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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

UK residents by broad country of birth and citizenship groups, broken down by UK country, local authority, unitary authority, metropolitan and London boroughs, and counties. Estimates from the Annual Population Survey.

IR：最大城市人口在12-01-2017达8,780,950.000人，相较于12-01-2016的8,667,440.000人有所增长。IR：最大城市人口数据按年更新，12-01-1960至12-01-2017期间平均值为6,234,900.000人，共58份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-2017，达8,780,950.000人，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-1960，为1,872,633.000人。CEIC提供的IR：最大城市人口数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于全球数据库的伊朗 – 表 IR.世行.WDI：人口和城市化进程统计。

As of mid-2023, nearly 3.8 million refugees from Afghanistan were residing in neighboring Iran, making it the most common sender-host refugee route worldwide. Refugees tend to seek refuge in countries nearby, with Syrians predominantly seeking refuge in Turkey and Lebanon, and Ukrainians mostly in Russia and Germany. Looking only at where the refugees come from, the largest number comes from Syria, with Ukraine and Afghanistan behind.

IR：最大城市人口占城市总人口的百分比在12-01-2017达14.543%，相较于12-01-2016的14.614%有所下降。IR：最大城市人口占城市总人口的百分比数据按年更新，12-01-1960至12-01-2017期间平均值为20.827%，共58份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1976，达28.600%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2017，为14.543%。CEIC提供的IR：最大城市人口占城市总人口的百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于全球数据库的伊朗 – 表 IR.世界银行：人口和城市化进程统计。

Abstract

The World Values Survey (www.worldvaluessurvey.org) is a global network of social scientists studying changing values and their impact on social and political life, led by an international team of scholars, with the WVS association and secretariat headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The survey, which started in 1981, seeks to use the most rigorous, high-quality research designs in each country. The WVS consists of nationally representative surveys conducted in almost 100 countries which contain almost 90 percent of the world’s population, using a common questionnaire. The WVS is the largest non-commercial, cross-national, time series investigation of human beliefs and values ever executed, currently including interviews with almost 400,000 respondents. Moreover the WVS is the only academic study covering the full range of global variations, from very poor to very rich countries, in all of the world’s major cultural zones. The WVS seeks to help scientists and policy makers understand changes in the beliefs, values and motivations of people throughout the world. Thousands of political scientists, sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists and economists have used these data to analyze such topics as economic development, democratization, religion, gender equality, social capital, and subjective well-being. These data have also been widely used by government officials, journalists and students, and groups at the World Bank have analyzed the linkages between cultural factors and economic development.

Geographic coverage

The survey covers Iran.

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual

Universe

The WVS for Iran covers national population aged 16 years and over, for both sexes.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Because of the size and complexity of the survey population, multi-stage probability sampling methods are used to develop the sample frame for this study.

Stage 1: The total household population of Iran is divided into 28 strata based on the provincial boundariestwenty-seven provinces plus the province of Tehran. In each province, the household population is divided into urban and rural areas. And each urban and rural area is further divided into Census blocks. The SCI has detailed maps of all these urban and rural areas. These areas are divided into Census Enumeration Areas or blocks, which are the smallest geographically specified units. Each unit includes at least ten dwellings for the urban areas and at least one for the rural areas. A block is defined as an area where one can start enumeration from one point and go around the unit and return to the starting point. The size and the population density of these blocks vary. The number of these blocks and their distributions as urban versus rural areas also vary from province to province. In the 28 provinces, the blocks are sampled with probabilities proportionate to size measured in total dwelling units. In the 28 provinces, blocks are sampled in proportion to the total number of dwelling units. In metropolitan areas, where blocks fall into districts with varying socioeconomic status (high, medium, low), these areas are first stratified into homogeneous districts, and then blocks are sampled.

Stage 2: The second stage units of the surveys multi-stage sample design include individual dwelling units, in which respondents reside. The SCI has provided the list of all the dwelling units within each of the selected blocks. A random sample of dwellings units will be selected for contact from the listing for each block. The result will be about 3000 dwellings of which 1800 will be from urban and 1200 from rural areas. The table below shows the population size according to the 1996 Census and its distribution of the population in the urban and rural areas by provinces, the sampled Census blocks, and the share of the sample of households for the urban and rural areas of each province. A final adjustment of the sample size may be made according to the homogeneity or the heterogeneity of the area being sampled. The level of education and economic development are considered the major criteria for assessing the degree of homogeneity of the population.

