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.

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.

Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data was reported at 979,435.000 Person in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 979,435.000 Person for 2016. Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data is updated yearly, averaging 1,071,927.000 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,404,995.000 Person in 1991 and a record low of 857,354.000 Person in 2013. Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum 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. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

Iran, Islamic Republic of - Population, Total for Islamic Republic of Iran was 83992953.00000 Persons in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Iran, Islamic Republic of - Population, Total for Islamic Republic of Iran reached a record high of 83992953.00000 in January of 2020 and a record low of 21906914.00000 in January of 1960. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Iran, Islamic Republic of - Population, Total for Islamic Republic of Iran - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on April of 2025.

Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data was reported at 118,595.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 94,094.000 Person for 2016. Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data is updated yearly, averaging 93,242.000 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 138,364.000 Person in 2002 and a record low of 68,397.000 Person in 2007. Iran IR: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin 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. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

This horizontal bar chart displays health expenditure per capita (current US$) by capital city using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Iran. The data is about countries per year.

Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Islamic Republic of Iran was 9.55636 % of Working-Age Population in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Islamic Republic of Iran reached a record high of 9.55636 in January of 2020 and a record low of 5.51116 in January of 1983. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Islamic Republic of Iran - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on April of 2025.

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.

Iran, Islamic Republic of - People 15 Years and Over with Account at a Formal Financial Institution for Islamic Republic of Iran was 93.36% in January of 2017, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Iran, Islamic Republic of - People 15 Years and Over with Account at a Formal Financial Institution for Islamic Republic of Iran reached a record high of 93.36 in January of 2017 and a record low of 73.68 in January of 2012. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Iran, Islamic Republic of - People 15 Years and Over with Account at a Formal Financial Institution for Islamic Republic of Iran - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.

Iran IR: GDP: USD: Gross National Income per Capita: Atlas Method data was reported at 5,400.000 USD in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,470.000 USD for 2017. Iran IR: GDP: USD: Gross National Income per Capita: Atlas Method data is updated yearly, averaging 2,140.000 USD from Mar 1963 (Median) to 2018, with 52 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,050.000 USD in 2013 and a record low of 210.000 USD in 1963. Iran IR: GDP: USD: Gross National Income per Capita: Atlas Method 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: Gross Domestic Product: Nominal. GNI per capita (formerly GNP per capita) is the gross national income, converted to U.S. dollars using the World Bank Atlas method, divided by the midyear population. GNI is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. GNI, calculated in national currency, is usually converted to U.S. dollars at official exchange rates for comparisons across economies, although an alternative rate is used when the official exchange rate is judged to diverge by an exceptionally large margin from the rate actually applied in international transactions. To smooth fluctuations in prices and exchange rates, a special Atlas method of conversion is used by the World Bank. This applies a conversion factor that averages the exchange rate for a given year and the two preceding years, adjusted for differences in rates of inflation between the country, and through 2000, the G-5 countries (France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). From 2001, these countries include the Euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Weighted Average;

As of August 8, three executions were carried out by Alabama and two executions were carried out by Missouri in 2024. Another two executions were carried out in Oklahoma in the same year. Death penalty Since 2015, Texas has been the state most likely to perform the most executions in the United States. However, the U.S. government and military also enforce death penalties. Since 1976, 1,392 executions in the country have been conducted through lethal injection. The United States is one of the countries around the world still using capital punishment. It is estimated that China executed a thousand prisoners in 2022, while Iran executed approximately 314 people . Some 55 percent of U.S. citizens stated that they thought capital punishment was morally acceptable . About 35 percent of death penalty supporters reasoned that this form of punishment was “an eye for an eye” due to the crime, while 14 percent of supporters believed that the death penalty could save taxpayers money due to costs associated with prisons. In general, most states require some form of first-degree murder as the crime that is punishable by death. However, 40 percent of denouncers of the death penalty stated that it was wrong to take a life, while 17 percent reasoned that the persons may be wrongly convicted. Support for capital punishment reached a peak in 1991 at 76 percent of the population agreeing.

In 2024, Iceland was the worldwide leader in terms of internet freedom. The country ranked first with 94 index points in the Freedom House Index, where each country received a numerical score from 100 (the freest) to 0 (the least free). Estonia ranked second with a 92 index points, followed by Canada, with a score of 86 index points. Internet restrictions worldwide The decline of internet freedom in 2022 is mainly linked to political conflicts in different parts of the world. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government intensified its attempts to control the online content in the country. The government placed restrictions on three different U.S.-based social media platforms at the same time, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. These restrictions made it to the top of the longest-lasting limitations on the web in 2022. Social protests rose in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The Iranian government decided to shut down the internet and various social media platforms in an attempt to minimize the communication between the protesters. In 2022, 11 new internet restrictions were recorded in Iran. However, residents in the Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir saw the highest number of new internet restrictions, which amounted to more than double than the ones in Iran. The impact of internet shutdowns In 2022, the economic impact of internet restrictions worldwide reached an estimated 23.79 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the highest financial losses due to internet shutdowns were caused by limitations in Russia, and more than seven thousand hours of restricted various online services had an economic impact of 21.59 billion U.S. dollars. The restrictions impacted around 113 million people in the country. Myanmar placed the most extended restriction on internet services, lasting 17,520 hours in total. Similar restrictions in India affected over 120 million people. 

Among the top seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in terms of active military personnel, Iran, which topped the list, was the only non-Arab nation. Saudi Arabia had the fourth-largest number of active military personnel and was the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to make the top ten. All other GCC countries were in the bottom eight, with Kuwait having the second-highest number of active personnel in the council at 72,000 servicemen. Among African countries, Egypt and Algeria topped the list, with 450 and 325 thousand active personnel, respectively. Military strength Due to their small native populations, many countries in the GCC often rely on foreign nationals to fill in force roles in the military. Equipment is often directly correlated to the number of personnel in service. When looking at the number of tanks among armies in the MENA region, there is a clear correspondence with the level of active personnel each army has. Likewise, another key indicator of military strength is the number of military aircraft MENA countries have in operation. Israel is one of the few countries in the region that has a thriving defense export industry due to investments in R&D and local manufacturing. Increased defense spending In recent years, military spending among MENA countries has increased, with GCC countries prioritizing defense and furthering cooperation with foreign manufacturers. Qatar, which has one of the highest military spending in the region, has sought to enhance strategic partnerships with mainly Western allies after neighboring countries imposed a three-year land, sea, and air blockade on the small country in 2017. Most militaries seek to ensure as much uniformity as possible when procuring military equipment to keep costs down, facilitate more efficient training, and ensure cross-platform compatibility with existing systems. However, as of 2024, Qatar placed orders for high-end equipment, particularly fighter jets, from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States simultaneously, thereby linking their defense to the potential loss of billions in equipment orders and foreign jobs.