This statistic shows Iran's total population from 2020 to 2022, with projections up until 2030. 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Iran was reported at 23033089 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2020, around **** percent of the Iranian population identified as Muslim. Around ** 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 ** 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 ***** 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 in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million: as % of Total Population data was reported at 25.842 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 25.778 % for 2016. Iran IR: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million: as % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 23.702 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.842 % in 2017 and a record low of 14.971 % in 1960. Iran IR: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million: as % of Total 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the percentage of a country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

Iran population density for 2022 was 55.18, a 1.21% increase from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Iran population density for 2021 was <strong>54.52</strong>, a <strong>0.83% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Iran population density for 2020 was <strong>54.07</strong>, a <strong>0.77% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Iran population density for 2019 was <strong>53.65</strong>, a <strong>1.08% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

Iran IR: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 49.831 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.287 Person/sq km for 2016. Iran IR: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 33.631 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.831 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 13.802 Person/sq km in 1961. Iran IR: Population Density: People per Square Km 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. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Tehran, Iran metro area from 1950 to 2025.

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.

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) in Iran was reported at 25.15 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2023, the annual population growth in Iran did not change in comparison to the previous year. The annual population growth remained at 1.2 percent. 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.

Abstract

The 2011 census was the seventh national population and housing census of the country which was conducted on October 24, 2011 throughout Iran.

By providing correct statistics and information on the size, structure, and characteristics of Iran’s population, this census serves as an appropriate tool for the country’s planners, policymakers, and officials in the process of designing and implementing social, economic, and cultural programs. Furthermore, this census as one of the fundamental activities in the country’s statistical system provides essential frameworks for future in-depth analysis and surveys within the areas of population and household.

A total of almost 114,000 enumerators and trained supervisors and logistic staff participated in this national event which lasted from October 24 to November 13, 2011 in 31 provinces, 1,143 cities, and 96,459 settlements2; the census was the product of over two years of intense preparatory technical activities in the SCI in coordination with Iran’s executive institutions and General Governs. To gain assurance of appropriate implementation, two pilot censuses were conducted in 2009 (30 provinces) and 2010 (four provinces) and the questionnaires and the execution modalities and methods of the census were finalized and adopted by the National Census Committee based on the conclusion and lessons learnt from these two pilot studies.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Household

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The census forms are designed to collect items for different purposes. Four forms have been used in the 1390 Census: - Form 1. Listing - Form 2. The household Questionnaire - Form 3. The institutional Household Questionnaire - Form 4. Village Profile

Form 2 (the Household Questionnaire and Form 3 (The Institutional Household Questionnaire) Information on the private settled, private unsettled and collective households is collected through Form 2. Household Questionnaire and information on the institutional households through Form 3. Institutional Household Questionnaire. Due to the similarity between the two forms and their significance in the Census process their contents are reviewed and described in this part.

Cleaning operations

The data collected through each census or survey may be accompanied by some missing or inconsistent data. Such errors might be caused by the respondent’s wrong or inadequate response or during the data processing. Thus, to be centain about the consistency of the data produced, the Edit and Imputation Committee is established. This Committee, in addition to cleaning the data, is required to identify errors and to reduce them in the first stages of enumeration and to introduce instruments to achieve this purpose. Some of these instruments can be manpowers such as editing clerks in provinces and other instruments like machine-based editing.

The Committee should also apply some methods to identify quality data at the earliest time possible. The Committee’s objectives on the whole are: a. To analyse the topics and types of errors in previous censuses technically. b. To study the methods used in previous censuses, and the methods used in other countries in the past with a look at future. c. To determine the range of edit and imputation and to select the best and the most efficient methodology for Census Edit and Imputation.

Iran IR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 1.250 % in 2014. Iran IR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.250 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2014, with 1 observations. Iran IR: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate 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: Poverty. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the bottom 40% is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the bottom 40% of the population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2011 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The final year refers to the most recent survey available between 2011 and 2015. Growth rates for Iraq are based on survey means of 2005 PPP$. The coverage and quality of the 2011 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2011 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See PovcalNet for detailed explanations.; ; World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) circa 2010-2015 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).; ; The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

Iran IR: Percentage of Population Exposed to More Than 35 Micrograms per Cub m data was reported at 56.900 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.980 % for 2018. Iran IR: Percentage of Population Exposed to More Than 35 Micrograms per Cub m data is updated yearly, averaging 71.835 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.120 % in 2011 and a record low of 56.900 % in 2019. Iran IR: Percentage of Population Exposed to More Than 35 Micrograms per Cub m data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.OECD.GGI: Social: Air Quality and Health: Non OECD Member: Annual.

Constrained estimates, total number of people per grid-cell. The dataset is available to download in Geotiff format at a resolution of 3 arc (approximately 100m at the equator). The projection is Geographic Coordinate System, WGS84. The units are number of people per pixel. The mapping approach is Random Forest-based dasymetric redistribution.

