of an effort to increase future Iranian military manpower. As a result of this strategy, the population of Iran would grow from approximately 38.6 million in 1980 to over 56 million just a decade later. Following the implementation of a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1988, population growth in Iran would slow, as economic sanctions and government implementation of family planning policies would lead to a drop in fertility. Population growth has continued steadily into the 21st century, however, and in 2020, Iran is estimated to have a population of 84 million.

Chart and table of Iran population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

The total population in Iran was estimated at 85.3 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Iran Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Iran IR: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data was reported at 6.794 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.977 % for 2016. Iran IR: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 10.487 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.649 % in 2002 and a record low of 6.794 % in 2017. Iran IR: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 15 to 19 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

This statistic shows the age structure of Iran inhabitants from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 22.84 percent of inhabitants were aged 0 to 14 years, while approximately 69.25 percent were aged 15 to 64, and 7.92 percent of Iran inhabitants were aged 65 or older.

Iran IR: Population: Total data was reported at 81,162,788.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 80,277,428.000 Person for 2016. Iran IR: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 53,926,366.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81,162,788.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 21,906,903.000 Person in 1960. Iran IR: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

In 2020, around 98.5 percent of the Iranian population identified as Muslim. Around 81 percent identified as Shia Muslims in the same year, while a much smaller share followed the Sunni Muslim religion. In Iran, most Sunni Muslims belong to ethnic minority groups.

Iran’s demographics
The total population in Iran has grown steadily and is expected to surpass 90 million in 2028. The vast majority of the population in the country was between 15 and 64 years of age. At the same time, the share of people aged above 64 increased in recent years and constituted over seven percent of the total population.

Muslim population worldwide

In Europe, it was estimated that the Muslim population could triple by the middle of the century. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia had the largest share of Muslims as a proportion of its population. On the African continent, the highest number of Muslims was estimated in Nigeria, with close to a hundred million Islam followers. In the United States, less than one percent of the population identified as Muslims.

Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 71.310 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 71.612 % for 2016. Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 53.329 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72.298 % in 2012 and a record low of 51.057 % in 1988. Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Population ages 00-04, male (% of male population) in Iran was reported at 6.9056 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population ages 0-4, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) in Iran was reported at 9.11 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

UNICEF's country profile for Iran (Islamic Republic of), including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

This statistic shows Iran's total population from 2019 to 2022, with projections up until 2029. In 2022, the total population of Iran amounted to approximately 84.9 million inhabitants. The population of Iran Iran is the second largest nation in the Middle East and one of the founding members of the United Nations, NAM, OIC and OPEC. With a rapidly growing total population of just under 78 million inhabitants, it is the world’s seventeenth most populous nation. Iran’s total population has grown by 10 million inhabitants over the past decade. In 2010, Iran’s population grew by around 1.6 percent in comparison to the previous year, which is partially due to due the high fertility rate. In 2010, the fertility rate of Iran was at almost 2 percent. Surprisingly, Iran does not have a high life expectancy. In 2010, the life expectancy in Iran was just 73 years. Looking at the age structure of Iran's population shows that the vast majority, more than 71 percent of Iran inhabitants, were aged between 15 and 64 the same year, while only around 5.2 percent of the population in Iran were aged over 65. Therefore, it is assumed that the growing total population is due to an increase in the young population in Iran and immigrants. People migrating from surrounding countries, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, have increased Iran’s total population drastically.

Population ages 55-59, male (% of male population) in Iran was reported at 4.5568 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population ages 55-59, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population) in Iran was reported at 8.2753 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population ages 5-9, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Islamic Republic of Iran was 24.74470 % of Total in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Islamic Republic of Iran reached a record high of 46.15673 in January of 1987 and a record low of 23.68194 in January of 2013. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Islamic Republic of Iran - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Population results from census dis aggregated by gender and age

Population ages 15-64, male (% of male population) in Iran was reported at 69.35 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population ages 15-64, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 23.372 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 23.333 % for 2016. Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 43.269 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.823 % in 1987 and a record low of 23.008 % in 2012. Iran IR: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) in Iran was reported at 5759512 Persons in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population of the official age for tertiary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.