Stage 3: A single respondent from each sample dwelling unit will be selected according to procedure specified in charts provided to the interviewers. There were three differences between the 2000 and 2005 samples. First, in 2000 sample, the interviewers were not able to get to the provinces of Sistan va Baluchistan and Kurdistan. But in 2005 these provinces were surveyed. Second, in the 2005 the province of Kurdistan was oversampled to allow comparison with Iraqi Kurds. Third, the number of province ware increased to thirty-one in 2005.

The sample size for Iran is N=2667 and includes the national population aged 16 years and over for both sexes.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The WVS questionnaire was translated into Persian from the English questionnaire by a member of the research team. The translated questionnaire was also pre-tested. The questionnaire was administered to 200 individuals. In 2005 survey, no question was omitted.

The regression model of physical activity effect on happiness and psychological well-being.

As of mid-2024, Iran was the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. According to data available by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, there were nearly 3.8 million refugees in Iran. Turkey was second with more than 3.1 million. The data refers to the total number of refugees in a given country, not considering the date of their application for asylum or the date of their flight.

In the Middle Ages, it is believed the largest Jewish populations in the world were found in Asia, particularly across the Middle East. Of the estimated total Jewish population of 1.2 million people, over 80 percent are thought to have lived in Asia, while 13 percent lived in Europe, and the remaining six precent lived in (North) Africa. The largest populations were found on the Arabian peninsula, as well as Iran and Iraq, while the Near East (here referring to the Levant region) had a much smaller population, despite being the spiritual homeland of the Jewish people.

These figures are based on the records of Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish traveller from the Middle Ages who provided one of the most comprehensive collections of population statistics from the period. Benjamin's writings not only recorded the number of Jews living across this part of the world, but also gave an insight into societal structures and the ordinary daily lives within Jewish communities in the medieval period. The source providing these figures, however, has adjusted some of the statistics to account for known populations that were missing from Benjamin of Tudela's records, especially in Europe and Asia.

This statistic shows the unemployment rate of Iran from 1999 to 2023. In 2023, Iran's unemployment rate was estimated to amount to 9.04 percent of the total labor force. Employment and economy in Iran Iran’s unemployment rate has been above 10 percent for the last 10 years, and this rate is estimated to have peaked in 2014, when estimates reached 14 percent. Also, many of those who are considered employed in Iran are also considered underemployed. Unemployment in Iran is especially high among young people and women; over 70 percent of the population’s close to 80 million inhabitants are of working age, increasing the overall demand of these inhabitants for work. Iran’s economy has also been in a recession, which has exacerbated the difficulties to meet the employment demands of its inhabitants. Although the economy is expected to recover slightly in 2014, Iran's GDP is expected to decrease and the real GDP growth rate is either negative or quite low. In times of a struggling economy, it is typically more difficult to create jobs and introduce people to the labor force. Because Iran's economic activity still depends to a large extent on oil revenues, this also reduces the stability of the economy and employment. With a decreasing per capita GDP and a high inflation rate people are also more vulnerable to changes in income and employment, making the unemployment a pressing issue that the country will have to manage.

At the beginning of 2025, the United States had the highest number of incarcerated individuals worldwide, with around 1.8 million people in prison. China followed with around 100,000 fewer prisoners. Brazil followed in third. The incarceration problem in the U.S. The United States has an incredibly high number of incarcerated individuals. Therefore, the incarceration problem has become a widely contested issue, because it impacts disadvantaged people and minorities the most. Additionally, the prison system has become capitalized by outside corporations that fund prisons, but there is still a high cost to taxpayers. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the amount of private prisons that have been created. For-profit prison companies have come under scrutiny because of their lack of satisfactory staff and widespread lobbying. Violent offenses are the most common type of offense among prisoners in the U.S. Incarceration rates worldwide El Salvador had the highest rate of incarceration worldwide, at 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 residents as of February 2025. Cuba followed in second with 794 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants. The incarceration rate is a better measure to use when comparing countries than the total prison populations, which will naturally have the most populous countries topping the list.

The total population in Kuwait was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.5 million people (+9.98 percent). After the eighth consecutive increasing year, the total population is estimated to reach 5.53 million people and therefore a new peak in 2029. This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.Find more key insights for the total population in countries like Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

The share of urban population in Syria saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 57.41 percent. Still, the share reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Iran and Kuwait.