More information can be found in the Release Statement

The difference between constrained and unconstrained is explained on this page: https://www.worldpop.org/methods/top_down_constrained_vs_unconstrained

Abstract

IPUMS-International is an effort to inventory, preserve, harmonize, and disseminate census microdata from around the world. The project has collected the world's largest archive of publicly available census samples. The data are coded and documented consistently across countries and over time to facillitate comparative research. IPUMS-International makes these data available to qualified researchers free of charge through a web dissemination system.

The IPUMS project is a collaboration of the Minnesota Population Center, National Statistical Offices, and international data archives. Major funding is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Additional support is provided by the University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research, the Minnesota Population Center, and Sun Microsystems.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Household

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: No - Vacant units: No - Households: Yes - Individuals: Yes - Group quarters: Yes - Special populations: Unsettled populations

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Households: People who have a common residence (stable or unstable) and also common expenditures. They need not be related.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Statistical Centre of Iran

SAMPLE DESIGN: Simple random sampling is used to draw samples from private settled and collective households who answered the long household questionnaire. The data were classified into urban and rural areas within counties. The sampling portion in each category was 20%.

SAMPLE UNIT: Household

SAMPLE FRACTION: 2%

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 1,299,825

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Form No.2 Household Questionnaire - General types (for most of normal and collective households); Form No.3 Household Questionnaire - General and detailed types (for the rest of normal and collective households and all of unsettled normal households); Form No.4 Institutional Household Questionnaire (for all all institutional households)

Iran Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 20.000 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 21.100 % for 2021. Iran Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 21.100 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2022, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.100 % in 1986 and a record low of 18.200 % in 2013. Iran Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of 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: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

In 2023, the share of urban population in Iran remained nearly unchanged at around 77.26 percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the share in Iran. 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 Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Iran. name, long name, population (source), population, constitutional form, drives on, head of state authority, Main continent, number of airports, Airports - with paved runways, Airports - with unpaved runways, Area, Birth rate, calling code, Children under the age of 5 years underweight, Current Account Balance, Death rate, Debt - external, Economic aid donor, Electricity consumption, Electricity consumption per capita, Electricity exports, Electricity imports, Electricity production, Exports, GDP - per capita (PPP), GDP (purchasing power parity), GDP real growth rate, Gross national income, Human Development Index, Health expenditures, Heliports, HIV AIDS adult prevalence rate, HIV AIDS deaths, HIV AIDS people living with HIV AIDS, Hospital bed density, capital city, Currency, Imports, Industrial production growth rate, Infant mortality rate, Inflation rate consumer prices, Internet hosts, internet tld, Internet users, Investment (gross fixed), iso 3166 code, ISO CODE, Labor force, Life expectancy at birth, Literacy, Manpower available for military service, Manpower fit for military service, Manpower reaching militarily age annually, is democracy, Market value of publicly traded shares, Maternal mortality rate, Merchant marine, Military expenditures percent of GDP, Natural gas consumption, Natural gas consumption per capita, Natural gas exports, Natural gas imports, Natural gas production, Natural gas proved reserves, Net migration rate, Obesity adult prevalence rate, Oil consumption, Oil consumption per capita, Oil exports, Oil imports, Oil production, Oil proved reserves, Physicians density, Population below poverty line, Population census, Population density, Population estimate, Population growth rate, Public debt, Railways, Reserves of foreign exchange and gold, Roadways, Stock of direct foreign investment abroad, Stock of direct foreign investment at home, Telephones main lines in use, Telephones main lines in use per capita, Telephones mobile cellular, Telephones mobile cellular per capita, Total fertility rate, Unemployment rate, Unemployment, youth ages 15-24, Waterways, valley, helicopter, canyon, artillery, crater, religion, continent, border, Plateau, marsh, Demonym

Iran IR: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data was reported at 3.761 % in 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.220 % for 2012. Iran IR: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 3.220 % from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2013, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.761 % in 2013 and a record low of 2.923 % in 2005. Iran IR: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % 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: Poverty. Proportion of population spending more than 25% of household consumption or income on out-of-pocket health care expenditure, expressed as a percentage of a total population of a country; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on catastrophic health spending: results for 133 countries. A retrospective observational study, Lancet Global Health 2017.; Weighted Average;

In Iran, the rich and diverse cultural heritage is reflected not only in its history and traditions, but also in the variety of Iranian surnames that exist in the country. The use of surnames in Iran is a common practice that has been influenced by historical, regional and social factors over the centuries. As Iranian society has developed and changed, the most common surnames in Iran have evolved, offering a window into the past and identity of Iranians. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular surnames in Iran, providing a fascinating look at the cultural diversity and history behind these names.